Sustainable production systems

Crucial to organic farming methods are the promotion of soil fertility and biodiversity and sustainable land use based on locally adapted cultivation techniques. The development of such techniques presents a major challenge for many producers in developing countries. In the tropics and sub-tropics there has as yet been very little research into practical solutions for organic agriculture and the integrated application of its principles.
The priority areas of our projects are the evaluation and development of locally adapted technologies, and exploration of the contribution of organic farming to food security, environmental conservation and sustainable development.

FiBL cooperates with national and international research institutions, universities and organic producer groups in the development of locally adapted production technology through practice-oriented on-farm research and in the comparison of organic and conventional production systems.

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Selected Projects

Albania: Sustainable Agriculture Support Albania (SASA): Production Systems

Project aims: Development and enlargement of local and international market opportunities for Albanian organic products.
The project is running from 2006-2009.
Project partners are BioAdria Market Development Unit (MDU) and Albinspekt.
The project is funded by DEZA/SDC and seco.
FiBL contact: Martin Lichtenhahn

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India: Maikaal project

Smallholder groups in numerous countries of Asia, Africa and South America grow cotton organically. There is increasing interest in the socially, economically and ecologically sustainable production of cotton. The organic production system might be a promising option for other regions, too. However, before the approach is disseminated further, we should know more about what organic cotton farming can actually contribute to poverty reduction, and what are the obstacles to successful dissemination.

Mandated by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), WWF and Remei AG, FiBL analyzed the impact of organic cotton production on the farmers’ livelihood. In field trials and through participatory technology development (PTD) the research team also works on further improving the organic production system. The insights gained feed into training and extension tools developed within this project.
Read more

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Cuba: Tropical Fruit Production

The aim of the project is the Development of the production and marketing of organic specialities from Cuba: citrus, mango, coconut, coffee etc., market development, development of internal control systems and local certification.
The project has been running since 1997.
Project partners are the Institute for Tropical Fruit IITF as well as further research stations and universities.
The project is funded by ASI.
FiBL contact: Lukas Kilcher

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Kenya, India, Bolivia: Long-term farming system comparison in the tropics

The aim of this project is to assess the contribution of organic agriculture to sustainable development in long-term field trials and farm surveys. The FiBL network of long-term trials examines the contribution of organic agriculture to food security, poverty alleviation and environmental conservation. It covers cash crop oriented systems as well as subsistence crop based systems, both under a wide range of agro-ecological and socio-economic conditions. The project has been running since 2005.

The project partners are:

in Kenya

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE)
Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT (TSBF-CIAT)
Kenyan Agricultural Research Institute (KARI)
Kenyatta University (KU)

in India

bioRe Association India

in Bolivia

Promoción e Investigación de Productos Andinos (PROINPA)
Asociación de Organizaciones de Productores Ecológicos de Bolivia (AOPEB)
El Ceibo
Instituto de Ecología, Universidad La Paz (IE)

The project is funded by the Swiss Development Cooperation DEZA/SDC , Coop , Biovision Foundation .

Further information

FiBL contact: Christine Zundel
further FiBL staff members involved: Lukas Kilcher, Paul Mäder, Monika Schneider, Salvador Garibay

Press release 'Biolandbau zur Ernährungssicherung in den Tropen' by Biovision, FiBL, DEZA/SDC and Coop Naturaplan-Fonds
Pictures
Paper "Was kann der biologische Landbau zur nachhaltigen Entwicklung im Süden beitragen?" – Langfristige Systemvergleiche in den Tropen [What can organic agriculture contribute to sustainable development? – Long-term farming system comparisons in the tropics ].
Poster: What can organic agriculture contribute to sustainable development? Long-term farming system comparisons in the tropics (272 KB)