Assessing Sustainability in Cattle Silvopastoral Systems in the Mexican Tropics Using the SAFA Framework

The sub-humid native rainforest in Yucatan is one of the most endangered in Mexico. Cattle production is one of the main causes of land use change and silvopastoral systems are a feasible alternative. This work compares the sustainable performance of silvopastoral (native and intensive) and monoculture cattle farms in the state of Yucatan using the Sustainability Assessment for Food and Agriculture (SAFA) framework. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were applied in 9 farms. Responses were fed to the SAFA Tool to obtain sustainability polygons. Percentages of SAFA themes positively and negatively valuated were calculated. Native farms had positive ratings for Participation, Land, Biodiversity and Cultural Diversity, whereas intensive excelled on Holistic Management. Native farms had limited ratings for Decent Livelihood. Native farms (and one intensive silvopastoral farm) had the highest percentages of themes positively valuated compared to monocultures (and one intensive silvopastoral farm), which scored the lowest. Positive evaluations identified native systems as an option for sustainable production; however, areas of opportunity in all farms were discovered. This is the first comparative study using SAFA to evaluate differences in farming systems in the Mexican tropics, providing valuable information to generate policies and incentives on sustainable livestock production, as well as for improving evaluation tools for local application.

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Assessing Sustainability of Smallholder Beef Cattle Farming in Indonesia: A Case Study Using the FAO SAFA Framework

Journal of Sustainable Development ◽

10.5539/jsd.v9n3p236 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 236 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Siwi Gayatri ◽

Vincent Gasso-tortajada ◽

Mette Vaarst

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Sustainability Assessment ◽

Household Head ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Farming System ◽

Family Farms ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

National Goal ◽

Food And Agriculture ◽

Lack Of Information

<span lang="EN-US">This article aims to assess the sustainability of smallholder beef cattle farms in Indonesia, where there is a national goal to improve the country’s beef self-sufficiency, and to explore and discuss potential improvement limitations and solutions. This article presents a sustainability assessment based on the FAO SAFA (Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems) of six selected family farms representing three types of family farming systems (with only family labour; with hired labour; and with hired labour and a 'middleman in marketing system'). Individual structured interviews based on the SAFA guidelines were conducted and the results analysed with the <em>SAFA Tool</em> software. The results showed that the SAFA sustainability performance generally scored better in the farming system with relatively more resources and hired labour, and the household head also working as middleman, as compared to the other two farming systems with some or no hired labour. These results indicate that the larger room for sustainability improvement relies in the farming systems with only family labour. Lack of information, training and economical resources showed to be two main drivers that explain part of these differences. These results suggest that the government’s role in increasing awareness, providing information and training and facilitating sustainable development practices is critical.</span>

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Sustainability assessment of small dairy farms from the main cattle farming systems in the North of Tunisia

New Medit ◽

10.30682/nm2103m ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Human Population ◽

Sustainability Assessment ◽

Production Systems ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Mixed System ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Animal Products ◽

Major Threat ◽

The North ◽

Cattle Farms

Demand for animal products is expected to increase due to human population growth, resulting in a need for increased production. At the same time, climate change poses a major threat to the viability and sustainability of livestock production systems. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the sus-tainability of dairy cattle farms belonging to three farming systems (rainfed, irrigated, and mixed) at the northeast zone of Tunisia using the IDEA method (version 3). Collected data of 102 farms were subjected to an analysis of variance using the GLM procedure of SAS software (version 9.4). Results showed that the socio-territorial scale was the limiting factor for all systems and that the irrigated sys-tem had the lowest scores of agro-ecological and socio-territorial scales, compared to the other ones, but it recorded the highest score for the economic scale. The best agro-ecological and socio-territorial scores characterized the mixed system. However, it had the lowest score on the economic scale. Finally, the rain-fed system was exhibited medium performances of the three scales. It was concluded a differ-ence between the three farm systems, but there was no disassociation between the three sustainability dimensions; thus, improvements should proceed across all scales simultaneously.

