Daniel Rodriguez

Resilient Farming Systems by DesignA few ideas for discussion

ADAPTEDNESS

INCREMENTAL SYSTEMS ADJUSTMENTS

TRANSFORMATIONGenerates a new social-

ecological systems

RESILIENCESelf-organization Capacity for learning

Capacity to absorb change

Syst

ems

dist

urba

nces

After Nelson et al., 2007

Outcomes

Adaptation processes

System characteristics

Components of adaptation

Resilient Systems

Systems that are more opportunistic-flexible-plastic versus systems that are more rigid or calendar driven

Systems that are more diverse versus systems that are more like monocultures

Systems that can change scale or intensity

Systems that can change function e.g. produce grain vs. produce fibre vs. produce meat

Any others…?

Farm businesses that exhibit higher levels of intrinsic plasticity (opportunism) in their tactical and strategic management will achieve higher levels of resilience when exposed to a stressor

OPPORTUNITY

CRISIS

HARDSH

IP

Rigid Plastic Outcome (e.g. business profit)

Prob

abili

ty d

ensi

ty

Systems that are more opportunistic-flexible-plastic versus systems that are more rigid or calendar driven

Chick

Sorg1,2,.. Fallow

Whe1,2,..

Maize

Flexible or opportunistic Rigid or more calendar driven

SF C

SF

W 1,2,..

SF

WF C

S 1,2,..

WF

SF

S 1,2,.. W 1,2,..

Systems that are more opportunistic-flexible-plastic versus systems that are more rigid or calendar driven

Systems that are more diverse versus systems that are more like monocultures

Wheat Fallow Soy

Wheat Soy Fallow Maize Fallow

Systems that can change scale or intensity

Irrigated / rainfed cropping

Cotton

Sorg Fallow

Maize

Mung

Fallow

Wheat

Fallow

Soy

Variable allocation of land and water

for irrigation

Systems that can change function e.g. produce grain vs. produce fibre vs. produce meat

Forageoats

Leucaena

Chickpea

Foragesorghum

Buffelgrass

Wheat

Fallow

Fallow

Grazing cycle

Cropping cycleMixed grain - grazing

For the term “eco-efficiency” to become valuable, its rate of increase should match (or surpass) the rate of economic growth (or total resource use);

as we are starting to come to terms with the fact that there is a limit and or an unbearable cost associated to the existing rates of resource use (i.e. nutrients, water, fossil fuels).

Thank you

Challenge