3. 1. Participatory problem analysis
•Food insecurity
•Increasing poverty
•Degrading natural environments
•Policy constraints
2. INRM Research (research on alternative solutions)
3a. Production functions 3b. Human well-being 3c. Ecosystem functions
•Quantity of food and fibre •Risk management •Nutrient cycling
•Quality •Participation of resource users •Carbon sequestration
•Genetic x Environment in decisions •Biodiversity
matching efficiency •Water balance
4. Tradeoffs and Options
•Analysis of tradeoffs and competing interests
•Identification of ranges of flexible adaptative options
5. Outcomes 6. Feedback
•Extrapolation
Model of the INRM Research Process
From: A brief report on the INRM CGIAR •Dissemination
workshop held in Penang, Malaysia •Policy implementation
21- 25 August 2000 •Wide-scale adoption

4. Scales matter and research at different
levels needs to be integrated
• Need to adopt/develop novel research methods and
widen our range of skills
• Time scale: understanding the dynamics, trajectories,
shocks, drivers. Innovation. Theory of change…
• Spatial scale/level
• Field (data gaps, GxExM, weed resistance, adaptation,
mech., mitigation, P mobilization, …)
• Farm (resource allocation, gender, nutrient cycling…)
• Landscape (communal res., social cap)
• Country, region
• Multi-scale prospective/ex-ante analysis, targeting and
recommendation domains

5. Adoptability/constraints to adoption CA
in a broader context
• Knowledge intensive (not a single technology)
• Biomass tradeoff in mixed crop livestock
systems
• Change in resource allocation and need for
investment (machinery, herbicides and other
inputs)
• Access to mechanization options
• Weeds
• Farm size?
• For some systems, performance in early years
• Adoptability limit regarding aridity

6. Source: Herrero et al. 2010

7. Benefits and costs Incidence of CA at various scales
Regional
Farm Global
National
Benefits
Reduction in on-farm costs: savings in time, labour and mechanized x
machinery
Increase in soil fertility and moisture retention, resulting in long-term yield x x
increase, decreasing yield variations and greater food security
Stabilization of soil and protection from erosion leading to reduced x
downstream sedimentation
Reduction in toxic contamination of surface water and groundwater x
More regular river flows, reduced flooding and the re-emergence of dried x
wells
Recharge of aquifers as a result of better infiltration x
Reduction in air pollution resulting from soil tillage machinery x
Reduction of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere (carbon sequestration) x
Conservation of terrestrial and soil-based biodiversity x
Costs
Purchase of specialized planting equipment x
Short-term pest problems due to the change in crop management x
Acquiring of new management skills x
Application of additional herbicides x x
Formation and operation of farmers’ groups x x
High perceived risk to farmers because of technological uncertainty x x
Development of appropriate technical packages and training programs x x
Source: Adapted from Knowler and Bradshaw (2007)

8. • My TO, your TO, their TO: Perception, values,
ethics, gender, weight, uncertainties, present
vs. future!
• What is our core development model?
• Is global food security vs. poverty reduction in
small scale farming systems a TO?
• The optimistic Win-Win, Best Bet, SMART etc…
• Harmonization and implementation of
quantitative and qualitative indicators across
scales…