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Evaluating Sustainability in Traditional Silvopastoral Systems (caívas): Looking Beyond the Impact of Animals on Biodiversity

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11113098 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 3098 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Ana Lúcia Hanisch ◽

Raquel R. B. Negrelle ◽

Rafael Araújo Bonatto ◽

Evelyn Roberta Nimmo ◽

André Eduardo Biscaia Lacerda

Keyword(s):

Sustainability Assessment ◽

Small Scale ◽

Scale Production ◽

Silvopastoral Systems ◽

Southern Brazil ◽

Livestock Farming ◽

Strategic Option ◽

Food And Agriculture ◽

Productive Systems ◽

The Impact

Caívas are traditional silvopastoral systems that occur in the Araucaria Forest biome, Southern Brazil, in which animal production and erva-mate extraction are integrated. Participatory research was conducted in caívas in the Northern Plateau, Santa Catarina State, to identify strategies to intensify pasture use and increase animal productivity. To better understand the outcomes of these strategies, a sustainability assessment was conducted in properties that participated in the research (improved caívas; IC) and those that did not (traditional caívas; TC). The Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems (SAFA) tool 2.0.0 for smallholders was chosen as it evaluates the productive unit as a whole using environmental, social, economic, and governance indicators and is tailored for small-scale production. All evaluated indicators showed higher scores for IC properties in relation to TC. In general, the SAFA analysis showed that when evaluated as productive systems, TCs are a strategic option for rural development, as 65% of their indicators were evaluated as good. With the support of rural outreach and research and the adoption of appropriate technologies, this percentage increased to 86% in ICs. These results confirm that with adequate support caívas can significantly contribute to the development of more sustainable livestock farming in Southern Brazil.

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Sustainability of Diversified Organic Cropping Systems—Challenges Identified by Farmer Interviews and Multi-Criteria Assessments

Frontiers in Agronomy ◽

10.3389/fagro.2021.698968 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

Author(s):

Carolina Rodriguez ◽

Linda-Maria Dimitrova Mårtensson ◽

Mozhgan Zachrison ◽

Georg Carlsson

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Sustainability Assessment ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Mineral Fertilizers ◽

Crop Diversification ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Income Sources ◽

Use Of Resources ◽

Sustainability Assessments

Diversification of cropping and farming systems is a central agroecological principle, which may improve resource use efficiency, reduce pests and diseases, diversify income sources, and enhance the resilience of the production. The main objective of this study was to identify challenges related to the sustainability of organic cropping systems that were diversified according to one or several of the following practices: diverse crop rotation, integration of cover crops, and intercropping. The sustainability assessments were made using a multi-criteria decision aid method (MCDA) and a framework based on the FAO Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agricultural Systems (SAFA) guidelines. Social, economic and environmental aspects were integrated in the sustainability assessments and combined with semi-structured interviews to identify and discuss farmer's perceptions of barriers to crop diversification and sustainability transition. The results showed that diversified organic cropping systems could achieve high overall sustainability, especially in the environmental dimension thanks to non-inputs of pesticides or mineral fertilizers and efficient use of resources. On the other hand, social and economic dimensions were more variable, with challenges of lower sustainability in profitability and management complexity for several of the diversified cropping systems. Limited access to knowledge, technology and markets for minor crops, and concerns about the consistency of policies were highlighted by farmers as barriers for crop diversification. We discuss how the identified challenges can be overcome and argue that fostering collaboration among stakeholders may increase investment capacity and improve access to new or alternative markets, thereby stimulating transitions toward more diversified and sustainable cropping systems.

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Homegarden agroecosystems managed by Salar people on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine ◽

10.1186/s13002-021-00448-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mingjing Zhu ◽

Binsheng Luo ◽

Ben La ◽

Ruijie Chen ◽

Fenggui Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Production Systems ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Field Investigation ◽

Tibet Plateau ◽

Ecosystem Functions ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Services Research ◽

Qinghai Tibet Plateau

Abstract Background Salar is a Turkic-speaking Islamic ethnic group in China living mainly in Xunhua Salar Autonomous County (Xunhua or Xunhua County), Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Salar people are skilled in horticulture and their homegarden (HG) management. They are regarded as the first people on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to practice horticulture, especially manage their HGs, traditional farming systems, and supplementary food production systems. Traditional knowledge of Salar people associated with their HGs always contributes significantly to the local livelihood, food security, ornamental value, and biodiversity conservation. The cultivation of different plants in HGs for self-sufficiency has a long tradition in China’s rural areas, especially in some mountainous areas. However, Salar traditional HGs have not been described. The present paper aims to report the features of Salar HGs mostly based on agrobiodiversity and its ecosystem services. Methods The methods used in this work included semi-structured interviews and participatory observation. A total of 60 households in three townships, 9 villages were surveyed. There are 4–12 family members in each household, aged from 20 to 86 years old. The homestead size is between 200 and 1200 m2. Plant species cultivated in Salar HGs were identified according to Flora of China. Based on a comprehensive survey of Salar HGs and related to background data, we identified and characterized the most important services and functions provided by Salar HGs. Results According to primary production systems, there are 4 different types of Salar HGs, including ornamental focus, product focus, dual-purpose and multi-purpose. In total, 108 (excluding weeds and bonsai) plant species were recorded in Salar HGs, within 43 plant families. The most important and frequently used plants are Rosa chinensis, Armeniaca vulgar, Prunus salicina, and Ziziphus jujuba. About 4 to 32 plant species were recorded in each homegarden. We found that the Salar HGs, as a typical agroecosyste, prossess multiple servcices and functions that directly benefit households according to the field investigation. Conclusion This paper reveals the floristic diversity of Salar HGs. It presents useful information in the homegarden agroecosystem of Salar people, such as HG types and species diversity in Salar HGs. Ecosystem functions and services research suggested that the Salar HG agroecosystem provides agroecosystem services mainly related to supply and culture services. Salar HGs are important as food supplement resources, aesthetics symbol, and cultural spaces.

