Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

Sustainable food systems www.ipes-food.org Vibrant local economy Environmentally sustainable

Social equity

Good health

Sustainable food system

Culturally appropriate

Transdisciplinary - Political economy OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

From Uniformity to Diversity A paradigm shift from industrial agriculture to diversified agroecological systems The report asks three key questions: • What are the outcomes of industrial agriculture and of diversified agroecological systems? • What is keeping industrial agriculture in place? • How can the balance be shifted?

OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

What is wrong with our food systems? Triple burden of malnutrition

• Hunger, micronutrient deficiencies, obesity &NCDs

Environmentally unsustainable

• Biodiversity losses, water pollution, soil degradation, GHG emissions, unsustainable use of natural resources, low resilience …

Social inequities

• Poverty, disempowerment …

Neglect of cultural values

 Directly associated with current food systems based on industrial agriculture OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Industrial vs diversified agroecology CONVENTIONAL/INDUSTRIAL

DIVERSIFIED AGROECOLOGICAL

Mainly monocultures, concentrated animal feedlots

Temporal & spatial diversification at plot, farm & landscape level

Genetically uniform varieties and specialized breeds

Less uniform, locally adapted varieties and breeds

Vertical and horizontal segregation of product chains

Integrated systems with natural synergies

Highly mechanized, labour saving with use of seasonal labourers at peak times (e.g. harvest)

More labour intensive, all year round employment with better employment conditions

Industrial vs diversified agroecology CONVENTIONAL/INDUSTRIAL

DIVERSIFIED AGROECOLOGICAL

Maximization of yield/ha from a single/few product(s)

Maximization of multiple outputs/products

Intensive use of external/synthetic inputs

Low external inputs, nutrient cycling, circular economy

Large volumes of homogenous products for national and international markets through long value chains

Wide range of products of more diverse products often destined at short value chains. Multiple sources of production, income and livelihoods

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

Organic agriculture vs diversified agroecological systems Input substitution to satisfy minimum criteria for organic certification is not enough! Organic 3.0 as described by IFOAM is well aligned with “diversified agroecological systems”: oEcologically sound oEconomically viable oSocially just oCulturally diverse oTransparently accountable

OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

What diversified agrocecological systems can bring ◦ Economic ◦ Productivity and income ◦ Resilience and stability

◦ Environmental ◦ Ecosystem services ◦ Biodiversity

◦ Health: better nutrition and healthy environment ◦ Social: Employment ◦ Cultural: respect for cultural preferences OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

Outcomes of diversified grasslands: productivity NB: As there are little data comparing diversified agroecological systems with conventional/industrial agriculture, we use diversity and/or organic agriculture or other alternative systems as proxys

OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

Outcomes of organic agriculture: productivity

“Overall, organic yields are typically lower than conventional yields. But these

yield differences are highly contextual …, and range from 5% lower organic yields to 34% lower yields”. (Seufert et al. 2012) Increased yield in 17% of comparisons for organic agriculture and 87% of comparisons for SRI (Garbach et al. 2016) But most comparisons are done over short periods! OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

Outcomes of diversified agroecological systems: productivity & resilience 30 years comparison of organic/conventional

OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

Environmental outcomes ◦ Keep/put carbon in the soil: turns agriculture into a solution rather than a problem ◦ Restore degraded land ◦ Improve ecosystem services ◦ Water and nutrient cycling ◦ Pollination ◦ Pest and disease management

OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

Ecosystem services & yield

Source: Garbach et al., 2016 OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

Outcomes of diversified agroecological systems: boosting biodiversity

OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

Outcomes of diversified agroecological systems: Virtuous cycles

OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

Nutrition and health ◦ No negative health outcomes of industrial agriculture: pesticides/antibiotics ◦ Diverse, healthy diets ◦ Increased levels of beneficial nutrients, such as omega 3 fatty acids, and antioxidants such as polyphenols… OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

Social and Cultural  Social:  More employment  Employment throughout the year  Closer links with consumers

Cultural:  Cultivation of diversity of traditional crops  Integration of traditional knowledge

OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

A major question Why do we not see a major transition towards diversified agroecological systems, given the expanding evidence that they can deliver on all

dimensions of sustainable food systems?

 The political economy of food systems OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

What prevents change: 8 Lock-ins

OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

Market concentration in multiple sectors 65% ? • 3 companies control 50% X of commercial seed market. • 7 companies control majority of fertilizer sales.

• 5 companies share 68% of agrochemical market. • 4 firms account for 97% of private R&D in poultry. • 4 firms control up to 90% of the global grain trade. OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

All have a common interest: maintaining industrial agriculture

…. But things are changing

OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

8 Emerging opportunities for a transition to diversified agroecological systems • Global recognition (MEA, IAASTD, FAO, 10YFP) • Changing policies (CAP, Brazil, Cuba, France) • Emerging multi-stakeholder initiatives (FPCs, JRC, NL) • Integrated landscape thinking (City region, ILM, LPFN) • Integrated food systems science (FSCs) • Peer-to-peer action research (CaC, FFS …) • Healthy Eating and Sustainable Sourcing (OA, FT …) • Short supply chains OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

Changing the paradigm

OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

Measuring what matters

OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

Recommendations 1. Develop new indicators for sustainable food systems. 2. Shift public support towards diversified agroecological production systems. 3. Support short circuits & alternative retail infrastructures. 4. Use public procurement to support local agroecological produce.

5. Strengthen movements that unify diverse constituencies around agroecology. 6. Mainstream agroecology and holistic food systems approaches into education and research agendas. 7. Develop food planning processes and ‘food policies’ at all levels. OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

Different pathways, common goal

OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

Key messages • Industrial agriculture provides calories to global markets, but with many negative outcomes • Problems are linked specifically to industrial agriculture • Industrial agriculture is locked in place by a series of vicious cycles • Tweaking practices can improve some of the specific outcomes, but will not provide long-term solutions to the multiple problems

OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

Key messages (cont’d) • What is required is a fundamentally different model of agriculture: diversified agroecological systems •These systems can compete with industrial agriculture in terms of total outputs, performing particularly strongly under environmental stress • Change is already happening • A series of modest steps can collectively shift the centre of gravity in food systems OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016

Emile A. Frison – IPES FOOD

Thank you!

www.ipes-food.org

OIKOS organic agriculture conference, Oslo, 15 November 2016