Integrated Systems Research for Sustainable Intensification in Smallholder Agriculture

Conference synthesis

Overall master questions1. How to move systems concepts into practice?

2. How do we move to scale and impact with systems research

& development?

3. What is the value added of that approach? (Why is systems

research needed to achieve this?)

DAY 1 – OPENING SESSION

CONTEXT

Farmers are system managers

Poverty reduction is multi-dimensional problem, a ‘wicked’

problem with many trade-offs

Sustainable Intensification requires technological and

organizational innovation

Integrate: science quality, partnerships, capacity development,

internal organization

POSITIONING OF SYSTEMS RESEARCH

Systems CRPs were expected to contribute most

Great need for a system approach with; agro-food systems focus

We have an opportunity to put system CRPs back in the position

they were originally envisaged to occupy

Too many test rounds in Africa

DAY 1 - CONCEPTUAL UNDERPINNINGS OF SYSTEMS

RESEARCH: SETTING THE SCENE

Farming systems research has gone through progressive steps

adding more variables and fewer parameters

Farmer empowerment as a guiding principle (e.g., farmers are

natural experimenters)

Alignment with policy, education, and other research systems for

impact; scientist embedded within development processes

towards co-learning

Need to identify leverage points for change for social equity and

gender

Foresight is a crucial component to deal with uncertainty and

unpredictability towards resilience

DAY 1 – REFLECTIONS

We have moved beyond farming systems research both in terms

of understanding and interventions

That said, variation in participant’s perception on system

research, partly reflecting wide diversity of background

This diversity is essential towards operationalizing systems

research; we have a good mix of disciplines that are interaction on

system issues and engaging with other stakeholder groups

Hopefully in the following days, we’ll get clear examples on how

system research is implemented

DAY 2 - SUSTAINABLE INTENSIFICATION IN PRACTICE

Leveraging interest in system research is required, e.g., through

alignment of Regional and National Investment Plans

Diverse pathways exists towards improving livelihoods (e.g.,

intensification, diversification, specialization, exit)

Nutrition is a system property interacting with various livelihood

system dimensions

Markets are key in driving multi-stakeholder processes; private

sector engagement is essential

System analytical tools operating at multiple scales are being

validated with direct engagement of stakeholders

Nutrition and gender are leverage points towards system

improvement but will increase the density of trade-offs

DAY 2 – REFLECTIONS

Excitement about concrete systems research examples being

implemented in different settings

There is substantial progress with understanding systems and

identifying priority interventions towards their improvement

Having activities on the ground provides a basis for advancing

system research, including connecting with actors across scales, co-

learning, and initiating scaling processes

Within the next 2 years, we are confident that this will lead to

generating outcomes within target areas

Hopefully, in day 3, we’ll learn more about how scalable these

initial interventions will be scalable beyond target areas

DAY 3 - PARTNERSHIPS AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

FOR INNOVATION, SCALING UP AND IMPACT

Beyond G x E towards Options x Context leading to Performance

Embracing heterogeneity at scale (biophysical, social, economic,

institutional, etc)

Need to re-assess progress to feed within the O x C framework

Platforms as integrators across many sub-systems constituting

livelihood systems

Need to embed gender and equity within the operationalization of

platforms

Good facilitation of multi-stakeholder processes is key to success

Technological scaling very often requires institutional innovation

Documentation/analysis of multi-stakeholder processes is critical

for enhancing their added value in achieving outcomes/impact

DAY 3 – REFLECTIONS

The current focus is skewed towards productivity and NRM

innovations while scope for institutional innovations is clearly present

Need to put a process in place to move beyond the current multi-

stakeholder engagements to reach millions

Strengthen the exploration of opportunities for aligning with

existing development initiatives that have high potential to embed

system principles within their scaling strategy to achieve impact

The prerequisites for good system research are in place; we have

2 years to generate anticipated outcomes and with initial impact;

tighter interactions between the various research clusters operating

with the target areas will be essential

KEY CONFERENCE OUTCOMES1. Demonstrate and share experiences and evidence to the

effect that Systems Approaches in agriculture research are

effective and contribute to livelihoods and natural resource

management

Systems approaches are being applied widely in theory and in

practice, and relevant to the development challenges across

agro-food systems

Focus of many presentations towards early stage diagnosis and

with opportunities for implementation and impact

Evidence of emerging outcomes, but need for synthesis of those

outcomes

KEY CONFERENCE OUTCOMES2. Share methods, tools and research approaches used in

Systems Research

Rich set of approaches operating at various scales being used

from the household to the landscape/markets/etc

Participatory and action research approaches for integrated

analysis of systems (e.g., biophysical, institutional, political) and

system interventions

There is a fertile space for cross-system CRP learning

KEY CONFERENCE OUTCOMES3. Explore opportunities for new partnerships in Systems

Research for development

Cross system CRP interactions

New/strengthening of research and development partnerships

(CIRAD, WUR, NARS, Civil Society initiatives,etc)

Other important avenues for influence and scaling (e.g., CAADP,

FARA, sub-regional organizations)

KEY CONFERENCE OUTCOMES4. Identify opportunities for cross-system learning, and methods

to do this effectively

Cross-system learning/co-learning Gender

Systems approaches

Capacity to innovate

Nutrition

Development and assessment of indicators

Etc

Communities of Practice as tool? Other suggestion?

Conference proceedings

All conference presentations, footage, etc, is on the conference

website

Book of proceedings (e.g., Earthscan) structured around the logic

of the conference; a mix of invited synthesis papers and individual

contributions

Any other ideas?