Sara J. Scherr, Ecoagriculture Partners

Towards an Integrated Agroforestry Policy Agenda Sara J. Scherr, Ecoagriculture Partners 2nd World Agroforestry Congress, Nairobi, August 24, 2009

21st century agricultural policy: Agroforestry can help • Meet food & fiber demand for 10 billion people (↑50-100% by 2030) • Reduce rural food insecurity and poverty; secure urban food supply • Contribute to sustainable energy through biofuels • Adapt to climate change • Restore degraded resources critical for production • Shift from a major source of greenhouse gases, to a net sink • Contribute to and restore critical ecosystem services

Projected land use for agriculture with existing trends

21st century environmental policy in ag’l regions: Agroforestry can help

Agriculture and land use: 31% of global greenhouse gas emissions GHG emissions by sector in 2004, Source: IPCC

Impacts of ecosystem degradation on agricultural productivity

Policymakers are paying attention …. Now is the moment! • Climate change and ag • Biofuels and biodiversity • Energy and food systems • Food price crisis & hunger • GMO controversy • Food safety • Consumer movements

Urgency to move towards ‘win-win-win’ solutions Expanding Ecoagriculture Potentials Our Vision

Ecoagriculture landscapes for people, food and nature (thru AF)

Climate action– a potential driver for policy integration & investment • Carbon in soils • Perennials in farming system • Climate-friendly livestock pdn • Restoring degraded lands & watersheds • Protecting natural forests & grasslands mitigation potential with carbon prices upto $20 and $100 (Source: IPCC)

Feed 10 billion, protect ecosystems? Integrating the policy agendas Help farmers raise production in the context of climate risks Mitigate climate threats by shifting agriculture from major source to net sink of greenhouse gases Restore degraded farm, pasture and forest lands Secure water for agriculture by protecting water quality and watershed functions Support farming communities to be major stewards of biodiversity

Use production systems with ecosystem benefits => agroforestry • * Select crop varieties for shade • tolerance, deep-rooting, high- • yield polycultures, high biomass • * Diversify with perennial/ minor/ • wild crops; polycultures, multi- • product marketing; perennial • livestock feeds & biofuels • Use agroecological practices • Reduce input pollution • Support farmer innovation • systems for diversified systems • Embrace diversity…..

Support and promote ecoagriculturelandscape initiatives (agroforestry!) 1) Empower multi-stakeholder landscape action 2) Recognize farmers’ leading role as ecosystem service managers 3) Provide X-sectoral technical support 4) Pursue market development from a landscape perspective 5) Coordinate ag, env & rural dev. policies & programs

Embed ecosystem management in agricultural investments • Private sector investment (through standards, regulations, incentives) • International & regional development Banks & Funds • The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD—CAADP) • Bilateral donor investment for MDGs on Hunger, Environment • Foundation support (e.g., Gates, AGRA)

Promote “green” agricultural markets and value chains • Minimum regulatory standards • Eco-certification • Public procurement • Food industry standards (Sust. Food Lab, Sust Ag Init, Keystone, Roundtables) • Include social standards

Expand payments for ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes • Shift agricultural subsidy systems to ecosystem service payments • Climate offsets with co-benefits for agriculture & ecosystems (e.g., in REDD, AFOLU, CDM) • Voluntary carbon & biodiversity offsets by companies/consumers • PES in GEF portfolio • United Nations: UNEP/UNDP/FAO/IFAD initiatives

Support farmer organizations to lead in ecosystem stewardship • Leadership emerging (IFAP, National Farmers’ Union, Indigenous Peoples Org’s, Landcare Int’l, CKS) • Address tenure and access to agr’l & natural resources • Help smallholders aggregate for market & info in ways that are efficient and inclusive • Align strategies for food sovereignty and urban supply

Research integrating agriculture & ecosystem management is essential • Targeted research initiatives, e.g.: AASTD, DIVERSITAS, CSIRO & USDA Ecosystems, IFOAM, Nat’l Academy Science • CGIAR system research • Private sector research • National public systems • NGO-led research (ag, env) • Farmer research networks Ensure agroforestry research is incorporated

Get the data: Integrate monitoring of agriculture, environment, well-being • Yale Univ/World Econ Forum National Environmental Performance Index • Global remote sensing and interpretation capacity (e.g., World Conservation Monitoring Center) • Spatial organization of FAO agriculture data • Google map applications for local landscape management • Landscape Measures Initiative (www.landscapemeasures.org)

Communicate the benefits and costs to policymakers • They don’t care about: • Tons of soil (sorry…!) • Tree growth • Biodiversity indexes • They do care about: • Increased and stable food supply • Food security • Increased income • Reliable, clean water • Wildlife for tourists • Human health

Mobilize policy action at the scale required to make a difference ….. • Agroforestry Policy Initiative • Engage leaders at all levels who embrace X-sectoral action • Have agroforestry champions at the table for all key policy dialogues (not just AF policy) • Design research to answer policymakers’ questions • Craft core, simple messages of how AF achieves policy goals • Be prepared to quickly provide guidance for implementation

Please visit our website at… Agroforestry - the future of global land use ……Itreally is! www.ecoagriculture.org Thanks…. www.ecoagriculture.org

Sara J. Scherr, Ecoagriculture Partners