December 17, 2013
Testing the Waters: Experimentation and Innovation in Markets for Integrated Landscapes
A paradigm of agricultural landscape management, in which stakeholders work towards common objectives and the environmental and economic bottom lines are not at odds with one another, doesn’t seem too far out of the question. Yet, as our contributors over the past two weeks have emphasized, it’s not as easy as a wave of the […] ...
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December 16, 2013
Designing Standards for Impacts at Scale
By Bambi Semroc, Center for Environmental Leadership in Business (CELB), Conservation International Several posts in this Landscapes Roundtable have said sustainability standards may play an important role in shifting the way in which agricultural landscapes are managed. While great strides have recently taken place, there are still many challenges to address, particularly in ...
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December 12, 2013
Setting the Standard: Improving Monitoring and Evaluation for Sustainable Supply Chains
In athletics, when a team has been under-performing for a long time, a new coach often takes over by implementing changes in process: how the team practices, player diets and curfews, the tactics used during the game. Doing things the “right way,” or “sticking to the plan” is emphasized. But as the team improves, and […] ...
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December 10, 2013
Experimenting with Certification: Towards a Sustainable Livestock Sector in Brazil
Peter Newton
International Forestry Resources and Institutions Research Network, School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan
Last week’s guest authors honed in on issues of partnership, support, and reducing risk within supply chains. Major commodities such as soy and palm oil formed the basis of these discussions, but one of the major contributors to land cover change and degradation was largely absent – cattle. Today’s author, Peter Newton, a postdoctoral research fellow [&hellip ...
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December 6, 2013
Risky Business: A Landscape Approach to Sustainable Supply Chains
Gabrielle Kissinger
Lexeme Consulting
By Gabrielle Kissinger, Lexeme Consulting On Wednesday, we saw how partnership and collaboration can facilitate the move towards sustainable agricultural production at a landscape scale. Yet risk is still a constant concern within supply chain management. In today’s post, author Gabrielle Kissinger examines the experiences of businesses taking more integrated approaches t ...
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December 4, 2013
Producer Support Structures for Sustainable Landscapes: Solidaridad's Perspective
By Katie Minderhoud and Andreanne Grimard, Solidaridad Network To open our fourth installment of the Landscapes Roundtable, representatives from the Solidaridad Network discuss the role of sustainable agricultural production as an entry point to an integrated landscape approach. Coming from an agricultural commodity supply chain perspective, there is a strong emphasis on partne ...
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December 2, 2013
Getting the Markets Right for Integrated Landscape Management
Still emerging from the afterglow of the Global Landscapes Forum, the topics of a ‘Green Economy’, market incentives, and private sector partnerships have all garnered considerable interest on the frontiers of sustainable landscapes. The economic realities driving land use and natural resource management have raised concerns among those with an eye toward the long-term viab ...
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October 2, 2013
A New Frame for Agricultural Intensification
Three strong perspectives characterized the Roundtable on the Landscapes Blog, and challenged readers to rethink the frame in which sustainable intensification is set. Professor Joern Fischer dispels notions of optimizing for one output, arguing that many traditional systems are efficient as well as diverse, we just need to consider efficiency of the whole – of multiple ...
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September 30, 2013
Sows and Soil: Building a Sustainable and Profitable Farm
By Harry Stoddart, Stoddart Family Farm, Ontario, Canada
The System of Rice Intensification drew last week to a close, but we continue discussing the challenges and means by which to increase productivity of land while balancing ecological and social needs. Today, Harry Stoddart articulates the approach and underlying mentality he has cultivated over the years, moving from industrial farming to a more holistic […] ...
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September 27, 2013
What Does ‘Intensification’ of Agricultural Production Look Like at Landscape Scale?
By Norman Uphoff, SRI-Rice, Cornell University Wednesday’s post from Professor Joern Fischer provided some background on agricultural intensification, benefits and pitfalls, and a movement toward “sustainability.” In particular, he noted how landscape scale adds complexity to intensifying practices, but also helps build resilience. Professor Norman Uphoff provides a concr ...
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