Does crop diversification lead to climate-related resilience? Improving the theory through insights on practice

In recent years, CGIAR researchers have investigated the effectiveness of using agrobiodiversity, and more particularly crop and crop varietal diversity, as an adaptive practice to mitigate climate-change impacts on agriculture and to contribute to rural household and community resilience. The hypot...

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Main Author: Vernooy, Ronnie
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Informa UK Limited 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/119532
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author Vernooy, Ronnie
author_browse Vernooy, Ronnie
author_facet Vernooy, Ronnie
author_sort Vernooy, Ronnie
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description In recent years, CGIAR researchers have investigated the effectiveness of using agrobiodiversity, and more particularly crop and crop varietal diversity, as an adaptive practice to mitigate climate-change impacts on agriculture and to contribute to rural household and community resilience. The hypothesis informing this research is that the sustained practice of crop diversification leads to ecological redundancy, which allows farmer households and their communities to produce multiple positive livelihood benefits. The validity of this hypothesis is investigated by means of an extensive literature review (covering 2015–2020). Findings reveal ample evidence of positive outcomes, including increased yields and household incomes, improved nutrition and food security, new marketing opportunities, reduced poverty, and strengthened adaptive and innovative capacity. However, the evidence is far less convincing about the last part of the hypothetical impact pathway, i.e. the link between positive livelihood benefits and (increased) resilience. This shortcoming is addressed through the elaboration of a more clearly articulated theory of change for crop diversification and a refined methodology to support farmers in making appropriate diversification decisions. At the same time, the critical review opens a window on an important, novel perspective, which is to look at the role that crop diversification could play in a wider societal transition toward a more sustainable future.
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spelling CGSpace1195322025-11-11T17:43:31Z Does crop diversification lead to climate-related resilience? Improving the theory through insights on practice Vernooy, Ronnie climate change mitigation diversification impact assessment resilience farming systems mitigación del cambio climático diversificación evaluación del impacto development In recent years, CGIAR researchers have investigated the effectiveness of using agrobiodiversity, and more particularly crop and crop varietal diversity, as an adaptive practice to mitigate climate-change impacts on agriculture and to contribute to rural household and community resilience. The hypothesis informing this research is that the sustained practice of crop diversification leads to ecological redundancy, which allows farmer households and their communities to produce multiple positive livelihood benefits. The validity of this hypothesis is investigated by means of an extensive literature review (covering 2015–2020). Findings reveal ample evidence of positive outcomes, including increased yields and household incomes, improved nutrition and food security, new marketing opportunities, reduced poverty, and strengthened adaptive and innovative capacity. However, the evidence is far less convincing about the last part of the hypothetical impact pathway, i.e. the link between positive livelihood benefits and (increased) resilience. This shortcoming is addressed through the elaboration of a more clearly articulated theory of change for crop diversification and a refined methodology to support farmers in making appropriate diversification decisions. At the same time, the critical review opens a window on an important, novel perspective, which is to look at the role that crop diversification could play in a wider societal transition toward a more sustainable future. 2022-07-03 2022-05-13T07:52:29Z 2022-05-13T07:52:29Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/119532 en Open Access application/pdf Informa UK Limited Vernooy, R. (2022) Does crop diversification lead to climate-related resilience? Improving the theory through insights on practice. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, Online first paper (12 May 2022). 25 p. ISSN: 2168-3565
spellingShingle climate change mitigation
diversification
impact assessment
resilience
farming systems
mitigación del cambio climático
diversificación
evaluación del impacto
development
Vernooy, Ronnie
Does crop diversification lead to climate-related resilience? Improving the theory through insights on practice
title Does crop diversification lead to climate-related resilience? Improving the theory through insights on practice
title_full Does crop diversification lead to climate-related resilience? Improving the theory through insights on practice
title_fullStr Does crop diversification lead to climate-related resilience? Improving the theory through insights on practice
title_full_unstemmed Does crop diversification lead to climate-related resilience? Improving the theory through insights on practice
title_short Does crop diversification lead to climate-related resilience? Improving the theory through insights on practice
title_sort does crop diversification lead to climate related resilience improving the theory through insights on practice
topic climate change mitigation
diversification
impact assessment
resilience
farming systems
mitigación del cambio climático
diversificación
evaluación del impacto
development
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/119532
work_keys_str_mv AT vernooyronnie doescropdiversificationleadtoclimaterelatedresilienceimprovingthetheorythroughinsightsonpractice