Analyzing influencing factors to scale up agroforestry systems in Colombia: A comparative ex-ante assessment of cacao farming and cattle ranching in two regions

Abstract

Agroforestry systems (AFS) are proved to enhance sustainable land management. Thus, there is increasing demand for effective ways to scale up AFS so that more people can benefit. Consequently, this study assesses the scaling-up potential of agroforestry systems (AFS) using cacao farming and cattle ranching in Caquetá and Cesar, Colombia, as examples. An ex-ante assessment using the ScalA tool is conducted through interviews with AFS experts from institutions promoting AFS. Using a comparative approach, results reveal that AFS have different scaling-up potential depending on the type of farming system and location characteristics. In our case, it is slightly higher for cacao farming than for cattle ranching in both regions and it is higher in Caquetá than in Cesar for both systems. Factors hindering the scaling-up potential for both regions are economic conditions at the local and regional levels since there is a lack of stable and differentiated markets to absorb AFS products. In contrast, the scaling-up potential in both regions is increased by the factors related to the capacity of the organizations that promote AFS and the attitudes of local communities toward them. The study generates information about factors that may hinder or foster AFS scaling-up, including not just the capacities and mechanisms to promote them but also the enabling conditions. This contributes to prioritizing AFS interventions and better allocating their resources to increase their chances of successful scaling-up.

Upscaling agroforestry in the tropics through actor-networks: a comparative case study of cacao farming systems in two regions of Colombia

“…In this sense, a better understanding of those factors affecting AFS upscaling implies carefully examining the attributes of these key actors and their relationships, as their influencing positions have a strong impact on network outcomes in terms of knowledge and governance (Bodin and Crona 2009;Bourne et al 2017;Zinngrebe et al 2020). Overall, these sets of key actors were completely different within and across regions, which may be the result of (1) decentralized agricultural policies and privatized extension services that generate differentiated support for cacao farmers (Abbott et al 2018); (2) the lack of an established regulatory framework that comprehensively supports AFS and assigns clear roles across sectors and political levels (FAO 2013;Zinngrebe et al 2020;Macke et al 2021;Rodríguez et al 2022); and (3) distinctive regional characteristics in terms of cacao production and access to resources.…”

“…In this paper, upscaling refers to processes aiming to impact higher institutional levels by changing or adapting the rules and logic of incumbent regimes (law, policy, or institutions) via advocacy, lobbying, networking, or supporting alternative visions and discourses (Hartmann and Linn 2008;Moore et al 2015;Lam et al 2020). These processes require coalitions between diverse actors 1 at multiple governance levels (FAO 2013;Andreotti et al 2020;Buck et al 2020;Lambin et al 2020;Plieninger et al 2020;Schut et al 2020), together with innovative approaches to managing AFS knowledge that consider the varying biophysical conditions of sites, and the specific socioeconomic needs, as well as the local knowledge and perceptions (Clark et al 2016;van Noordwijk 2019;Rodríguez et al 2022). In this sense, more open and inclusive forms of governance and knowledge management are required to improve the capacity of actors to understand the complex social-ecological systems (Roling and Jiggins 1998;Tengö et al 2014;Van Kerkhoff 2014;Berthet and Hickey 2018;Lin et al 2021) where AFS are promoted.…”