Information Systems Research Outcomes

Research outputsResearch outcomesSystem level outcomesDevelopment impact Land health surveillance methods Field protocols for soil health surveillance Technology (protocols for infrared spectroscopy, calibration libraries) for rapid prediction of Africa soil functional properties Protocols for digital mapping of land/soil health indicators Land health surveillance results for Sub-Saharan Africa (constraint prevalence and maps, risk factors) Governments in food insecure countries adopt land health surveillance methods for national- and sub-national level mapping of land/soil health constraints. Increased capacity of Governments, universities, development NGOs, and conservation groups in land health surveillance science, technology and methods. Business models with public and private sector for commercial soil testing services for smallholder farmers based on infrared spectroscopy. Governments in food insecure countries use land health surveillance methods and data to: Target fertilizer and soil fertility management and investment strategies based on location- specific data on soil fertility constraints Formulate land conservation and rehabilitation strategies and plans based on location- specific information on environmentally- sensitive and degraded areas Public and private soil/compost testing services are used by smallholder farmers based on low cost IR spectroscopy Increased productivity and nutritional value of major food crops grown and improved food security in the smallholder sector in food insecure countries. Increased adoption of fertilizers and improved soil fertility management options by resource-poor smallholders Increased proportion of environmentally- sensitive land under conservation practices. Land health surveillance methods & results

Research outputsResearch outcomesSystem level outcomesDevelopment impact Improved methods for structuring decisions and value of information analysis, illustrated with case studies. Participatory analysis of a set of key development decisions related to water, land and ecosystem management, leading to identification of key objectives, quantification of uncertainties and identification of high value information and measurements. Governments, research and development organizations use decision analysis tools to better target measurement, monitoring and information services to key uncertainties in development decisions related to agricultural intensification and management of ecosystem services. Increased capacity of Governments, universities, development NGOs, and conservation groups in decision analysis and metrics for management of ecosystem services. Governments, research and development organizations design and monitor the effectiveness of intervention strategies for sustainable agro- ecosystem management based on quantitative analysis of uncertainties Accelerated learning on effective agricultural intensification strategies that reduce poverty, increase food security, reduce poverty, improve nutrition, and improve water, and land agro- ecosystem management Decision Analysis Ackoff: Development is learning, not only earning

Research outputsResearch outcomesSystem level outcomesDevelopment impact Standardized protocols for deriving ecosystem health metrics at different scales (remote sensing processing to field/lab measurement) developed and applied in sentinel basins/CRP sites. (Incl. remote sensing of water balance components, mapping irrigated areas, salinity) Web-based spatial data and visualization platform providing open access to regional/basin basic data sets on agro-ecosystem health metrics at regional, basin and sentinel site scales. Application development to meet specific demands. Capacity development of national scientists and universities in ecosystem health assessment and monitoring protocols. Governments adopt ecosystem health surveillance methods for national- and sub-national level agricultural planning and natural resource management. Governments, research and development organizations use agro-ecosystem databases for targeting and learning about sustainable agro- ecosystems. Increased capacity of Governments, universities, development NGOs, and conservation groups in agro- ecosystem health surveillance science, technology and methods. Governments in food insecure countries use agro-ecosystem health metrics and monitoring systems as a basis for the design and implementation of financial instruments for managing/sharing risk, valuing, protecting ecosystem services. Improved targeting and accelerated learning on effective agricultural intensification strategies that reduce poverty, increase food security, reduce poverty, improve nutrition, and improve water, land and agro- ecosystem management. Agro-ecosystem health metrics & monitoring