From subsistence to multi-performance: rethinking the Caribbean homegarden as an innovative model in modern agroforestry

Subsistence farming on small plots, often located near the house (the so-called homegarden, HG), is a strong feature of rural life in the Caribbean islands. It closely resembles the subsistence cultivation of Latin American areas that have been classified as a subcategory of tropical agroforestry systems (AFS, Nair 1985). In this study we test the hypothesis that these ancient family HG fall within the modern and integrative definition of agroforestry recently proposed by the World Agroforestry Center (2016). The study comprises, i) ancomprehensive (?) review of literature (n = 135) dealing with the main concepts of AFS or diverse case studies in Latin American regions or other tropical reviews (x references) and ii) a 5 year-field work carried out in the French Antilles during 6 sessions of diverse surveys with farmers (n = 342). A brief historical perspective indicated that the first HG practionners were the slaves who often grew their own food on the unused - sometimes marginal and degraded - , lands near the plantations. Food supplies and other services were important in adapting to their harsh living conditions before and even after abolition. The fact that these systems (HG or AFS) are still an essential part of land use and household survival has been frequently mentioned in recent literature.Their main features are described in this review. The field research aimed to analyze the different components of the system (trees, crops, livestock) to provide a functional diagnosis and suggest characteristics of the Caribbean HG in it's various biophysical and socio-economic dimensions. Their multiperformance, and ecosystemic services, were qualified. Based on all the characteristics of the Caribbean synthesized from literature and field data, we have hypothesized their contribution as mixed tree-crop-livestock systems to this new concept of modern agroforestry. Ongoing studies are testing their multi-performance (productive, environmental,...) through the prism of the integration of their subcomponents

Crop-livestock-forestry systems as a strategy for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing the sustainability of forage-based livestock systems in the Amazon biome.

Abstract: Intensification of livestock systems becomes essential to meet the food demand of the growing world population, but it is important to consider the environmental impact of these systems. To assess the potential of forage-based livestock systems to offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the net carbon (C) balance of four systems in the Brazilian Amazon Biome was estimated: livestock (L) with a monoculture of Marandu palisade grass [Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) R. D. Webster]; livestock-forestry (LF) with palisade grass intercropped with three rows of eucalyptus at 128 trees/ha; crop-livestock (CL) with soybeans and then corn + palisade grass, rotated with livestock every two years; and crop-livestock-forestry (CLF) with CL + one row of eucalyptus at 72 trees/ha. Over the four years studied, the systems with crops (CL and CLF) produced more human-edible protein than those without them (L and LF) (3010 vs. 755 kg/ha). Methane contributed the most to total GHG emissions: a mean of 85 % for L and LF and 67 % for CL and CLF. Consequently, L and LF had greater total GHG emissions (mean of 30 Mg CO2eq/ha/year). Over the four years, the system with the most negative net C balance (i.e., C storage) was LF when expressed per ha (−53.3 Mg CO2eq/ha), CLF when expressed per kg of carcass (−26 kg CO2eq/kg carcass), and LF when expressed per kg of human-edible protein (−72 kg CO2eq/kg human-edible protein). Even the L system can store C if well managed, leading to benefits such as increased meat as well as improved soil quality. Moreover, including crops and forestry in these livestock systems enhances these benefits, emphasizing the potential of integrated systems to offset GHG emissions

Comparaison de l'ingestion et de la digestion de moutons alimentés, à base de fourrage vert, à l'auge et au pâturage

