Emerging crop-livestock productions systems adapted to a changing environment - ECLIPSE

ECLIPSE is an inter-regional project that studies how agricultural and livestock production systems can be adapted to address climate change. The project seeks to design, assess and implement strategies to adapt ruminant production systems to environmental and socio-economic changes. To do so, it aims to develop innovative management tools.
© O. Edorh, Cirad

© O. Edorh, CIRAD


Issues

Livestock farming accounts for 40 % of the value of gross world agricultural output and is the main source of income for one in four people. The sector is undergoing major changes in response to multiple factors that are jeopardising food security for the people who depend on it. The prices of agricultural inputs or the frequency of extreme climate events, for example, are imposing serious constraints on these systems.

Description

Phase 2 of the ECLIPSE project is in line with efforts by the ARChE_Net network and continues the work on strategies to adapt ruminant production systems to agroecological and socio-economic changes. The project puts animals and agriculture-livestock interactions at the heart of adaptation mechanisms, and its approach is adapted to different scales, from the animal to the territory.

The priority research actions identified focus on:

  • the calibration and dissemination of infrared spectroscopy tools,
  • the diversification of forage systems through the introduction of legumes,
  • the adaptation of forage preservation techniques,
  • the characterisation of local breeds adapted to climate conditions.

Expected changes

The project will contribute to:

  • the development of portable tools based on infrared spectrometry to measure the nutritional value of fresh or preserved forage for the agronomic and environmental characterisation of resources;
  • the promotion of different preservation techniques for fodder biomass and nutrients;
  • the application of strategies to encourage use of the full range of  existing forage resources;
  • strategies to future-proof livestock production systems based on the capacity of ruminants to adapt to environmental constraints and on the quantified impact of climate and nutritional constraints on the zootechnical performance of livestock;
  • the development of methods for multi-criteria assessment of adaptation strategies at different scales and over time.

Expected impacts

The impacts expected are an improvement in food and agricultural security and independence, as well as the adaptation of production systems to climate change.

Contract partners

France – Reunion Island
•    ARP, Association Réunionnaise de Pastoralisme
•    FRCA, Fédération Régionale des Coopératives Agricoles
•    CEMOI, Centre d’Economie et de Management de l’Océan Indien
•    SICAREVIA
•    SICALAIT

Union of the Comoros  
•    NGO Dahari

Mozambique
Centro Universitario de Changalane - Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (CUC-UEM)

India
•    Bharatiya Agro Industries Foundation (BAIF) - Development Research Foundation
•    PVNR Telangana University for Veterinary, Animal and Fishery Sciences (PVNR TVU)
•    National Institute of  Animal Nutrition and Physiology (NIANP ICAR)

Madagascar  
•    FOFIFA, Centre National de la Recherche Appliquée au Développement Rural
•    FIFAMANOR, Centre National de Développement Rural et de Recherche Appliquée
•    Fambolena Malagasy Norveziana
•    GRET, Groupe de Recherche et d’Echanges Technologiques
•    AVSF

Australia
•    CSIRO, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
•    Murdoch University
•    Charles Sturt University (CSU)