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AGROECOLOGY4CLIMATE

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Overview

This project builds on transdisciplinary research on agroecological transitions with vulnerable farming communities in Brazil, Canada, Germany, and India. We are examining the influence of agroecological networks (farming organizations, institutional actors, and consumer groups) in promoting the perennialization of agriculture to support climate adaptation (improving resilience in livelihoods and food security) and mitigation (increasing carbon sequestration). This project works directly with farming communities, social movements, and policy makers to improve evidence-based decision-making to assess the potential of agroecological transitions for climate adaptation and mitigation.

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Project Objectives

Our Hypothesis: Agroecology has the greatest impact on climate mitigation and adaptation when farmers combine agroecological practices with engagement in agroecological movements, grounded in agroecological values.

 

The project focuses on three main research objectives to test the hypothesis. ​​

  • Synthesis: Use a participatory action research approach to test the relationships between personal, political, and practical leverage points driving the adoption of agroforestry and other practices supporting agricultural perennialization.

  • Field Study: Work with farmer networks in each case study to test climate mitigation and adaptation outcomes across a diversification gradient, from low-diversity farming systems to perennial and agroforestry-based management systems.

  • Scaling Transformations: Use qualitative and quantitative methods to assess climate mitigation and adaptation outcomes and estimate the potential of agroecology to support the scaling of perennial and agroforestry practices.

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Methodology

  • Agroecosystem assessment frameworks will use a participatory action research approach and collaborate with the FAO SHARP and TAPE.

  • Case studies will examine climate resilience outcomes across a gradient from low diversity to highly diversified farming systems.

  • Farm mapping, soil sampling, and land use assessments will identify indicators of climate resilience as well as the economic costs and benefits of farm diversification and the adoption of agroecological practices.

  • Farmer knowledge mobilization using digital open-source tools such as LiteFarm and carbon footprint calculators such as Cool Farm Tool and Holos.

  • Cross-case synthesis will consider diverse institutional, environmental, and social contexts influencing agroecological transitions​​

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Behringhof Farm, Ralf and Susanne Behring, Höhenland, Germany

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Work Plan

Work Package 1: Knowledge Synthesis

Global Meta-Analysis: Analyze the combined effects of agroecological practices and farmer network participation on climate mitigation and adaptation outcomes.​

  • Systematic Literature Review: Identify studies measuring climate mitigation or adaptation outcomes, comparing perennial agroecological practices with simplified annual systems (control), conducted exclusively on working farms (excluding research stations). Assess data from second-order meta-analyses and recent studies on the environmental and agronomic impacts of diversified cropping systems.

  • Expand the search to include recent studies not covered in previous meta-analyses by using at least two research databases with relevant keywords.

 

Work Package 2: Field Studies

Data Collection (Farm-Level Field Research): Larger and Core groups​

  • Productivity and agroecological movement participation (TAPE - LiteFarm).

  • Agroecological values (survey).

  • Climate mitigation (TAPE - LiteFarm).

  • Climate change adaptation potential—qualitative and quantitative questions (TAPE - SHARP - LiteFarm).

  • Data Analysis

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Work Package 3:

Scaling AE Transformations Through Co-Production of Knowledge​

  • WP3.1 Local: Scaling Transformation Within Cases: 3 Workshops across personal, practical, and political spheres

  • WP3.2 Global: Scaling Transformation Across Cases: Global Co-Design/Synthesis Workshop

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Timeline

Work Package 1: Years 1-2

  • Systematic literature review

  • Coding and data extraction

  • Quantitative and qualitative data analysis

  • Publications and outreach materials
     

Work Package 2: Years 1-3

  • Adapt LiteFarm app

  • Identify farmer core group

  • Co-develop study design

  • Field measurements and surveys

  • Quantitative and qualitative data analysis

  • Co-interpretation of results

  • Publications and outreach materials

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Work Package 3: Years 1-4

  • Local workshops

  • Within-case learning 

  • Global workshops 

  • Cross-case learning

  • Publications/outreach

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Co-development Workshops

  • Project launch: Year 1

  • Visioning workshop: Year 2

  • Practical workshop: Year 3

  • Political workshop: Year 3

  • Closing meeting: Year 4​

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