biocultural innovations for climate resilient food systems: sifor – common findings

SIFOR - Smallholder Innovation for Resilience 1

Krystyna Swiderska 15 November 2016Author name

DateKrystyna Swiderska 15 November 2016

Krystyna Swiderska, IIED UNFCCC COP22, 15 November 2016

Biocultural Innovations for Climate Resilient Food Systems: SIFOR – Common Findings


Krystyna Swiderska 15 November 2016

SIFOR - Smallholder Innovation for Resilience (2012-2017)• AIM: To strengthen Indigenous Knowledge-based

innovation systems for food security in the face of climate change.

• Participatory Action Research in 64 indigenous communities:

Peru – Potato Park (Quechua): Alejandro Argumedo (ANDES)

China – Guangxi & Yunnan (Naxi): Yiching Song (CCAP)

India - Central & Eastern Himalayas (Lepcha): Ajay Rastogi (Lok Chetna Manch)

Kenya - Coastal (Mijikenda): Chemuku Wekesa (KEFRI) (inc. semi-arid, dryland)



SIFOR Baseline Study (2013-14)The study involved over 900 HHs in total - qualitative & quantitative surveys. Explored: • Trends in livelihoods & migration; food

security; agrobiodiversity; climate; & social capital. Mainly from 2002-2012.

• Biocultural innovations:- Technological, market, institutional - Endogenous (internal); collaborative (joint)



Focused on “Biocultural Heritage-based Innovations” because IK is part of biocultural heritage

Indigenous knowledge

Bio-genetic

diversity

LandscapesCultural & spiritual values

Customary laws Resilience

innovation



Why focus on biocultural innovation?• To show that indigenous peoples are

also innovators.• To strengthen agroecological

practices for adaptation & mitigation.• To strengthen self-reliance in face of

growing variability & uncertainty.• To conserve agrobiodiversity & IK• To strengthen indigenous peoples’

rights & leadership.



Clear evidence of changes in climate & adverse impacts on food systems (2002-12)

% Households Decreased/more erratic Rainfall

Increased Drought

Increased Temperature

Increased Pests & Diseases

SW China Guangxi & YN(344 HHs)

92% 63% 70% 67%

India – C & E Himalayas (c.130 HHs)

71% 89% 80% 79%

Peru – Potato Park(61 HHs)

92% 56% 50% 50%

Kenya coast(375 HHs)

78% 90% 91% 82%

All: more extreme events; more variable weather



Income diversification & out-migration (2002-12): - Shift to non-farm income, but farming still most important livelihood activity for income & food security- Increased migration to cities for work (esp. men)

Income Out-migration to cities

China (CSA)

Steady increase GX & YN 3-4 x increase in CSA HHs (GX)

GX: from 44% to 43%YN: from 41% to 69%

Peru (Potato Pk)

Av. HH Income nearly doubled Grew from 14% to 22%

Kenya Av. HH income increased by a third (but expenditure also inc)

Av 14% in 2012

India Av. HH income inc. by 25% (but expenditure also inc.)

CH & EH – slight increase



Loss of crop diversity & spread of hybrids (2002-2012)

SW China: Rapid decline in maize landraces & spread of hybrids. Revival of heritage varieties in CSA villages (since 2007).Peru PP: Potato diversity doubled due to CIP agreement & collective management. India Him: Loss of crop diversity due to wildlife/birds, change in food habits, dry spells.Kenya coast (30yrs): Reduction in HHs growing maize & cassava landraces by 20-50%; increase in HHs growing hybrids by 20-30%. All: Women play key role in seed security


Krystyna Swiderska 15 November 2016Yield trends (2002-12)

Country / Crop Changes in yield

Potato Park, Peru – native potato

Slight increase in yields despite severe increase in pests

SW China – PPB maize 15-30% increase in yields due to PPB

India – potato, maize, rice landraces

Slight decline in potato yields

Kenya – maize & cassava

Reduced crop & livestock productivity due to drought & pests/diseases



Central Himalayas – District Almora, Uttarankhand State, India


Krystyna Swiderska 15 November 2016Biocultural heritage-based innovations -

• Identified > 600 biocultural innovations for food security in the face of climate change – all agroecology-based; some v. effective.

