Summary – LSE

• LSE Programme Summary

   

  1. Systems analysis and scaling for impact: The relevance of this LSE theme depends upon strong links with other programmes. There are challenges of finding data for good targeting but also impact assessment. This is clearly an area for collaboration across several programs. This analysis needs to be forward looking as well (scenarios, anyone?). For impact, we need to a) bring social issues and indicators into the analysis, and b) work with implementing partners to prioritize options and technologies.

   

  2. Dryland systems are an opportunity for growth, but the science needs to offer solutions that work in these contexts. This is challenging given changing dynamics in pastoral systems. Four key areas were noted, namely forage production and management; value chains; breeding and improvement of genetic resources; and data collection for M&E. We need innovative thinking on rangeland ecology and options for “restoration”, with our partners.

   

  3. Ecosystem / disease interactions: collaborative work on vector born diseases and their emergence/ re-emergence due to system changes is a great opportunity for ILRI, especially if it is linked to developing solutions that work.

   

  4. Ecosystem/ productivity interactions: Two interesting points; Firstly, ecosystems could be mapped and included in the systems intensification work! This helps get at all of the tradeoffs. Secondly, productivity should be the entry point for discussions about the importance of enhancing ecosystem services, as this is what will engage smallholders.

   

  Environmental Governance in Extensive Livestock Systems – Summary of Comments

   

  1. Other ILRI teams are interested in paying more attention to the institutional, governance, and power dimensions in various streams of work, including feed and forages and animal diseases. This is more than simply adding a governance dimension to these areas, but would involve taking a stronger systems approach both in the research and in the collaboration with other stakeholders. Therefore, innovation platform work in these areas would also be connected.
  2. Perhaps the most obvious collaboration involving research on institutions and governance would be between LSE and LGI. We should schedule time to share each other’s findings and lessons learned, and then brainstorm.
  3. There is a need for more concerted work on NRM.  This should be integrally connected with research and action on value chains and productivity improvement. Inquiry questions include identifying critical success factors and means of scaling up, the degree of productivity improvement that can be expected from improved NRM, and how power dynamics interact with new interventions such as fodder production and market development.
  4. Innovation systems needs greater. This is both in terms of ILRI engaging with innovation systems and looking at innovation systems as objects to be researched. The engagement with innovation systems must be two-way, both providing a pathway for our research to have impact and providing a means for stakeholders to influence what we are researching.  The research on innovations systems should investigate an array of issues, several of which are directly connected to governance: participation, power dynamics within innovation systems, learning, how networks enable or constrain innovation systems, and questions around sustainability and scaling up and out. Creative thinking is needed here, particularly for work in extensive drylands: there may be non-conventional links to service provision and innovation in other sectors such as education and health.

   

   

  Livestock Production & the Environment

   

  1. Emission estimates from “local livestock under local conditions” has the potential to significantly change global livestock emissions maps by constructing robust herd/flock models that are well-paramaterised for different systems. With this, we can scale out estimates and explore the impacts of different interventions on both production and emissions. This is challenging given the heterogeneous nature of systems in sub-Saharan Africa. While we emphasize field measurements, these will be linked to models.
  2. The strategic focus on direct livestock emissions is a strength of this research agenda. Work has already started with a focus in East Africa. We are also including productivity and soil health dimensions.
  3. Collaboration: Reliable data on feed quantities is hardly available. We need to work together on this, and on incentives to stimulate investment and behaviour change.
  4. Mitigation interventions are central. There is debate around intensification – efficiency gains if livestock numbers continue to increase.

   

   

   

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