Concepts, impacts & Concepts, impacts & benefits of eco-benefits of eco-efficiencyefficiency

D White

eco-efficiencyeco-efficiency• A management approach • World Business Council for Sustainable

Development• Endorsed 1992 Rio Earth Summit • A way for companies to contribute towards

sustainable development• “entails the delivery of competitively-priced

goods and services that satisfy human needs and bring quality of life, while progressively reducing ecological impacts and resource intensity throughout a product’s life cycle, to a level in line with the earth’s estimated carrying capacity.”

eco-efficiencyeco-efficiency

BuzzwordBullshit or Brilliant

eco-efficient agricultureeco-efficient agriculture

bullshit buzzwordbullshit buzzword

Old, staleTrendy, overdoneObscure

eco-efficient agricultureeco-efficient agriculture

brilliant buzzwordbrilliant buzzword

Substantiated with ◦activity of top organizations◦evidence

Economic Social Environmental

eco-efficient agricultureeco-efficient agriculture

Impacts/benefitsImpacts/benefits

Economic Economic impacts/benefitsimpacts/benefits

Economic

Social impacts/benefitsSocial impacts/benefits

Social

Environmental Environmental impacts/benefitsimpacts/benefits

Environmental

CIAT commodities are eco-CIAT commodities are eco-efficientefficient

Rice◦productivity reduced need to

deforestCassava

◦high energy output per hectareBeans:

◦fix nitrogen◦replace meat proteins

Forages: ◦protect and improve soils◦chickens & pigs require less feed

Energy efficiency: cropsEnergy efficiency: crops

Pimentel, 2005

Energy & water Energy & water consumption: animalsconsumption: animals

Pimentel, 2005

CIAT is eco-efficient CIAT is eco-efficient agricultureagriculture

Rice: productivity - avoided-deforestationCassava: high energy output per hectareBeans: fix nitrogen, replace meat

proteinsForages: chickens & pigs require less

feedAnecdotes into analysis

◦Cows don’t eat the forest in Laos◦Beans improve landscape productivity

Water Carbon

How to measure How to measure benefits/impacts?benefits/impacts?No eco-efficiency award existsMeasures

◦ Rarely absolute◦ Relative in time/space

Analysis becoming comprehensive◦ Physical scale

Plot & farm level Landscape, off-farm effects - externalities

◦ Market chain Product Entire food chain

All inputs, processing, packing, transportGlobal public goods

◦ Coordinated field survey questions

Other useful references:Other useful references:

Web information on:Triple bottom-lineTriple bottom-line + oneAccounting approaches

◦Carbon◦Water◦Energy

How is eco-efficiency How is eco-efficiency useful?useful?To link center strategies ofResearchCommunicationFundraising

Donor typologyDonor typology

Donor typologyDonor typology

USAID, CIDA

IDB, ADBsGates

IDRC, Scandinavia

n, GEF, UNEP

ConclusionsConclusionseco-efficient agriculture:

Is already part of CIAT The need wont go awayCan substantiate claims with

◦analysis◦testimonials

Can be a framework for ◦research ◦communication◦fundraising