• Mostly technological innovations – less institutional & market innovations

• Technological innovations: diversification (traditional crops/varieties); revitalising traditional practices (inter-cropping & IPM); new/resilient crop varieties; new cropping systems; improved farming tools; bio-pesticides; Soil & Water conservation.


Krystyna Swiderska 15 November 2016Biocultural innovations - Kenya

• Planting hybrids, improved & traditional maize & cassava together to reduce risk.

• Planting pruned cassava tops: yield increased 4-5 x, maturation time reduced by 6 months.

• Planting coconuts face down to avoid termites.• Soil fertility: deep ploughing/turning & manure >

High productivity • Domestication of wild fruit & medicinal trees for

increased income > planting trees on farm.• Effective IK-based treatments for livestock disease.• Cultural Village: To protect Kaya forest through

eco-tourism, revitalise traditional crops & culture.



Biocultural innovations in IndiaEastern Himalayas:• Breeding new varieties (EH): high yielding radish - crossed

modern & traditional variety; black rice bean with higher yield & price; drought tolerant cardamom & new cropping system.

• Far improved yield of onions, cauliflower and gadheri by changing sowing times, planting depth & weeding.

• Domestication of broomstick grass after landslide – for soil conservation & cash crop.

• Traditional institution for pooling labour; pooling produce.Central Him: • More diversified mixed cropping nr. house provides food

throughout year & fertile soil. • New composting techniques > higher yields & v. efficient water

use• Switch to finger millet > inc. resilience to drought, nutrition and

income. Early uprooting of maize to buffer drought.• Women planting fodder trees on farm• Crop Protection Committees to reduce crop raiding



Conclusions: IK is vital for resilience & adaptation (complements science)

• Climate forecasting using variety of signs • Resilient technologies & farming practices.• Traditional production systems/strategies designed to

manage risk & maximise resilience over time (rather than short term productivity)

• Holistic worldviews that are deeply connected to land - prioritise ecological values, sufficiency & equity/sharing.

• Adaptation with development & mitigation co-benefits (eg. livelihoods, social capital; organic inputs, tree planting, soil carbon).


Krystyna Swiderska 15 November 2016Diversification versus productivist model

• In risk-prone environments, need to support the resilience logic that underpins traditional production systems & use science to fit that model (rather than productivist logic).

• High tech seeds may be very productive in the short term, but erode genetic diversity & IK for future & can inc. risk.

• Traditional production systems sustain genetic evolution & co-evolution for adaptation (DNA evidence that maize landraces more resilient than same lines held ex-situ)

Growing evidence that diversification & agroecology is an effective ‘climate-smart’ alternative - eg: • SIFOR: significant increases in income & yield.• Landraces have higher nutrition (FAO/CWS)• IPES: Diversified = more productive over time, eg. 30 yrs • 700 yr. old indigenous W. African soil enrichment – inc yields 2-3

times• IK-based innovations have sustained productivity for centuries

(archeological study in NW Kenya).



Paris Agreement: adaptation should support ecosystems, IK and rights• Art 7.5: Adaptation action “should be based on the

best available science and, as appropriate, traditional knowledge, knowledge of indigenous peoples and local knowledge systems”.

• Preamble: Respect Human Rights & Rights of Indigenous Peoples

• IPCC: Recognises importance of Indigenous Knowledge and Worldviews for effective adaptation (AR5)

• BUT - NDCs: Very few mention Indigenous Knowledge/People (except Peru & India &..?)


Krystyna Swiderska 15 November 2016Urgent action is needed!

• 50-90% if languages will be lost by 2100 (UNESCO) – indicator of IK.

• “If we lose IK, we will have to invest millions of dollars to re-invent solutions for adaptation” (Carlos Loret de Mola, Govt of Peru, South-South exchange workshop, Lijiang, May 2016)

• Need to engage Indigenous Peoples as technical experts in policy discussions on adaptation, climate smart agriculture & EbA!



Thank you!

www.bioculturalheritage.org

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biocultural innovations for climate resilient food systems: sifor – common findings

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