Agrosilvopastoral Systems

Integrated crop-livestock production systems cushion each sector from external pressure and optimize economic, social and environmental conditions.
Integrated crop-livestock production systems cushion each sector from external pressure and optimize economic, social and environmental conditions.

ICARDA’s integrated approach towards more productive and sustainable crop-livestock systems focuses on farmer- and community-based solutions for improving sheep and goat production, sustainable management and restoration of rangelands, production of water-efficient dryland forages, and better integration of crop and livestock in mixed dryland systems.

Our innovations reduce the environmental footprint of dryland agriculture and aim for Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) through restoration measures that adapt to climate change. We also deliver knowledge and skills to rural households to ensure product safety and maximum benefits from value addition.

Our work in resilient crop-livestock systems is carried out by our Resilient Agro-Silvo-Pastoral Systems (RASP) team and its sub-teams, developing integrated innovation packages for livestock-based systems in low rainfall areas to improve livelihoods and increase system resilience. RASP also conducts research related to small ruminant (sheep and goats) genetics, breeding, feeding and health, dryland forages, rangeland ecology and management, and ecosystem restoration.

Watch and learn about our climate smart approaches for sustainable production of forage crops!
 

Our Innovations

 ICARDA innovations help countries and communities strengthen their adaptation to climate change and transition towards food and nutritional security.

View All

Selected Doyogena ram for use in artificial insemination

 

OUR CROP-LIVESTOCK EXPERTS

Our research teams provide integrated packages that help farmers to implement our innovations and new approaches and allow them to flourish:

Latest News

Local Sheep Market - Ethiopia
Blog
In Ethiopia, an innovative and easy-to-use digital tool (DTREO) has helped Community-Based Breeding Programs (CBBPs) transform the lives of thousands of goat and sheep breeders through data collection that supports more informed decisions on selecting superior males for breeding and access to new market opportunities. DTREO is now being introduced and pilot-tested by ICARDA to establish and optimize management as well as sheep and goat breeding programs in Jordan, Tunisia, and Mali.
Amara B.S. is a pastoralist in Kebili/Southern Tunisia. For him and his peers, pastoralism in his home village is a way of life (Photo: Zied Idoudi/ICARDA)
News
In collaboration with national and local partners, ICARDA recently led a participatory workshop to explore pastoral living landscape in Tunisia's Arid Drylands. This work was conducted as part of the CGIAR Research Initiative on Livestock and Climate, which is supported by contributors to the CGIAR Trust Fund.
Pioneering Agri-Science for 2024 - A message from Aly Abousabaa
News
I extend my sincere gratitude for your unwavering support in achieving resilient agri-food systems and express our commitment to addressing challenges such as drought, land degradation, and social inclusion, advancing agricultural science with determination.

Featured Innovations