ABSTRACT

In recent years, CGIAR researchers have investigated the effectiveness of using agrobiodiversity, and more particularly crop and crop varietal diversity, as an adaptive practice to mitigate climate-change impacts on agriculture and to contribute to rural household and community resilience. The hypothesis informing this research is that the sustained practice of crop diversification leads to ecological redundancy, which allows farmer households and their communities to produce multiple positive livelihood benefits. The validity of this hypothesis is investigated by means of an extensive literature review (covering 2015–2020). Findings reveal ample evidence of positive outcomes, including increased yields and household incomes, improved nutrition and food security, new marketing opportunities, reduced poverty, and strengthened adaptive and innovative capacity. However, the evidence is far less convincing about the last part of the hypothetical impact pathway, i.e. the link between positive livelihood benefits and (increased) resilience. This shortcoming is addressed through the elaboration of a more clearly articulated theory of change for crop diversification and a refined methodology to support farmers in making appropriate diversification decisions. At the same time, the critical review opens a window on an important, novel perspective, which is to look at the role that crop diversification could play in a wider societal transition toward a more sustainable future.

摘要

近年来，CGIAR 研究人员调查了利用农业生物多样性，尤其是作物和作物品种多样性的有效性，作为一种适应性实践，以减轻气候变化对农业的影响，并有助于提高农村家庭和社区的复原力。这项研究的假设是，作物多样化的持续实践导致生态冗余，这使农户及其社区能够产生多种积极的生计效益。该假设的有效性通过广泛的文献综述（涵盖 2015-2020 年）进行了调查。调查结果揭示了积极成果的充分证据，包括增加产量和家庭收入、改善营养和粮食安全、新的营销机会、减少贫困、增强适应创新能力。然而，关于假设影响路径的最后一部分，即积极的生计收益与（增加的）复原力之间的联系，证据远没有那么令人信服。通过制定更清晰的作物多样化变革理论和完善的方法来支持农民做出适当的多样化决策，可以解决这一缺点。同时，批判性审查打开了一个重要的、新颖的视角的窗口，即着眼于作物多样化在更广泛的社会向更可持续的未来过渡中可能发挥的作用。积极的生计收益与（增强的）复原力之间的联系。通过制定更清晰的作物多样化变革理论和完善的方法来支持农民做出适当的多样化决策，可以解决这一缺点。同时，批判性审查打开了一个重要的、新颖的视角的窗口，即着眼于作物多样化在更广泛的社会向更可持续的未来过渡中可能发挥的作用。积极的生计收益与（增强的）复原力之间的联系。通过制定更清晰的作物多样化变革理论和完善的方法来支持农民做出适当的多样化决策，可以解决这一缺点。同时，批判性审查打开了一个重要的、新颖的视角的窗口，即着眼于作物多样化在更广泛的社会向更可持续的未来过渡中可能发挥的作用。