Diffusion du document : INRA Antilles-Guyane, Unité de Recherches zootechniques, Domaine Duclos 97170 Petit-Bourg (Guadeloupe), France Diplôme : Dr. d'UniversitéTHE AIM OF THIS STUDY WAS TO EVALUATE DIFFERENCES IN FEEDING INDOOR OR AT PASTURE AND TO EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCES. THE STARTING HYPOTHESISES WERE THAT FEEDING DIFFERENCES EXIST BETWEEN ANIMALS FED INDOOR AND AT PASTURE, WHEN THE SAME FORAGE IS OFFERED, THE ORIGIN OF THESE DIFFERENCES IS RELATED TO THE PRESENTATION OF THE FORAGE TO THE ANIMALS. THE METHODOLOGICAL STUDIES SHOWED THAT NEAR INFRARED REFLECTANCE SPECTROSCOPY (NIRS) ALLOW TO PREDICT DIGESTIBILITY (SECV = 2.02 % AND R² = 0.77) AND THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE FORAGE REALLY INGESTED. THE INCREASE OF THE NUMBER OF DATA IN THE CALIBRATION DATA SET ALLOWED TO IMPROVE THE PREDICTION OF DIGESTIBILITY (SECV = 1.75 AND R² = 0.85). THE PREDICTION OF DIGESTIBILITY FROM THE FECAL NITROGEN METHOD DID NOT SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE PRECISION AND THE PARAMETERS OF THE EQUATION. THE USE OF THE NIRS AND FECAL NITROGEN EQUATIONS TO PREDICT DIGESTIBILITY OF AN INDEPENDENT DATA SET ALLOWED PRECISE ESTIMATIONS. THE EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES SHOWED THAT DIGESTIBILITY IS GREATER AT PASTURE (65.0 % INDOOR VS 67.0 % AT PASTURE, P < 0.05), 2) DUE TO SELECTION PROCESS IMPLEMENTED AT PASTURE, WHEREAS, INTAKE (77.2 G / 0.75 0.75 KG BWINDOOR AND 64.64 G / KG BW, P < 0.001) AND AMOUNT OF DRY MATTER DIGESTIBLE INTAKE (50.13 G / KG BW0.75 INDOOR AND 43.33 G / KG BW0.75 AT PASTURE, P < 0.001) ARE GREATER INDOOR; DUE TO GREATER PREHENSIBILITY OF FORAGE INDOOR; THAT DIFFERENCES OF INTAKE AND DIGESTIBILITY BETWEEN INDOOR AND PASTURE VARY ACCORDING TO THE QUALITY AND THE QUANTITY OF GRASS OFFERED.L’OBJECTIF DE CE TRAVAIL ÉTAIT DE METTRE EN ÉVIDENCE DES DIFFÉRENCES D’ALIMENTATION ENTRE L’AUGE ET LE PÂTURAGE QUAND LE MÊME FOURRAGE EST PROPOSE, ET DE LES EXPLIQUER. LES HYPOTHÈSES DE DÉPART ÉTAIENT QUE DES DIFFÉRENCES D’ALIMENTATION EXISTENT, ET QUE L’ORIGINE DE CES DIFFÉRENCES SE SITUE DANS LE MODE DE PRÉSENTATION DU FOURRAGE A L’ANIMAL. LES ÉTUDES MÉTHODOLOGIQUES ONT MONTRE QUE LA SPECTROSCOPIE DANS LE PROCHE INFRAROUGE (SPIR) PERMET DE PRÉDIRE LA DIGESTIBILITÉ (SECV=2.02% ET R²=0.77) ET LA COMPOSITION CHIMIQUE DU FOURRAGE RÉELLEMENT INGÉRÉ PAR DES OVINS. L’AUGMENTATION DU NOMBRE DE DONNÉES DE CALIBRATION A PERMIS AMÉLIORER LA PRÉDICTION DE LA DIGESTIBILITÉ (SECV=1.75 ET R²=0.85). LORSQUE LE NOMBRE DE DONNÉES DE CALIBRATION AUGMENTE, LA MÉTHODE AZOTE FÉCAL N’A SIGNIFICATIVEMENT MODIFIE NI LA PRÉCISION, NI LES PARAMÈTRES DE LA RÉGRESSION. L’UTILISATION DES ÉQUATIONS SPIR ET AZOTE FÉCAL POUR PRÉDIRE LA DIGESTIBILITÉ SUR DES DONNÉES INDÉPENDANTES, A PERMIS D’OBTENIR DES ESTIMATIONS PLUS PRÉCISES (RSD=2.53 ET 2.80, POUR LA SPIR ET L’AZOTE FÉCAL, RESPECTIVEMENT). LES ÉTUDES EXPÉRIMENTALES ONT MONTRE QUE LA DIGESTIBILITÉ EST PLUS ÉLEVÉE AU PÂTURAGE (65.0 % A L’AUGE VS 67.0% AU PÂTURAGE, P <0.05) SUITE A LA SÉLECTION DU FOURRAGE AU PÂTURAGE, ALORS QUE L'INGESTION (77.21G/KG PV 0.75 0.75 A L’AUGE VS 64.64G/KGPV AU PÂTURAGE, P<0.001) ET LA QUANTITÉ INGÉRÉE DIGESTIBLE (50.13 G/KGPV0.75 A L’AUGE VS 43.33G/KGPV0.75 AU PÂTURAGE) SONT PLUS ÉLEVÉES A L’AUGE, LIÉES A DES VARIATIONS DE LA PREHENSIBILITE DU FOURRAGE ENTRE AUGE ET PÂTURAGE. LES DIFFÉRENCES ENTRE L’AUGE ET LE PÂTURAGE VARIENT EN FONCTION DE LA QUALITÉ ET DE LA QUANTITÉ DE FOURRAGE OFFERT