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Is cross-breeding of cattle beneficial for the environment? The case of mixed farming systems in Central Java, Indonesia

Animal Genetic Resources/Ressources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales ◽

10.1017/s2078633615000259 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 57 ◽

pp. 1-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

T.S.M. Widi ◽

H.M.J. Udo ◽

K. Oldenbroek ◽

I.G.S. Budisatria ◽

E. Baliarti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Global Warming ◽

Live Weight ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Young Stock ◽

Cross Breeding ◽

Central Java ◽

Feed Production ◽

Cattle Farms

SummaryCross-breeding with European beef breeds has become a standard approach for the intensification of smallholder cattle production in Indonesia. This study assessed the environmental impact of cross-breeding, in terms of Global Warming Potential (GWP) and land use. We sampled 90 local Ongole and 162 cross-bred (Simmental × Ongole) cattle farms in four study areas. Expressed per kilogram of live weight of young stock produced, GWP (26.9 kg CO2–equivalents) and land use (34.2 m2) of farms with Ongole breeding stock were not significantly different from the GWP (28.9 kg CO2–equivalents) and land use (37.4 m2) of cross-bred farms. Cross-bred young stock grew faster, but in general cross-bred cattle required more feed. In the current smallholder production system, the dominant cross-breeding practice of using Simmental semen on Ongole andF1cross-bred cows does not result in lower greenhouse gas emissions or land use per kilogram of live weight produced compared with farms with Ongole cows. The advantage from the faster growth of cross-breds is counteracted by the higher emissions from feed production for cross-breds.

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Sustainability Assessment of Agricultural Systems in Paraguay: A Comparative Study Using FAO’s SAFA Framework

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11133745 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (13) ◽

pp. 3745 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Alice Soldi ◽

Maria José Aparicio Meza ◽

Marianna Guareschi ◽

Michele Donati ◽

Amado Insfrán Ortiz

Keyword(s):

Sustainability Assessment ◽

Social Dimension ◽

Agricultural System ◽

Eastern Region ◽

Agricultural Systems ◽

Family Farming ◽

Four Dimensions ◽

Food And Agriculture ◽

Indigenous Agriculture ◽

Peasant Family

Sustainability is a topic that is at the center of current discussions in the political, economic, social, and environmental fields. For its analysis, an integral and multidisciplinary vision is needed. This work aims to assess the sustainability of agricultural systems in Paraguay through a comparison applying SAFA (Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems) indicators. The research focuses on 15 case studies on the territory of the Eastern Region of Paraguay divided into five classes of agricultural systems: agribusiness, conventional peasant family farming, agroecological peasant family farming, neo-rural farming, and indigenous agriculture. Data were collected through interviews with producers and key informants, direct observation, and scientific literature research in order to assess, through the SAFA Tool Software, the level of sustainability of each agricultural system as a whole and for each sustainability dimension (political, environmental, economic, and social dimension) in a comparative way. It has emerged that producers belonging to conventional peasant family farming, agroecological peasant family farming, neo-rural farming, and indigenous agriculture have achieved levels of sustainability that are similar to each other and very good in all four dimensions of sustainability. Meanwhile, agribusiness achieved moderate scores in the dimensions of governance and environmental integrity, and was good in the economic and social dimension.

