http://www.fao.org/africa/events/detail-events/en/c/330741/ Presentation of Etienne Hainzelin from CIRAD describing the principles of agroecological systems in sub-Saharan Africa and the role of research within these. The presentation was prepared and delivered in occasion of the Regional Symposium on Agroecology in sub-Saharan Africa, held in Dakar, Senegal on 5-6 November 2015. © FAO: http://www.fao.org

1. Agroecology as a path to food and
nutrition security for the agricultural
transition in Africa
Etienne Hainzelin
In collaboration with Cirad researchers
Regional Meeting on Agroecology in sub-Saharan Africa
5 et 6 Novembre 2015
1

2. Outline
1. Agroecology represents a rupture with the way agriculture has
been seen and analyzed by mainstream science for over a century,
with essentially artificializing views.
2. Agroecology has many incarnations but no consensual definition.
Its founding concept and lowest common denominator is found at
plot level : mobilization of ecosystemic services.
3. Interactions between Agroecology and food and nutrition security

3. 1. Agroecology represents a rupture with the way agriculture has
been seen and analyzed by mainstream science for over a century,
with essentially artificializing views.

4. Compared intensitivity of cropping systems (adapted from M. Griffon 2013)
Natural resources /
ecosystem services
Inputs
Products /
biomass
Positive
externalities
Negative
externalities
Conventionally
intensified
farming
systems

5. Natural
resources /
ecosystem
services
Inputs
Products /
biomass
Positive
externalities
Negative
externalities
AE. Ecologically
intensified
farming
systems
Compared intensitivity of cropping systems (adapted from M. Griffon 2013)

6. A radical transformation of agriculture

7. A radical transformation of agriculture

8. Adapted from M. Griffon 2013
Natural
ecosystem
Conventionally
intensified
farming
systems
AE. Ecologically
intensive
farming
systems
Diversification
Complexification
“aggradation”
Uniformization
Simplification
Degradation
Regulated
dynamics
Natural
dynamics
Traditional
farming
systems with
no input

9. 2. Agroecology has many incarnations but no consensual
definition. Its founding concept and lowest common denominator
is found at plot level : mobilization of ecosystemic services.

10. Agroecology
Integrated
pest management
Organic
agriculture
conservation
agriculture
Permaculture
Ecological
intensification
Organic and
resource-conserving
agriculture
Eco-Agriculture
10
The very diverse incarnations of ‘Agroecology’
and
many more …

11. The very diverse incarnations of ‘Agroecology’
Inspired from Wezel et al, 2009
Agroecology
Scientific Disciplines
Ecology of
plots, fields,
herds
Ecology of
Food systems
Ecology
of
agrosystems
Environne-
mentalism
Rural
Development
Sustainable
agriculture
Technologies
Social MovementPractices
11

12. 2 . Among the diverse “incarnations” of AE, the lowest common
denominator is found at plot level.
The basic and common principle is to amplify the services
provided by living organisms taking the optimal advantage
of natural resources, especially those which are abundant and
free (solar energy, air carbon and nitrogen, rainfall).

13. • AE will pilot and optimize functional biodiversity aboveground, at
different scales over space and time, both to intensify biological
cycles for nutrients, water and energy, and to control aggressors
of the crops.
• AE will manage functional biodiversity underground by
amplifying biogeochemical cycles in the soil, by recycling the
nutrients from deep profiles and by increasing biotic activities.
The basic principle of agroecology at plot level
Expected advantages at plot level:
• increased biomass production and C-sequestration in plants and soil
• enhanced soil biology and fertility in the long term
• Reduced inputs costs and solutions for the challenges of resources
• stability of output, resistance to stress, perturbation and aggressors
13

