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subsequently lead to a reduction of crop yields and livestock productivity, the emergence of new pathogens and diseases, crop failure, and long-term production
declines. Furthermore, the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather
events such as drought and floods threaten food security, erode the asset base, and
jeopardize livelihoods, further entrenching poverty (IPCC 2014). Consequently,
there is a dire need to improve agricultural productivity, while also building the
resilience and adaptive capacity of those vulnerable populations to cope with
increased climate change and variability. This should, however, be seen in a larger
context of sustainability. More efforts are needed to create sustainable current food
and farming systems to a future food, health, and well-being for all. Because agriculture is so fundamental, we believe that mindfully developing a new agriculture
approach (such as climate smart agriculture) and adding a more ‘human’ dimension
could be relevant in a changing climate. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is currently one of the advocated approaches to achieve food production in a changing
climate in Africa. We briefly describe this approach in the following section.
4 Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA)
CSA is a relatively recent concept. It was defined by the FAO in 2009 and has been
reshaped through inputs and interactions of multiple stakeholders over time (Lipper
and Zilberman 2018). The basic principle of the concept is that agriculture must
become ‘climate smart’, meaning that agriculture and food systems must undergo
significant transformation in order to meet the challenges of food security and climate change. This is to be accomplished through the achievement of national food
security and development goals through three defined objectives (pillars): (i) sustainable increase in productivity, (ii) increased resilience through adaptation of different technologies and practices, and (iii) reducing GHG emissions where possible
(FAO 2013). What distinguishes CSA from other sustainable agricultural approaches
is a specific focus on climate change and the search for possible synergies and negotiation of trade-offs in the pursuit of increased food security, resilience, adaptation,
and mitigation outcomes in a broader landscape or system perspective (Lipper et al.
2014). Given the importance of agriculture in the context of livelihoods, food security, and poverty reduction, CSA has the potential to increase the livelihoods and
resilience of millions of smallholder farmers in Africa. However, if CSA is promoted without including the human dimension, this will not address the problem at
its source.
In the following sections, we provide the analytical framework for CSA and its
linkages with vulnerability, resilience, livelihoods, and transformation and highlight
how CSA can impact positively on the transformation of agricultural production.
Furthermore, we briefly discuss the main priorities in the way forward towards more
productive and resilient smallholder farming systems and discuss the barriers that
exist concerning CSA implementation.
Need for Personal Transformations in a Changing Climate: Reflections…
subsequently lead to a reduction of crop yields and livestock productivity, the emergence of new pathogens and diseases, crop failure, and long-term production
declines. Furthermore, the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather
events such as drought and floods threaten food security, erode the asset base, and
jeopardize livelihoods, further entrenching poverty (IPCC 2014). Consequently,
there is a dire need to improve agricultural productivity, while also building the
resilience and adaptive capacity of those vulnerable populations to cope with
increased climate change and variability. This should, however, be seen in a larger
context of sustainability. More efforts are needed to create sustainable current food
and farming systems to a future food, health, and well-being for all. Because agriculture is so fundamental, we believe that mindfully developing a new agriculture
approach (such as climate smart agriculture) and adding a more ‘human’ dimension
could be relevant in a changing climate. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is currently one of the advocated approaches to achieve food production in a changing
climate in Africa. We briefly describe this approach in the following section.
4 Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA)
CSA is a relatively recent concept. It was defined by the FAO in 2009 and has been
reshaped through inputs and interactions of multiple stakeholders over time (Lipper
and Zilberman 2018). The basic principle of the concept is that agriculture must
become ‘climate smart’, meaning that agriculture and food systems must undergo
significant transformation in order to meet the challenges of food security and climate change. This is to be accomplished through the achievement of national food
security and development goals through three defined objectives (pillars): (i) sustainable increase in productivity, (ii) increased resilience through adaptation of different technologies and practices, and (iii) reducing GHG emissions where possible
(FAO 2013). What distinguishes CSA from other sustainable agricultural approaches
is a specific focus on climate change and the search for possible synergies and negotiation of trade-offs in the pursuit of increased food security, resilience, adaptation,
and mitigation outcomes in a broader landscape or system perspective (Lipper et al.
2014). Given the importance of agriculture in the context of livelihoods, food security, and poverty reduction, CSA has the potential to increase the livelihoods and
resilience of millions of smallholder farmers in Africa. However, if CSA is promoted without including the human dimension, this will not address the problem at
its source.
In the following sections, we provide the analytical framework for CSA and its
linkages with vulnerability, resilience, livelihoods, and transformation and highlight
how CSA can impact positively on the transformation of agricultural production.
Furthermore, we briefly discuss the main priorities in the way forward towards more
productive and resilient smallholder farming systems and discuss the barriers that
exist concerning CSA implementation.
Need for Personal Transformations in a Changing Climate: Reflections…