Comparison of fecal crude protein and fecal near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy to predict digestibility of fresh grass consumed by sheep

Organic matter digestibility (OMD), an essential criterion for the evaluation of the nutrition of ruminants, cannot be measured easily at pasture. Therefore, the objective of this study was to test and compare 2 methods of OMD prediction based on the fecal CP content (CPf) or near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) applied to feces. First, published equations derived from fecal N (Eq. 1CP, n = 40) and from fecal NIRS (Eq. 1NIRS, n = 84) were used to predict OMD of an independent validation data set from which in vivo OMD, ranging from 58 to 74%, was measured for 4 regrowth stages of Digitaria decumbens. Second, to establish equations usable in grazing situations and to improve the efficiency of the predictions, new equations were calculated from a large data set (n = 174) using CPf (Eq. 2CP) or fecal NIRS (Eq. 2NIRS). By applying the CPf method, Eq. 2CPf (OMD, % = 88.4 – 263.9/CPf, % of OM; residual SD = 2.92, r2 = 0.63) showed similar statistical parameters (P < 0.01) when compared with Eq. 1CP (OMD, % = 86.6 – 266.2/CPf, % of OM; residual SD = 2.95, r2 = 0.79). When using fecal NIRS, Eq. 2NIRS showed decreased SE of calibration (SEC = 1.48) and of cross-validation (SECV = 1.75) and greater coefficient of determination of cross-validation (R2CV = 0.85) than the previously published Eq. 1NIRS (SEC = 1.78, SECV = 2.02, R2CV = 0.77). The validation of the 4 equations on the validation data set was satisfactory overall with an average difference between the predicted and the observed OMD ranging from 0.98 to 2.79 percentage units. The Eq. 2NIRS was nevertheless the most precise with a decreased residual SD of 2.53 and also the most accurate, because the SD of the average difference between predicted and observed OMD was the lowest. Therefore, fecal NIRS provided the most reliable estimates of OMD and is thus a useful tool to predict OMD at pasture. However, an adequate number of reference data are required to establish good calibration. Indeed, better calibration statistics were obtained by increasing the data set from 84 (Eq. 1NIRS) to 174 (Eq. 2NIRS). In contrast, using fecal N on a set of 84 or 174 points did not improve the prediction. Both methods are useful for predicting OMD at pasture in certain circumstances, using fecal NIRS when a large data set (n = 84 and n = 174) is available and fecal CP with smaller data sets (n = 40)

Work organization as a barrier to crop–livestock integration practices: a case study in Guadeloupe

