7th Farming System Design Symposium in March 22-24, 2021 in Tunis

Dry regions are known to be the most impacted by the effects of climate change and socio-economic uncertainties. Various international initiatives have more than ever incited the governments of these countries (notably those of the Middle East and Northern Africa) to innovate and develop adaptation strategies for the agri-food systems. This will imply to improve farmland fertility using agro-ecological practices, to reduce their CO2 emissions, and to sustainably protect the means of subsistence of farm households as well as natural resources, in particular water and soil, from the effects of climate change. There are many trade-offs to document but also many synergies to implement provided an integrated (multiscale and multicriteria) approach is implemented.

In this context the CIHEAM-IAMM, ICARDA and IRESA-Tunisia wish to join their efforts to organize the 7th Farming System Design Symposium in March 22-24, 2021 in Tunis.

This symposium aims to revisit all these debates and initiatives, using as an entry point of integration (down to the field and up to landscape, market and ecosystems) the farm household and its role in sustainable food production within an uncertain climatic and socio-economic context. After the 6th FSD symposium in Montevideo, Uruguay (August 18-21, 2019) on “Agricultural systems designs sustained by nature” the 7th symposium in Tunisia will focus on « Designing Climate Smart Agricultural Systems for a Sustainable Transition in the Agri-food Systems of the Dry Areas ».

FSD is an informal interdisciplinary scientific community of practice to promote research and capability building on farming systems design.

The symposium will be organized around three pillars:

• The first pillar is to present, discuss and integrate recent scientific findings which contribute to the analysis, assessment and design of resilient/sustainable farming systems in dry regions. Work which notably deals with the role of diversities observed at plot, farm or territory level in resilient farm system design will be encouraged. Research results documenting the interactions between agricultural systems and food systems, policies, market and natural resource management (water, soils, rangelands…) in the dry regions are also welcome. This symposium will also encourage methodological contributions aiming for multi-actor, multi-scale and multi-criteria design if applicable to the dry regions. In order to confront research findings with farming reality a specific day will be dedicated to on-farm workshops.

• The second pillar is the strengthening of capacity development for young researchers (doctoral and post-doctoral students, especially women) in the form of short intensive training courses dedicated to the design of resilient/sustainable production systems in dry regions.

• The third pillar is to strengthen the collaboration between the public and private sectors to support the out-scaling of innovative technologies, tools and organizations for climate smart and job-providers agri-food systems in the Dry Areas. A specific day during the conference will be dedicated to exchanges results and projects with NGOs, international organizations, professional organizations and private companies.

Different activities are planned to accommodate  with the diversity of participants and their expectations as round tables with donors and scientists, field visits, success story from agroecology, world coffee, testimonials, special guests.