Multiscale Methodological Framework to Derive Criteria and Indicators for Sustainability Evaluation of Peasant Natural Resource Management Systems

López-Ridaura, Santiago; Keulen, H. van; Ittersum, M.K. van; Leffelaar, P.A.

doi:10.1007/s10668-003-6976-x

Cited by 122 publications

(80 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…With the top-down approach, sustainable development is generally broken down into subcomponents based either on properties associated with the systems evaluated (e.g., resiliency, adaptability, and reliability; Hansen 1996;López-Ridaura et al 2005;Valentin and Spangenberg 2000) or on the three pillars of sustainable development: economic, social, and environmental (Ikerd 1993;United Nations 1996). Models presented in this study are based on the latter approach for its simplicity.…”

Section: Considering Complementary Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Guidelines to design models assessing agricultural sustainability, based upon feedbacks from the DEXi decision support system

Craheix¹,

Bergez²,

Angevin³

et al. 2015

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

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New agricultural systems are required to satisfy societal expectations such as higher quantity and quality of agricultural products, reducing environmental impacts, and more jobs. However, identifying and implementing more suitable agricultural systems is difficult due to conflicting objectives and to the wide diversity of scientific disciplines required to solve agricultural issues. Therefore, designing models to assess the sustainability of agricultural systems requires multicriteria decision aid methods. The French agronomist community has recently developed 11 hierarchical and qualitative models to assess sustainability using the DEXi decision aid software. Here, we give guidelines to help designers to build their own specific models. First, we present the principles and applications of the DEXi software. Then, we provide guidance on the following steps of model designing: (1) initial analysis and planning of the design process, (2) selection and hierarchy of sustainability criteria, (3) indicator selection and building, (4) parameterization, (5) evaluation, and (6) model dissemination and uses. We then discuss advantages and drawbacks of this kind of modeling formalism, the role of a participatory approach, and the main properties to consider during the design process.

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Section: Considering Complementary Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Guidelines to design models assessing agricultural sustainability, based upon feedbacks from the DEXi decision support system

Craheix¹,

Bergez²,

Angevin³

et al. 2015

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

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“…whether different sources of inputs can be combined or substituted rather than depending on one specific input. This concept has been used to analyse the adaptive capacity of farming systems (Bellon et al, 2004;Lopez-Ridaura et al, 2005). As the available work force is often limited on farms, work organisation is of particular importance: what tasks need to be done, who can perform the task, is it possible to hire skilled workers, can work flows be adapted to react flexibly, e.g.…”

Section: Flexibility To Increase Response Optionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptiveness to enhance the sustainability of farming systems. A review

Darnhofer

Bellon²,

Dedieu³

et al. 2010

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

306

223

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-During the last decade the context in which farmers must manage their farm has changed rapidly, and often with little warning. Dramatic price swings for agricultural commodities, more stringent quality requirements, new environmental regulations, the debates surrounding genetically modified crops, extreme climatic events, the demand for energy crops, the revision of the Common Agricultural Policy and the consequences of the financial crisis all create uncertainty regarding future threats and potentials. During such turbulent times, a one-sided focus on efficient production is no longer enough. Farmers also need to be able to cope with unexpected events and to adapt to new developments. Based on a literature review, we identify three strategies that strengthen the adaptive capacity of a farm: learning through experimenting and monitoring its outcomes, ensuring a flexible farm organisation to increase the options for new activities by the farm family, and diversifying to spread risks and create buffers. Implementing these strategies enlarges the farmer's room to manoeuvre and allows identifying transition options. These options do not depend only on the farm itself, but also on the farmer's ability to mobilise external resources and to engage in collective action. Change is then no longer seen as a disturbance, but as a trigger for the reorganisation of resources, and for the renewal of the farm organisation and activities. Implementing these strategies comes at a cost, so that farmers need to tackle the inevitable trade-offs between efficiency and adaptability. However, unless farmers master this challenge they cannot ensure the sustainability of their farms.adaptive farm management / adaptive capacity / evolutionary approach / complex adaptive systems

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“…This should be prevented by clarifying concepts and portraying the assessment framework in advance, as well as by applying step-by-step subroutines during the workshops. To overcome the 'static' character of MCA [36], it is recommended to include proxies that embody the dynamic attributes of the system [60]. In this study, we have done so by incorporating proxies that track farmers' adaptive decisions (V2431) or estimate the degree of change supported by institutions (V4111).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A participatory framework to assess multifunctional land-use systems with multicriteria and multivariate analyses: A case study on agrobiodiversity of agroforestry systems in Tomé Açú, Brazil

Callo-Concha¹,

Denich²

2014

Change and Adaptation in Socio-Ecological Systems

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In a participatory framework, the multifunctionality of agroforestry systems was assessed by applying multicriteria and multivariate analyses to identify ecological, agronomic and administrative proxies and integrate these into factors, and evaluate their effects on system performance. The assessment framework was tested in 70 farms in the municipality of Tomé-Açú in the Brazilian Amazon, an area well known for its long-standing practice of agroforestry. The overall goal was to identify management decisions that ensure sustainable production of goods together with the provision of ecosystem services, with special emphasis on agrobiodiversity. Three groups of farmers were considered based on their period of settlement, property size, technological know-how, organization and access to the market. The results show that the determinant factors of multifunctional farming are the farmers’ technical qualification, good adaptability, environmental commitment and the search for financial profitability. However, the optimization of these factors leads to trade-offs such as a decrease in biomass and woody species diversity and the decline of by-product production. By considering stakeholders’ opinions and being adaptable to various demands, the proposed framework enhances the legitimacy of the results, and supports both the assessment of complex issues and decision-making.

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Multiscale Methodological Framework to Derive Criteria and Indicators for Sustainability Evaluation of Peasant Natural Resource Management Systems

Cited by 122 publications

References 29 publications

Guidelines to design models assessing agricultural sustainability, based upon feedbacks from the DEXi decision support system

Guidelines to design models assessing agricultural sustainability, based upon feedbacks from the DEXi decision support system

Adaptiveness to enhance the sustainability of farming systems. A review

A participatory framework to assess multifunctional land-use systems with multicriteria and multivariate analyses: A case study on agrobiodiversity of agroforestry systems in Tomé Açú, Brazil

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