Category: Datablog

In 2020, Tittonell (see citation below) developed a concept describing different agroecological states and transitions from one state to another. The figure below shows which transitions have been documented how many times in a collection of 271 documents written by researchers and practitioners between 2007 and 2021.

Main messages of the chart

In the Mekong Region, there is a strong focus on modernising traditional farming systems and optimising existing agroecological systems particularly among agroecology practitioners (project coordinators and development partners). Agroecology researchers also place a focus on these two transition types. However, they also aim to combine the modernisation of traditional systems with nature conservation, and they aim to find solutions that help to diversify industrial systems such as large-scale monocropping concessions. Yet, these priorities are only rarely taken up by practitioners. The restauration of degraded agricultural land is neglected by both scientists and practitioners, and the out-scaling of successful agroecological systems is rather poorly represented.

Implications of findings

The results show that agroecological initiatives mostly target traditional smallholder systems or smallholder-led commercial systems. While such a focus is important to secure rural livelihoods and improve food security, it neglects the segment of agricultural systems with the fastest dynamic (and therewith the strongest potential impacts) in the region: large-scale commercial agriculture. Therefore, interfaces that bring together farmers, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and the private sector are probably the most promising way of negotiating trade-offs and co-benefits among various stakeholders and reach consensus on the design of sustainable agricultural landscapes.

Data sources

The chart was generated with data from a meta-analysis that assessed 271 documents found on 5 global and regional digital knowledge platforms (Scopus, Web of Science, WOCAT, Mekong Region Land Governance, and FAO). Only documents written in English between 2007 (the beginning of the agrarian transition in the region) and 2021 (the year when the analysis was conducted) were considered. Further, the study only looked at documents that describe concrete implementation in the field and left out theoretical or purely conceptual studies.

To learn more on the subject

Cornelia Hett, Zar Chi Aye, Christophe Gironde, Alice Beban, Jean-Christophe Castella, Rasso Bernhard & Albrecht Ehrensperger (2023) Agroecological initiatives in the Mekong Region: a systematic literature review and mapping reveals their implications for transitioning to sustainable food systems, Journal of Land Use Science, 18:1, 334-355. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1747423X.2023.2248980

Tittonell, P. (2020). Assessing resilience and adaptability in agroecological transitions. Agricultural Systems, 184.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2020.102862

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Evidence on the impacts of long-term cassava-based conservation agriculture systems on soil  organic carbon and greenhouse gas emissions in Cambodia highlighted that Conservation Agriculture (CA) systems representing credible strategies for the Royal Government of Cambodia to fulfill international conventions (NDC, UNCCD, LDN).

In this experiment, the   SOC   sequestration  rates  under   Conservation agriculture systems ranged from +0.70 to +1.07 tons  C/ha/yr.  This accumulation offsets  global warming potential (GWP100), at a 100-year time scale[1], by removing -2.58  to -3.94  tons  CO2-e/ha/yr from the atmosphere by   storing   it  as  SOC   stock.   In  comparison,   Conventional agriculture removed  only  -0.52   tons   CO 2 -e/ha/yr,   which  was about  4 times lower than CA systems.

In addition, CA systems could also contribute to better farming practices for better products, adding values to the agricultural commodities as “Green Climate Products”.

Source : Evidence on the impacts of long-term cassava-based conservation agriculture systems on soil  organic carbon and greenhouse gas emissions in Cambodia, Research brief by Vira Leng realised under ASSET project , based on : Diachronic assessment of soil organic C and N dynamics under long-term no-till cropping systems in the tropical  upland  of Cambodia

Vira   Leng,   Rémi   Cardinael,   Florent   Tivet, Vang Seng, Phearum Mark, Pascal Lienhard, Titouan    Filloux,    Johan   Six,    Lyda    Hok, Stéphane   Boulakia,    Clever    Briedis,    João Carlos de Moraes Sá, and Laurent Thuriès SOIL, Volume 10, issue 2, 699–725, the European Geosciences Union
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-10-699-2024

The Government of the Lao PDR perceives commercial investments in land as a fast and efficient way of improving their citizens’ wellbeing through the creation of employment, improved infrastructure, and better market access. These investments are seen as the easiest way to drive development in rural areas. But do they really live up to these expectations, or are they rather entrenching poverty?

Main messages of the chart

Between 2005 and 2015 poverty incidence in Laos has decreased in most villages (blue shades). However, there are hotspots, in which poverty incidence has increased (yellow and orange shades), for example in the South, on and around the Boloven Plateau (area inside the dashed circle). One of the main causes for this negative trend is land dispossession due to large-scale land investments in coffee, fruit trees and other crops (small circles on the map representing different types of commodities). Out of the 109 villages on the Plateau, 48 experienced a decrease of poverty while the remaining 61 villages became poorer. The ones worst hit experienced up to 30% increase in poverty from 2005 to 2015. Accessibility seems to be an important precondition for positive poverty outcomes: The villages that were able to benefit from the opportunities offered by the wave of investments are mainly located in the more accessible surroundings of the city of Paksong, while those who suffered from it are rather found in remoter corners of the plateau.

Implications of findings

Poverty outcomes of agricultural commercialisation and large-scale land investments can be very diverse and therefore commercialisation and investments are not a guarantee for poverty alleviation and rural development. For example, it seems like a higher diversification of peoples’ livelihood strategies prior to the arrival of such investments helps local communities to better benefit from the advantages offered by the investments. It is also important to look at various poverty dimensions – such as food security, livelihood resilience to various economic or environmental shocks, and access to resources – as monetary poverty is an insufficient indicator for an accurate assessment of wellbeing.

Data sources

Poverty data: Epprecht, M., Bosoni, N., Ehrensperger, A., Nagasawa, H., Lu, J., Studer, D., Vollmar, P., & Sisoulath, V. (2018). Socio-Economic Atlas of the Lao PDR. Patterns and trends from 2005 to 2015. Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern, Switzerland, and Lao Statistics Bureau, Lao PDR. The data can be viewed on the platform k4d.la

Investment data: Hett, C., Nanhthavong, V., Hanephom, S., Phommachanh, A., Sidavong, B., Phouangphet, K., Lu, J., Shattuck, A., Ingalls, M., Bernhard, R., Phathitmixay, S., Phomphakdy, C., Heinimann, A., & Epprecht, M. (2020). Land Leases and Concessions in the Lao PDR: A Characterization of Investments in Land and their Impacts, Based on field data of 2014-2017. i–xviii, 1–130

To learn more on the subject

Ehrensperger, A., Nanhthavong, V., Beban, A., Gironde, C., Diepart, J. C., Scurrah, N., … Ingalls, M. (2023). The agrarian transition in the Mekong Region: pathways towards sustainable land systems. Journal of Land Use Science, 19(1), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/1747423X.2024.2288728

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In the Mekong Region, agroecological approaches provide a niche alternative to the dominant traditional or intensive farming systems. We conducted a synthesis of current evidence on agroecological interventions by means of a systematic literature review and mapping of case studies in Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar.

The majority of the 271 identified cases focussed on practical and technical support. Interventions
using holistic approaches, and such that focused on improving food systems through innovative territorial governance, value chain arrangements, and policy frameworks were scarce. Most cases targeted the
agroecological optimization and the modernization of traditional farming systems. A mere 18 of our cases addressed gender in relation to agroecology. To scale agroecological transitions, sectoral barriers have to be overcome. There is an urgent need to put a pronounced focus on the diversification of ecosystem services in commercial agriculture and degraded areas and on women’s contributions to sustainable farming.