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Analysis of Relationships and Sustainability Performance in Organic Agriculture in the United Arab Emirates and Sicily (Italy)

Resources ◽

10.3390/resources8010039 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 39 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Khalid Butti Al Shamsi ◽

Paolo Guarnaccia ◽

Salvatore Cosentino ◽

Cherubino Leonardi ◽

Paolo Caruso ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United Arab Emirates ◽

Organic Agriculture ◽

Sustainability Assessment ◽

Production Systems ◽

Sustainable Production ◽

Production Model ◽

Organic Farms ◽

Sustainability Performance ◽

Security Issues ◽

Food And Agriculture

Climate change, recurrent economic and financial crises and food security issues are forcing society to look at the increasingly widespread use of “sustainable” production practices. These are often translated into innovations for businesses that are not always easily achievable other than through specific investments. This work sets out to assess the sustainability performance of organic farms, which represent a sustainable production model in terms of values, standards, practices and knowledge on the ground. The research was carried out in two geographical contexts (the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Sicily, Italy) which have certain environmental and socio-economic issues in common, particularly in productive sectors representative of organic agriculture. This was done with the help of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems (SAFA, in the rest of the text) framework and social network analysis to study the sustainability performance of organic farms within non-structured local production systems in the form of formal enterprise networks that, on the contrary, operate with a recognized and common aim. The results demonstrate both their attainment of excellence and the existence of criticalities, thus, identifying routes to possible improvement.

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The Integrated Hydropower Sustainability Assessment in Tajikistan: A Case Study of Rogun Hydropower Plant

Advances in Civil Engineering ◽

10.1155/2020/8894072 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-18

Author(s):

Zhao Xu ◽

Yumin Niu ◽

Yangze Liang ◽

Zhigang Li ◽

Atoev Iftikhor

Keyword(s):

Sustainability Assessment ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Business Environment ◽

External Factors ◽

Evaluation Framework ◽

Assessment System ◽

Hydropower Plant ◽

Sustainable Performance ◽

The Impact

Tajikistan has formulated the strategy to rejuvenate the country through hydropower. The Rogun hydropower plant (HPP) is designed as the highest hydropower station, while its sustainability is also questioned due to a lack of comprehensive sustainability evaluation. Considering that the external environment of Rogun HPP is complex and changeable, its sustainable performance will be fragile and inconstant. To comprehensively assess the sustainable performance, an integrated evaluation framework, covering the current and dynamic sustainable performance, is urgently established. Therefore, this paper firstly explored the hydropower sustainability assessment indicators which can conform to Tajikistan’s situations and further examined the current sustainable performance of Rogun HPP. The case study found that Rogun HPP’s current financial viability, involuntary resettlement, the measures to prevent corruption, and information disclosure were seriously deficient. The SWOT analysis indicated the external factors, such as the Belt and Road Initiative, improving business environment, and easing geopolitical disputes, can eliminate weaknesses and improve the sustainable performance of Rogun HPP. At the same time, tight fiscal allocations and economic downturns will have negative influences on the sustainable performance. The integrated evaluation tool established in this paper can not only evaluate the current sustainable performance but also consider the impact of external factors on sustainable performance from a dynamic perspective. This paper contributes to the current knowledge system by establishing the hydropower sustainability assessment system which is suitable for Tajikistan’s conditions. Moreover, the results are informative for the decision-makers to have a better understanding of Rogun HPP’s current strengths and weaknesses, valuable opportunities, and potential threats.

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Decentralized peri-urban wastewater treatment technologies assessment integrating sustainability indicators

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2015.209 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 72 (2) ◽

pp. 214-222 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Karel Mena-Ulecia ◽

Heykel Hernández Hernández

Keyword(s):

Environmental Economic ◽

Urban Communities ◽

Sustainability Assessment ◽

Domestic Wastewater ◽

High Rate ◽

Septic Tank ◽

Sustainable Performance ◽

Treatment Technologies ◽

Negative Impacts ◽

Selection Of

Selection of treatment technologies without considering the environmental, economic and social factors associated with each geographical context risks the occurrence of negative impacts that were not properly foreseen, working against the sustainable performance of the technology. The principal aim of this study was to evaluate 12 technologies for decentralized treatment of domestic wastewater applicable to peri-urban communities using sustainability approaches and, at the same time, continuing a discussion about how to address a more integrated assessment of overall sustainability. For this, a set of 13 indicators that embody the environmental, economic and social approach for the overall sustainability assessment were used by means of a target plot diagram as a tool for integrating indicators that represent a holistic analysis of the technologies. The obtained results put forward different degrees of sustainability, which led to the selection of: septic tank + land infiltration; up-flow anaerobic reactor + high rate trickling filter and septic tank + anaerobic filter as the most sustainable and attractive technologies to be applied in peri-urban communities, according to the employed indicators.

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