International audienceCrop-livestock integration exploits the synergies between cropping and livestock systems, mainly by using animal excreta as an organic crop fertilizer or using crop products as animal feed. From an environmental and economic point of view, crop-livestock integration is thought to increase system autonomy and resilience. However, little research has addressed its social impact and particularly the relationship between crop-livestock integration and work organization although, like most agroecological practices, crop-livestock integration was considered time-and labor-intensive. Here we used quantitative indicators based on the "Qualification and Evaluation of Work" method coupled with qualitative interviews with farmers to understand how implementation of crop-livestock integration practices is affected by work characteristics (perception, organization, duration, and arduousness). This framework was implemented on 14 farms selected from a typology of mixed crop-livestock systems in Guadeloupe (French West Indies), where high labor costs heighten the tension between work organization and agroecological practices. Our results show that three patterns of crop-livestock integration shaped work organization: family farms with strong crop-livestock integration (Pattern 1, n=6 farms), farms with moderate crop-livestock integration (Pattern 2, n=5 farms), and intensive productivity-driven farms (Pattern 3, n=3 farms). We also show for the first time that farmer perceptions of work, especially with animals, influences level of implementation of crop-livestock integration practices. In Pattern 1, work with livestock is done by the farmers themselves or by skilled and trusted persons from their inner circle. In Pattern 3, livestock was considered a source of on-farm income, and work with livestock, including crop-livestock integration practices, is readily delegated to employees or volunteers. Whatever the pattern, the time burden of collecting crop-products and excreta was cited as a primary barrier to further implementation. Actionable opportunities for further implementation of these patterns of croplivestock integration practices are discussed

De l’innovation à l’adoption de nouvelles pratiques de production dans la filière banane

National audienceDans la filière de production de banane aux Antilles, mieux conjuguer performances économiques et environnementales impose un changement de pratiques dans les systèmes de production. Pour contribuer à ce changement, la recherche agronomique développe des solutions techniques innovantes qui ne sont malheureusement pas toujours adoptées par les agriculteurs. Pour faire mieux converger les innovations agronomiques développées par la recherche avec les attentes et contraintes des producteurs, nous avons mis au point une méthode d’évaluation ex ante des conditions d’adoption. Quels systèmes innovants faut-il préconiser dans les différents types d’exploitations ? Quels impacts agro-environnementaux et économiques auront les innovations sur les exploitations et leur fonctionnement ? Quels seront les freins et les motivations à leur adoption ? Quelles politiques mettre en œuvre pour les favoriser ? L’objectif de la méthode que nous avons développée est de répondre à ces questions.La méthode d’évaluation que nous proposons est basée sur la combinaison de modèles agronomiques avec des modèles économiques. D’abord nous identifions par enquête la diversité régionale des exploitations, tant biophysique que socio-économique. Puis l’offre d’innovations agro-écologiques est recensée pour construire un pool de systèmes innovants plus ou moins complexes. Nous utilisons un modèle bio-économique pour prévoir quelles seront les conséquences de l’adoption des systèmes innovants dans les différents types d’exploitations. Les résultats de ces simulations sont alors utilisés pour questionner directement les agriculteurs sur leur consentement à adopter de tels systèmes, sous différents scénarios de prix et d’aides. La modélisation économétrique de ces choix permet enfin de révéler et quantifier les motivations et les freins à l’adoption, et de fonder une politique d’innovation adaptée aux diverses attentes des agriculteurs.En Guadeloupe et en Martinique, nous avons pu identifier une grande diversité de milieux physiques, de structures d’exploitations et de systèmes de culture. Pour renforcer la durabilité de ces divers modes de production, les solutions agro-écologiques candidates sont nombreuses. Celles-ci consistent en l’utilisation de plantes de services cultivées en association ou en rotation avec la banane, à l’intégration avec des systèmes d’élevage et au recours à de nouvelles variétés. Ces innovations ont été assemblées de manière cohérente en une vingtaine de prototypes de systèmes de production permettant de remplacer une gestion de la fertilité et des ravageurs qui est conventionnellement chimique, par une gestion plus durable, basée sur des régulations biologiques au sein de l’agro-écosystème. Nous avons ainsi identifié des options permettant de produire autant voire plus, tout en réduisant l’usage de pesticides de 25 à 50 % par rapport aux systèmes conventionnels. Ces systèmes sont néanmoins généralement plus consommateurs en main d’oeuvre et en savoirs. Notre méthode d’évaluation nous permet d’identifier trois types de recommandations pour concilier performances économiques, respect environnemental et fortes probabilités d’adoption par les agriculteurs : le ciblage des prototypes par type d’exploitation, le soutien à l’innovation via des subventions découplées et la poursuite de l’organisation de filière autour d’une production à haute valeur ajoutée

