Global overview of the spread of CA. Theodor Friedrich

Global Overview of the Spread of Conservation Agriculture

Theodor Friedrich, Rolf Derpsch, Amir Kassam

5th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture, Brisbane, 26-29 September 2011 slide 1/x


• Introduction• CA definition• CA adoption global• CA adoption by regions• Conclusions

5th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture, Brisbane, 26-29 September 2011

Outline

slide 2/x


• CA is mainly a farmer led process• It represents a shift in production paradigm• It is increasingly catching the attention of NGOs

and governments• There is no official data available – the data are

estimates from local organizations• The data collected in this recent review try to

closer reflect “good quality CA”


Conservation Agriculture is spreading:

slide 2/x



FAO Definition: www.fao.org/ag/caConservation Agriculture (CA)

is an approach to managing agro-ecosystems for improved and sustained productivity, increased profits and food security while preserving and enhancing the resource base and the environment. CA is characterized by three linked principles, namely:

1. Continuous minimum mechanical soil disturbance. 2. Permanent organic soil cover. 3. Diversification of crop species grown in sequences or

associations.

FAO Definition: www.fao.org/ag/caConservation Agriculture (CA)

is an approach to managing agro-ecosystems for improved and sustained productivity, increased profits and food security while preserving and enhancing the resource base and the environment. CA is characterized by three linked principles, namely:

1. Continuous minimum mechanical soil disturbance. 2. Permanent organic soil cover. 3. Diversification of crop species grown in sequences or

associations.

http://www.fao.org/ag/ca

http://www.fao.org/ag/ca



This definition translates into following practices:• Continuous zero tillage or strip tillage (<15 cm/25%)• Residue mulch or crop cover (>100, min. 30%)• Crop rotations (>3 diverse species)

This definition translates into following practices:• Continuous zero tillage or strip tillage (<15 cm/25%)• Residue mulch or crop cover (>100, min. 30%)• Crop rotations (>3 diverse species)



1974 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 1999 2002 2003 2007 2010 20110

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160Global Adoption of No-till/CA

Global CA area Mill. ha

No-Tillage

mil

lio

n

ha

124 mill. ha

150 mill. ha

109 mill. ha



100100

DustbowlDustbowl

19301930 2000200019501950

US

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il C

on

serv

atio

n S

ervi

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anad

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19801980 19901990

Fir

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IITA

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TA n

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rese

arch

5050

Mil

l. h

aM

ill.

ha

History and Adoption of CAHistory and Adoption of CA

19701970 20102010

124 mill ha

124 mill ha



South America45%

(36%)

North America32%

Australia & New Zealand14%

Asia4%

Europe1%

Ukraine and Russia4%

Sub Saharan Africa1%

North Africa & Near East0%

CA adoptiondistribution by continent

Total CA about 8% of cropland



USA 26.5USA 26.5

Canada 13.5Canada 13.5

Australia 17Australia 17

Europe 1Europe 1Kazakhstan > 1Kazakhstan > 1

Africa 1Africa 1

Brazil 25.5Brazil 25.5

Conservation Agriculture globally 124 Million ha Conservation Agriculture globally 124 Million ha

Argentina 25.5 (10.5)Argentina 25.5 (10.5)

Paraguay 2.4Paraguay 2.4

China 3.1China 3.1

tropical savannahtropical savannah

continental, drycontinental, dry

temperate, moisttemperate, moist

temperate, moisttemperate, moist

continental, dry continental, dry

irrigatedirrigated

smallholdersmallholder



aridarid

aridarid

large scalelarge scale






subtropical, dry

tropical savannahtropical savannah

other LA 2.4other LA 2.4

>50% W(30%)

15%15%

79%79%

100% West(35%)

100% West(35%)

Russia, Ukraine 5.1Russia, Ukraine 5.1



Argentina, 25,553.0076%

Bolivia; 706.00

Brazil, 25,502.0043%

Chile;

180.00

Colombia; 127.00 Mexico; 41.00 Paraguay, 2,400.00

79% Uruguay, 655.10, 51% Venezuela; 300.00

CA adoption in Latin America

quality CA10,500.00



Canada, 13,481.0030%

United States of America, 26,500.00

15%

CA adoption in North America

Canada >50% in Western Canada



CA adoption in Europe

Finland, 160.007%

France; 200.00

Germany; 5.00

Hungary; 8.00

Irland; 0.10 Italy; 80.00

Nether-lands; 0.50

Portugal; 32.00

Russia, 4,500.004%

Slovakia; 10.00

Spain, 650.005%

Switzer-land, 16.304%

Ukraine; 600.00

United Kingdom, 150.00 , 3%



Lebanon, 1.20 Mo-rocco; 4.00

Syria; 18.00

Tunesia; 8.00

CA adoption in North Africa and Middle East



Ghana; 30.00

Kenya; 33.00 Lesotho;

2.00 Malawi; 16.00

Madagascar; 6.00

Mozambique, 152.00

4%Namibia;

0.34

South Africa, 368.002%

Sudan; 10.00

Zambia, 200.00

4%

Zimbabwe, 139.30

4%

CA adoption in Sub Saharan Africa



China, 3,100.002%

Kazakhsta

n, 1,300.

006%

Korea, DPR; 23.00

Australia 17,000.00

35%

New Zealand, 162.0011%

CA adoption in Australia and New Zealand and Asia

Australia 100% in Western Australia



North Amer-ica

Latin America Europe North Africa and Middle

East

SubSaharan Africa

Asia Australia and New Zealand

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

18

42

40

2 3

34

% average CA adoption by region based on reporting countries(and on total arable land of the region)

(37)

(3)

Incl. Russia and Ukraine

*(1)(0.6)

*


• Conservation Agriculture continues spreading around the world• Originally a farmer’s driven process only attention is increasing

by governments and development organizations• CA is getting recognized as tool to Save and Grow• Some regions still struggle with introduction (Europe, South

Asia)• Other regions struggle with keeping good quality CA (Latin

America with Soya)• Further policy support is needed for faster adoption AND for

safeguarding quality of CA to ensure environmental services


Conclusions

slide 2/x

Type here title of the presentationCalibri 14 normal white

Date and place – Calibri 10 normal white slide 3/x

CA, the Agriculture of the Future – the Future of Agriculture

More information:[email protected]://www.fao.org/ag/ca

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Global overview of the spread of CA. Theodor Friedrich