Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
giving special attention to socio-economic research and its links with biophysical
and technology-oriented research.
Lesson 2: Solutions and new insights require multi-disciplinary and multi-scale
approaches
Multi-disciplinary, multi-scale research and integrated assessments that combine
insights and knowledge from different disciplines and scales are needed to deal with
the complexity of rural development and to support decision-making processes. This
approach allows application of new insights in targeted problem-solving and has
the potential to deliver solutions acceptable to the end user. Understanding scale-
dependencies and linkages is essential for identifying successful policy and farm
management strategies. Further development of both, up-scaling and down-scaling
methodologies in the biophysical and socio-economic domains is urgently needed.
Lesson 3: Re-inforce focus on resource use efficiency
Substantial resource use efficiency gains are possible, especially for nutrients and
water and to a less extent for labour, energy and capital. Efficiency gains have the
potential to alleviate pressure on scarce resources, contribute positively to economic
development and reduce the environmental impacts of agriculture, including emissions
and loss of biodiversity. Possible trade-offs should be identified and analysed
explicitly - such as the socio-cultural factors that constrain the adoption of new,
more resource use-efficient technologies.
Lesson 4: Rural development is not equal to agricultural development
The importance of non-farm activities for the rural economy has largely been
ignored. Non-farm income-generating activities are, however, key elements in the
livelihood strategies of rural dwellers and are strongly linked to food security and
the environmental impacts of agriculture. In addition to research on agricultural
production, the research agenda for rural development should also consider non-farm
activities, institutional arrangements that constrain or facilitate rural development
and environmental services related to water, carbon and biodiversity.
Lesson 5: Crucial decision level: the farm household
Policies or technologies that are not consistent with the context in which farm
households operate will have little impact. Farm households weigh competing claims
on their land, labour and capital of different (agricultural and non-agricultural)
activities in the light of their household objectives. These objectives and the portfolio
of possible household activities need to be taken into account when designing
policies or technologies.
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