<> "The repository administrator has not yet configured an RDF license."^^ . <> . . . "Exploring options for sustainable intensification in different farming system types of four\r\nAfrica RISING countries"^^ . "Sustainable intensification is proposed as a promising way to increase the productivity of\r\nagricultural systems while reducing pressure on ecosystems, safeguarding equitable relations\r\namong societal groups, and supporting the economic viability of households, enterprises, and\r\ncommunities. In sub-Saharan Africa, the identification and dissemination of options for\r\nsustainable intensification is hampered by the large diversity within and between farming\r\nsystems, and their complexity arising from the interactions among different farm components\r\nand external factors. This study therefore uses an integrated farming systems approach to identify\r\nand assess context-specific improvements that can then be implemented and tested on-farm to\r\nfoster experiential learning and facilitate adoption.\r\nWe conducted a farming systems analysis for nine Africa RISING intervention sites across four\r\ncountries, based on rapid and detailed farm characterizations, followed by model-supported\r\ndiagnosis, and exploration of options for sustainable intensification. Farm diversity was\r\ndescribed and analyzed by means of typologies and cross-site comparisons.\r\nIdentified constraints varied depending on site and farming system type, but commonly included\r\nlow input availability, climatic variability, poor soil fertility, sub-optimal livestock feeding,\r\nbiotic stresses, and poor access to training and technical advice, all impairing farm productivity,\r\nreturns to labor and capital inputs, income generation and food security. We investigated entry\r\npoints that tackle the above constraints by exploring alternative farm configurations,\r\ntechnologies and practices for representative farms. By assessing potential impact of these\r\nchanges on indicators beyond productivity, trade-offs were identified and assessed, for instance\r\nbetween profitability and household food self-sufficiency, and between nitrogen availability for\r\ncrop uptake and increased nutrient losses. Taking a systems perspective during the entry point\r\nevaluation allowed differentiating potential effects on indicators at the field level versus the farm\r\nand household level. The exploration of options for specific farming system types now enables\r\nmore targeted testing of promising innovations with farmers in the second project phase."^^ . "2015-03" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "J"^^ . "Groot"^^ . "J Groot"^^ . . "N"^^ . "Mashingaidze"^^ . "N Mashingaidze"^^ . . "C"^^ . "Klapwijk"^^ . "C Klapwijk"^^ . . "K"^^ . "Kuivanen"^^ . "K Kuivanen"^^ . . "M"^^ . "Michalscheck"^^ . "M Michalscheck"^^ . . "K"^^ . "Descheemaeker"^^ . "K Descheemaeker"^^ . . "C"^^ . "Timler"^^ . "C Timler"^^ . . "G"^^ . "Falconnier"^^ . "G Falconnier"^^ . . "M"^^ . "Ollenburger"^^ . "M Ollenburger"^^ . . . . "International Conference in Integrated Systems Research"^^ . . . . . "Ibadan, Nigeria"^^ . . . . . . "Exploring options for sustainable intensification in different farming system types of four\r\nAfrica RISING countries (PDF)"^^ . . . . . "Exploring options .pdf"^^ . . . "Exploring options for sustainable intensification in different farming system types of four\r\nAfrica RISING countries (Other)"^^ . . . . . . "indexcodes.txt"^^ . . . "Exploring options for sustainable intensification in different farming system types of four\r\nAfrica RISING countries (Other)"^^ . . . . . . "lightbox.jpg"^^ . . . "Exploring options for sustainable intensification in different farming system types of four\r\nAfrica RISING countries (Other)"^^ . . . . . . "preview.jpg"^^ . . . "Exploring options for sustainable intensification in different farming system types of four\r\nAfrica RISING countries (Other)"^^ . . . . . . "medium.jpg"^^ . . . "Exploring options for sustainable intensification in different farming system types of four\r\nAfrica RISING countries (Other)"^^ . . . . . . "small.jpg"^^ . . "HTML Summary of #9198 \n\nExploring options for sustainable intensification in different farming system types of four \nAfrica RISING countries\n\n" . "text/html" . . . "Agriculture-Farming, Production, Technology, Economics"@en . .