Knowledge Systems for Sustainable Development

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Knowledge Systems for Sustainable Development

• Case Study Yaqui Valley Agriculture
• September 2004 - July 2005
• Pam Matson, Amy Luers, and Ellen McCullough

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Principal Research Collaborators

• Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
• William Clark
• Economic Commission for Latin America and the
  Caribbean, Chile
• Gilberto Gallopín
• Chiang Mai University, Thailand
• Louis Lebel
• Stanford University
• Pamela Matson

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KSSD Project, Overview

• Research Objective
• Understand and promote the design of effective
  systems that harness research-based knowledge for
  sustainable development
• Research Questions
• What are the characteristics of effective
  knowledge systems?
• How does the effectiveness depend on social and
  environmental contexts?
• How can knowledge systems be made more effective
  in specific circumstances?

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KSSD Project, Overview

• Other Case Studies
• Sustainable shrimp farming a comparison of
  experience in Mexico and Thailand (Stanford,
  Chiang Mai University)
• ENSO (El Niño) forecast applications in Brazil,
  Australia, Colombia, and the Pacific Northwest
  (Arizona State University and Harvard)
• Sustainable livelihoods an analysis of
  transformative technologies in Om Koi, northern
  Thailand (Chiang Mai)
• Sustainable land use a comparative analysis
  using the syndromes approach in Latin America
  (Economic Commission for Latin America and the
  Caribbean)
• Public health an anlysis of efforts to combat
  malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuburculosis in developing
  countries (Harvard)

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Stanford Case Studies

• Year 1
• Shrimp Farming in Southern Sonora
• Year 2
• Agriculture in the Yaqui Valley

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Research Questions

• Have knowledge systems transitioned towards
  sustainability in response to changes in the
  human-environment system?
• How might the knowledge system change as
  regulations or incentives drive decision makers
  to adopt sustainable management approaches?

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Shrimp Farming in Southern Sonora
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Agriculture in the Yaqui Valley

• The Yaqui Valley has been a highly successful
  model knowledge system for the Green Revolution
• Facing increased environmental and socio-economic
  pressures
• How has the system adjusted to water scarcity?
• How will it adjust if nitrogen runoff regulations
  are implemented?

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National Water Commission
Irrigation District (WUA)
Industry Groups (e.g. AOASS)
Innovative Producers
Universities
Secretary of Agriculture (State / Federal)
Producers
Credit Unions
Agro-Industry
Patronato (Farmer Research)
Federal Research (INIFAP)
CIMMYT CGIAR centers
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Methodology

• Interviews
• Public officials, farmer organizations, etc.
• Public records, census data
• SAGAR, Irrigation District, INEGI, etc.
• Survey data series
• CIMMYT and Stanford time series (1981-2004)
• 2004/2005 survey?

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Challenges facing Knowledge Systems

• Action for sustainable development
• Knowledge for sustainable development
• Linking knowledge and action
• Ignorance, complexity and uncertainty
• Capacity building (social and financial)