Comments on: A generic indicator framework for “measuring” sustainability

By: Shirley Tarawali

Shirley Tarawali — Thu, 14 May 2015 09:38:02 +0000

I understand the Swiss model is being used by some private companies even (?Nestle maybe!)….
This is a good idea, and whilst I recognise that by its very nature this cannot be ‘livestock only’ it is important that ILRI’s focus is on the livestock research….which of course, often gets left out of these kinds of equations!!

By: Iain Wright

Iain Wright — Thu, 14 May 2015 09:09:30 +0000

In reply to a.duncan@cgiar.org.

The Swiss Initiate that Alan refers to was RISE https://www.hafl.bfh.ch/en/research-consulting-services/agricultural-science/sustainability-and-ecosystems/sustainability-assessment/rise.html

It assessed suatainabilty at farm level but I don’t know how much it is used.

By: Polly Ericksen

Polly Ericksen — Thu, 14 May 2015 08:22:53 +0000

In reply to a.duncan@cgiar.org. Alan and Peter it is SO nice to be interacting with you even if I have no virtual offers of refreshments or shiny objects.. and we didn't get to dance together.. sigh.. Ben we need some "second city" type options for next time !!!

By: haltshul

haltshul — Thu, 14 May 2015 07:11:09 +0000

I would have thought there has already been a lot of work on this by others?

By: a.duncan@cgiar.org

a.duncan@cgiar.org — Thu, 14 May 2015 06:23:24 +0000

Peter – good idea which I have liked (even in the absence of donation of shiny objects by you). I think we would be well placed to cook up some good sustainability indicators and I guess this would attract a lot of interest. I seem to remember there was a Swiss initiative to do something like this soon after I arrived at ILRI. Shirley would know more. There were a lot of spider diagrams if my memory serves me correctly.

By: a.duncan@cgiar.org

a.duncan@cgiar.org — Thu, 14 May 2015 06:21:10 +0000

In reply to Isabelle Baltenweck. I'm relying on manipulation to get my idea to the top....

By: Lance

Lance — Thu, 14 May 2015 05:46:56 +0000

This proposal overlaps with what the Technical Consortium for Building Resilience in the Horn of Africa (TC) wants to do. And it reminds me of the difficulty of finding available, quality, comparable data from different places, especially time series. And yet so many projects are doing baselines, and so many research projects. We should consider looking beyond ILRI, beyond the CG, and encourage multiple partners to come together to agree on some protocols. See recent blog by Katie of the TC and comments on that blog (http://livestocksystems.ilri.org/2015/05/07/measuring-resilience/).

By: Boni Moyo

Boni Moyo — Wed, 13 May 2015 19:31:26 +0000

Great idea Peter. At least five projects on Sustainable Intensification which ASSP is linked to in Africa and Asia will benefit if we can indeed develop these. I hope that ASSP/LSE round table meeting is hours away.

By: PeterThorne

PeterThorne — Wed, 13 May 2015 14:04:24 +0000

In reply to Isabelle Baltenweck.

It was tongue in cheek but the two most obvious problems are:

1. those ideas posted earlier in the week have longer to garner likes. It would have been better to allow a 24 hour voting window after posting.
2. those people who have the luxury of time to lobby for their ideas can manipulate the vote through improper offers of refreshments or shiny objects.

Easy for me to say with hindsight. It’s not a big deal!

By: Isabelle Baltenweck

Isabelle Baltenweck — Wed, 13 May 2015 13:57:12 +0000

In reply to PeterThorne. well, yes, it will be a popular vote.. what else do you suggest? yes, let's talk...