14. The 5 principles of agroecological systems (Altieri)
1. Enhance recycling of biomass and optimizing nutrient availability
and balancing nutrient flow.
2. Securing favorable soil conditions for plant growth, particularly by
managing organic matter and enhancing soil biotic activity.
3. Minimizing losses due to flows of solar radiation, air and water by
way of microclimate management, water harvesting and soil
management through increased soil cover.
4. Species and genetic diversification of the agroecosystem in time
and space.
5. Enhance beneficial biological interactions and synergisms among
agrobiodiversity components thus resulting in the promotion of key
ecological processes and services
14
Reijntjes, C.B., Haverkort and A. Waters-Bayer. (1992) Farming for the
future. London: MacMillan Press Ltd. Cited by Altieri

15. Increased number
of cultivated species or genotypes
Optimizing plant functional biodiversity means
complexification of cropping systems …

16. Macrofaune:
soil « engineers »
S. Jeffery et al. (eds.), 2010, European Atlas of Soil Biodiversity. European16
Mesofaune:
Soil « shredders » Microfaune:
«soil microregulators »
Microflora: soil
« carbo-chemists »
…optimization of the soil biodiversity

17. Ex 1. A large family of applications of
« stimulo-deterrent » technologies
D’après J. Van den Berg
17

18. Ex. 2 Multiples examples of agroforestry
From planned associated cropping
18
…… to complex agroforests

19. Ex 3. The «Zaï», agroecological practice to rehabilitate degraded
soils in Burkina Faso
19

20. 3. Interactions between Agroecology and food and nutrition security

21. Food security 1996
21
Food and nutrition security 2012
Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic
access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and
food preferences for an active and healthy life”. (World Food Summit, 1996)
With its four dimensions (Food availability, Food access, Utilization
and Stability), FAN is a multifactorial and complex challenge, that
questions way beyond the production systems: economic
development and poverty, women and children status, public
health, equity, food habits, environmental pollutions, etc.

22. Contribution of food availability and other determinants to
reduction of child malnutrition 1970-1995. (Smith et Haddad, 2001)

23. STATUT
NUTRITIO
NNEL DES
ENFANTS
ET DES
FEMMES
DEVELOPPEMENTAGRICOLE
Liens Agriculture/Nutrition Source : Dury et al, 2014
adapté de Headey et al, 2011
?

24. PRODUCTION
ALIMENTAIRE
PROD. AGRICOLE
NON
ALIMENTAIRE
Niveau ménage Niveau individuel
Consommation
alimentaire
individuelle STATUT
NUTRITIO
NNEL DES
ENFANTS
ET DES
FEMMES
Facteurs culturels
d’habitudes, de
préférence.
Inégalités entre ménages pour
accès aux ressources naturelles,
sociales, économiques
Environnement/ Eau,
assainissement
Interventions sur les inégalités Interventions en Santé
publique
Inégalités intra ménage
Facteurs socio
économiques
d’interaction
Etat de Santé
ACTIVITES DE
SOIN
DEVELOPPEMENTAGRICOLE
Liens Agriculture/Nutrition
FACTEURS DE
PRODUCTIONS ET
CAPITAUX
(Livelihood) DES
MENAGES
DEPENSES
ALIMENTAIRES
REVENU
AGRICOLE
AUTRES
REVENUS+
DECAPITALISA
TION
DEPENSES
SOINS / SANTE
AUTRES
DEPENSES +
Epargne
CONSOMMATION
ALIMENTAIRE
DU MENAGE
PRIX
Niveau macro-économique
Production
nationale
Consommation
nationale
+ importations -
exportations…
Intermédiaires
filières AA
Interventions sur
connaissances/
attitudes
Autres activités rémunérées
ou non
Travail Agricole
Source : Dury et al, 2014
adapté de Headey et al, 2011

25. Impact pathways of production systems on FAN
• Produced outputs  +/- Availability
• Famers’ income  +/- Access
• Price  +/- Access
• Labor intensification
–  Care // Access
–  Biological needs, availability
• Environment  Health nutrition/utilization
• Women status and empowerment  +/- access
• Exclusion of natural resources  +/- access
• …
D’après Dury S. 2015

26. 26
And thanks for these zillions little guys, working
hard for us, behind the scene
with a smile !
Thanks for your attention