Socio-economic dynamics to transform the sector towards resilience- The Syprobio approach Gian L. Nicolay, FiBL Africa coordinator and Syprobio project leader Milano, July 9th, 2015

Content 1.Context 2.Basics of Ecological Organic Farming 3.The problem to solve 4.The Syprobio approach (=Best practice) 5.Main results 6.Challenges ahead

1. The context 3 Climate change and the need for climate smartness More people to feed without exploiting natural resources- sustainable intensification Complexity- integrate environmental, economic, social and scientific facts. The challenge for science and deve- lopment Africa not yet fully integrated into World Society

The cotton belt in West Africa 4 Ten innovation platforms of Syprobio constructed on existing cooperatives Syprobio ( )

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The Syprobio project is one of the winners on best practices- focus on socio- economic dynamics and global markets The project methodology is the Best Practice for Sustainable Development

North / South divide Society, incl. economy, politics and culture -Impoverished rural communities -Weakened families (men often separated due to historical and economic reasons). -Crucial role of (neglected)women farmers -Modern forms of solidarity neglected; pressure from outside commercialization -Policies favor unrealistic and unsustainable farming Environmental/nature -Often heavy degradation, poor soils -Impoverished seed base -Erratic climate -Strong agriculture-pastoralist interaction s

Organic farming is about … … caring for the soil, organic matter recycling. using high diversity nature for promoting beneficial insects and combating pests. … spraying extracts of plants and other natural compounds against pests and diseases. … using robust varieties. 2. Basics of Ecological Organic Farming To be mainstreamed by the African agricultural policies by 2020 (Decision 2011)

9 What is specific of OA systems? EconomyConsumers are closer. Better price (premium) EnvironmentOrganic matter recycling; no-use of mineral fertilizer and synthetic pesticides Civil SocietyIntensified interactions, better integration in society, empowerment, faster way out of poverty, self- confidence ScienceTargeted scientific support in holistic way; but relatively poor support by public (f. ex. FiBL is a private foundation) CultureValues of care, health, and risk mitigation complement profit making aims PoliticsStill neglects incentives for organic practices and ecosystem services Climate ChangeFarms applying > 3t OM /ha/y have higher adaptation capacity than conventional farms

Organic Save and Grow/ CONV Agroecological The 3 forms (ideas) of (sustainable) farming (with a future) What is «organic» in our context? FAO The organic movement Many NGOs Organic is not the same as «Natural». It is more: scientifically based and making use of appropriate technologies. The four principles are Health, Ecology, Fairness and Care.

3. The problem to solve Degraded soils Food insecurity and poverty Climate change impact Low productivity Inefficient value chains Neglect of agriculture Technological and social disconnections Non-resilent cotton-food systems in West Africa

Problems translated in socio-economic logic: Poor cooperation amongst actors and their institutions (FARMERS / RESEARCHERS / INDUSTRY / POLICY / CITIZEN / CONSUMERS / VARIOUS COMMUNITIES ) Poor scientific data on feasibilty and effciency of larger organic food and fiber systems (LACK OF TRUST, POOR COMMUNICATION)

4. The Syprobio approach. Main methods applied Social sciences (mainly sociology, social systems theory, Actor-network theory, transdisciplinarity, economics) The farmers at the center IAR4D, or integrated agriculture research for development Start with organic farmers, move into conventional systems (rolling out) Theories and empirical action-research as itinerative process. 13

Partners coordination backstopping Research institutions Producer organisations 14

Partner network 15

Elements of transdisciplinarity Interdisciplinarity: Soil sciences Entomology Agronomy Agro-economy Sociology Society sectors: Organic cotton producers from Mali, Burkina Faso and Benin Extensionists and market players National researchers Politicians Science is conceived as a social system

Nature Human Farm Society Innovation space Indigenous knowledge as the starting point within the social system 17

Nature Human Farm Society global national Economy politics law civil. society media science culture I n n o v a ti o n Nat. organis. gender knowledge households, networks Ecolo Anth ropo Socio Social fields with capitals and poles Main poles: male/female; farmer/urban elite; producer/ consumer; industrial/organic; North/South; short/long term 18

The 6 forms of capital within food and agriculture Methodological aspects of research for development (R4D) – The unity of Science is postulated

The rolling-out model

Syprobio Project Matrix ScienceSocietyEconomyPolitics Field/Farm Methodology, facilitation Innovation productionProfitability for farmers and national economies Incentives; payment for eco- services District Methodology, facilitation (innovation development, rolling out) Farmer-researcher networks, villages and CBO; local governments Local economyintegration Nation Promote integrated approaches Innovation platformsValue chains (organic, other), identify market constraints Food security; Climate change Sub-region NetworkingRegional networkssectors industrycooperation 21

Preconditions for successful farmer- researcher networks Move from project thinking to socio-cultural-political real-life conditions and functional, result-based management, anchored in local, national and regional realities. Capture the function systems, understand the complex nature 22

25 All our knowledge begins with the senses, proceeds then to the understanding, and ends with reason. There is nothing higher than reason. Immanuel Kant

5. Main results (after 4 years) > 15 farmer-led innovations tested Farmer-research networks strengthened in 3 countries Socio-economic studies prove the profitability of small-scale based organic farming Yields improvements of > 30% (cotton and cereals). Potentially for at least 1 Mio farms. Women-led farms are benefitting most.

Strategic relevance Ecological organic agriculture has huge potential in West Africa. Economic, social and environmentally. It works. Best practice of the Syprobio approach has generated «operational best practices» on soil fertility, plant health, seed testing adapted to climate change, cropping diversity and dissemination with ICT/Bluetooth technology Up-to 4 Value chains are improved at the same time: cotton, maize, sorghum, cow pea/sesam.

Research / science better starts on indigenous knowledge and then clarifies the arguments within society (=Translation). Development work by the various stakeholders builds on it (=Praxis). The proposed R4D as method to solve complex societal problems (= Integration of research and development ) Learning: Main societal conditions for the provision of effective knowledge: 28

Challenges ahead Improve the management capacity of the farmer organizations Invest more in virtual learning opportunities Closer cooperation with Universities (build a new generation of scientists) Tap in the huge potential of organic markets (cotton as key crop) Farms and farmer- researcher networks Value Chains Policy environment; societal transformation Syprobio I Syprobio II ?

Mille grazie per l’attenzione Let’s continue to construct the «Feeding Knowledge» network