The document discusses components of resilient farming systems. It proposes systems that are more opportunistic and flexible rather than rigid, more diverse than monocultures, and able to change scale or function. Specifically, it suggests farming businesses that can adapt tactics and strategies will be more resilient to stressors. Diverse crop rotations are more resilient than monocultures. Systems that can vary irrigation or crops grown are also more resilient when facing challenges.

1. Resilient Farming Systems by Design
A few ideas for discussion
Daniel Rodriguez

2. Components of adaptation
Outcomes ADAPTEDNESS
Systems disturbances
INCREMENTAL SYSTEMS TRANSFORMATION
Adaptation
ADJUSTMENTS Generates a new social-
processes ecological systems
System RESILIENCE
characteristics Self-organization Capacity for learning
Capacity to absorb change
After Nelson et al., 2007

3. Resilient Systems
Systems that are more opportunistic-flexible-plastic versus
systems that are more rigid or calendar driven
Systems that are more diverse versus systems that are more like
monocultures
Systems that can change scale or intensity
Systems that can change function e.g. produce grain vs.
produce fibre vs. produce meat
Any others…?

4. Systems that are more opportunistic-
flexible-plastic versus systems that are more
rigid or calendar driven
Farm businesses that exhibit higher levels of intrinsic plasticity
(opportunism) in their tactical and strategic management will
achieve higher levels of resilience when exposed to a stressor
Probability density
Outcome (e.g. business profit)
Rigid Plastic

5. Systems that are more opportunistic-
flexible-plastic versus systems that are more
rigid or calendar driven
Flexible or opportunistic Rigid or more calendar driven
Whe1,2,.. C
SF SF
S 1,2,..
W
1,2,..
W1,2,..
Sorg1,2,.. Fallow Maize
SF SF
WF C
WF
Chick S
1,2,..

6. Systems that are more diverse versus
systems that are more like monocultures
Wheat Fallow Soy
Wheat Soy Fallow Maize Fallow

7. Systems that can change scale or intensity
Irrigated / rainfed cropping
Maize
Variable allocation
Fallow
Sorg Fallow of land and water
for irrigation
Soy
Wheat
Cotton
Mung
Fallow

8. Systems that can change function e.g.
produce grain vs. produce fibre vs. produce
meat
Mixed grain - grazing Cropping cycle
Chickpea Fallow Wheat
Grazing cycle
Buffel
grass Forage
oats
Fallow Leucaena
Forage
sorghum

9. Challenge
For the term “eco-efficiency” to become valuable, its rate
of increase should match (or surpass) the rate of
economic growth (or total resource use);
as we are starting to come to terms with the fact that
there is a limit and or an unbearable cost associated to
the existing rates of resource use (i.e.
nutrients, water, fossil fuels).
Thank you