MSD Hub editor's note (Michael Field, Senior Systems Specialist, Vikāra Institute):
The blog does a great job of highlighting some important insights around the need to more fully integrate climate change into MSD. There were two additional thoughts that came to my mind after reading the blog. The first is that climate change is not something that can be dealt with via a single solution. Rather, climate change is a systemic variable that is going to force ongoing change, which means it is critical to integrate how local systems can get better at managing change over time. Communal, market and political systems will all have to get better at identifying, prioritizing, and allocating resources in response to emerging risks related to climate change and other factors. Emerging risks are very likely going to increase in pace and severity in which today’s solution will be rendered useless relatively quickly, creating the need for the next ‘solution’. So while it is essential to think about specific solutions to today’s challenges, it should be done in ways that also improves the system's ability to adapt to the next challenge. The discussion of local knowledge is also important, but maybe more central to the new normal of high levels of uncertainty is going to be local social norms and practices that create a sense of identity and social cohesion. Local knowledge is often connected to their natural environment, but climate change is disrupting that environment in ways that do not align with historical community experiences. As a result, change is going to be forced on communities that does not align with their local knowledge, which will amplify their sense of uncertainty. These increasing levels of uncertainty will (i.e., already are putting) put stress on communal coping and social cohesion mechanisms. At the same time, these mechanisms provide the sense of continuity that grounds communities and helps them maintain a perception that they can weather whatever comes next. As the blog points out very well, climate change is here and traditional, stoved piped ways of addressing its effects will not be sufficient or effective.
The 2024 Market Systems Symposium (MSS2024) was an incredible opportunity to explore how Market Systems Development (MSD) and Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) can work together to address some of the most pressing challenges in agriculture today. As a co-facilitator of the Deep-Dive Session on CSA, I had the privilege of diving into the synergy between these two approaches alongside a group of passionate participants. Together, we discussed strategies to enhance resilience, productivity, and environmental sustainability in agricultural systems.
Here are the key insights that emerged from our session, highlighting the collaborative discussions and why they matter for the future of climate-resilient agriculture.
1. Synergy Between MSD and CSA: A Holistic Approach to Sustainable Agriculture
One of the key insights from our session was the strong synergy between MSD and CSA. These two approaches, when combined, hold immense potential for creating agricultural interventions that are not only environmentally sustainable but also resilient to climate change impacts.
Participants highlighted that climate-smart practices—such as drought-resistant crops, water efficiency, and agroforestry—are essential for ensuring long-term sustainability in agriculture. However, it was equally clear that implementing these practices requires a systems-level approach. By embedding CSA within MSD, we can address the root causes of challenges, understand the capacities and incentives of market actors, and design interventions that are scalable and can drive systemic change. This integrated approach is crucial for creating long-lasting impacts on both market performance and environmental sustainability.
2. Navigating Trade-Offs: Productivity vs. Climate Adaptation/Mitigation
While CSA offers clear benefits, our discussions also brought up the challenge of trade-offs that often arise when balancing productivity with climate resilience. For instance, there is a tension between promoting high-yield crops and supporting climate-resilient varieties, such as drought-resistant seeds. While high-yield seeds may boost immediate productivity, they often don’t address the long-term need for climate adaptation.
We all agreed that the ambiguity surrounding CSA definitions often makes it difficult to navigate these trade-offs effectively. Many interventions focus on productivity without fully considering the implications for long-term climate resilience. To overcome this, intentionality in design is essential—CSA interventions must simultaneously aim to improve productivity while adapting to climate change, and ideally contribute to climate mitigation.
3. Intentionality in CSA Interventions: Designing for Long-Term Impact
One of the strongest takeaways from our discussion was the importance of intentionality in CSA interventions. Effective interventions require thoughtful design that considers both the immediate needs of farmers and the long-term impacts on the environment.
It was emphasized that CSA interventions should aim to achieve multiple objectives: improving productivity or income, adapting to climate change, and ideally contributing to mitigation efforts. Participants shared their experiences of how taking a context-specific approach is key to success—by understanding the local environment, ensuring inclusiveness, and addressing socio-economic factors, we can design interventions that are not only effective in the short term but also sustainable in the long run.
4. The Importance of Diversity and Redundancy in Market Systems
A key theme discussed was the importance of diversity in products, services, and market channels. A resilient market system thrives on diversity and redundancy, which provide the flexibility needed to absorb shocks—whether from climate change or economic disruption.
We agreed that building redundancy into market systems is vital to ensuring their continuity in the face of shocks. Diversifying markets, supply chains, and inputs helps reduce risks and ensures that agricultural systems can continue functioning effectively, even when disruptions occur.
5. Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge: A Key Component of CSA
Another critical point discussed was the value of indigenous knowledge in CSA. Local communities have long developed practices that are well-adapted to their environments and have proven effective in building resilience. Combining indigenous knowledge with proven CSA technologies and best practices from other regions can create powerful, context-appropriate interventions.
Participants shared compelling examples from their work, emphasizing that local knowledge should not only be recognized but actively integrated into CSA strategies. Additionally, integrating complementary approaches such as disaster risk reduction (DRR) and conflict resolution can enhance the resilience and effectiveness of CSA interventions.
6. Enhancing the Measurement of CSA-MSD Interventions
The importance of improving how we measure the impact of CSA-MSD interventions was another key theme. With clearer objectives and more defined indicators, it is possible to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions with greater precision.
By focusing on accurate and consistent data collection, we can better assess the impact of CSA and MSD initiatives and refine our approaches based on evidence. This, in turn, will help build a stronger case for the importance of these approaches, inform future interventions, and ensure they remain impactful and scalable.
7. Encouraging CSA in Communities of Practice
In our session, we discussed how CSA could be further integrated into ongoing Communities of Practice, particularly in the agricultural sector. Many of us are already working on CSA-related projects, and these discussions offer a valuable opportunity to share insights, learn from each other, and collectively refine our approaches.
By engaging more stakeholders in these discussions, we can drive innovation, share lessons learned, and improve the effectiveness of our CSA and MSD interventions, making them more inclusive and scalable.
8. A Collaborative Call for Updating Evidence-Based Practices and Technologies
Lastly, we called for a collaborative effort to continually update and share evidence-based CSA and MSD practices and technologies. As new challenges and opportunities emerge, it is crucial that we stay ahead by refining our approaches and leveraging the latest evidence to enhance the effectiveness and scalability of our interventions.
This collaborative spirit is essential for ensuring that our work remains relevant, adaptive, and capable of making a long-term difference in the agricultural sector.
Conclusion: Moving Forward with Intentionality and Collaboration
The MSS 2024 session on CSA reinforced the need for intentionality, collaboration, and a systems-thinking approach to building climate-resilient agricultural markets. By combining the strengths of MSD and CSA, we can create interventions that not only address the immediate needs of farmers but also foster long-term resilience in the face of climate change.
As we move forward, it’s crucial that we continue refining our understanding of these approaches, sharing knowledge, and working together to develop effective, evidence-based solutions that can make a real difference in the lives of farmers worldwide.
By taking these discussions from MSS 2024 into practice, we can continue to push the boundaries of how we approach sustainable agriculture and climate resilience. Let’s continue to be intentional, collaborate across sectors, and prioritize both market systems and environmental sustainability in our future work.
Author:
Wahyu Nugroho, Market Systems Lead, Mercy Corps, Bangkok, Thailand
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