Work organization as a barrier to crop-livestock integration practices: A case study in Guadeloupe

International audienceCrop-livestock integration is thought to increase system autonomy and resilience by transitioning system components into a circular economy. Like most agroecological practices, crop-livestock integration is considered time-and labor-intensive. We hypothesized that work characteristics (organization, duration, and arduousness) and subjective factors related to work with animals shaped the implementation of crop-livestock integration practices in mixed crop-livestock systems and vice versa. The Qualification and Evaluation of Work method (QuaeWork) was coupled with qualitative interviews. This framework was implemented on 14 farms selected from a typology of mixed crop-livestock systems in Guadeloupe (French West Indies), where the high cost of labor raises tension between work organization and agroecological practices. Three patterns of crop-livestock integration shaped work organization: family farms with strong crop-livestock integration (Pattern 1, 6 farms), farms with moderate crop-livestock integration (Pattern 2, 5 farms), and intensive productivity-oriented farms (Pattern 3, 3 farms). These patterns have different farm characteristics and work organizations. Pattern 2 spent more time using crop by-products as animal feed (on average 253 h/year) than Pattern 1 (on average 222 h/year), whereas Pattern 3 did not use crop-products to feed animals. Farms in Pattern 3 spent more time using crop excreta to fertilize crops (on average 29.8 h/year) than Pattern 2 (on average 19.6 h/year) and Pattern 1 (on average 13.4 h/year). In Patterns 1 and 2, the low availability of family labor, and lack of the presence of skilled employees, may hold back whole-farm crop-livestock integration development and increase in animal units, whereas, in Pattern 3, management of the nutritional value of crop by-products and the cost related to employing additional persons would do so. The subjective link to animals can be more relational (Pattern 1), practical (Pattern 2), or economic (Patterns 2 and 3) regarding farmers' objectives. Adapted mechanization, direct collection of feed and deposition of feces by animals, targeted supportive policies and market governance, and organizational innovation beyond the farm level are discussed as levers that can be operated depending on the pattern

Faecal indices based on near infrared spectroscopy to assess intake, in vivo digestibility and chemical composition of the herbage ingested by sheep (crude protein, fibres and lignin content)

International audienceThe aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of faecal indices based on near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to assess chemical composition and functional properties (intake and in vivo digestibility) of fresh grass ingested by sheep. Reference data and faecal spectra were obtained from a pen experiment with 12 ewes individually housed and fed fresh Digitaria decumbens at varying stages of re-growth (14–63 days) during a period of 49 days. The amount of herbage offered, refused and faecal excretion were measured per ewe daily. Organic matter (OM) content, crude protein (CP) content, neutral and acid detergent fibre (NDF, ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) content were dosed in offered, refused and faecal samples. OM digestibility (OMD), intake (OMI) and chemical composition of the herbage ingested (OMi, CPi, NDFi, ADFi, ADLi, % dry matter) were calculated per ewe and per seven days. Faecal samples were bulked within each seven days of measurement period, per ewe. Eighty four dried and milled faecal samples were scanned using a monochromator. Faecal spectra were used to calibrate and cross-validate equations for predicting the various parameters using the modified partial least square (MPLS) procedure. For the CP content of the herbage really ingested (CPi), derived standard error of cross-validation (SECV) and cross-validation R2 (R2cv) were 0.61% and 0.98. For NDFi, ADFi and ADLi, the values of SEC- V and R2cv were, respectively, 1.64% and 0.45, 0.78% and 0.91 and 0.34% and 0.77. For OMD, the values of SECV and R2cv were 2.02% and 0.77, whereas lower calibrations statistics were obtained for OMI (11.04 g kg BW–0.75 and 0.45). These values confirmed the potential of NIR Spectra of faeces as a technology for reliably predicting the in vivo digestibility and chemical quality of herbage really ingested and estimating the herbage intake by small ruminants