Multi-actor Communities of practice (MACs) for upscaling push-pull technology in East Africa were formed in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Ethiopia. Synthetic guidelines and advice were derived on best practices to accomplish transformative impact on agricultural practices, policy and stakeholder perspectives. Transdisciplinarity has been embraced to diffuse barriers and bring to the view of agriculture a coordinated knowledge, skill and practice platform to promote sustainable agricultural production.
Socioeconomic surveys were performed in over 1500 households to evaluate the critical factors which promote or hinder adoption and upscaling of push-pull technology. A joint agroecological study design was implemented in 160 field sites and 60 grasslands across 5 countries. Field protocols to assess the determinants of pest control and other functions in maize push-pull and non push-pull systems, including methods for remotely sensing the distribution of plant volatiles, were used for assessments of local and landscape-scale impacts of push-pull technology for farmers and ecological communities.
High-resolution land use maps were developed as well as maps of biophysical and climatic conditions, social and farming systems to identify optimal target regions for push-pull upscaling. Climate models were developed as a basis for scenarios. Frameworks for analyzing social-ecological systems are being used to participatively model the push-pull system across ecological, socio-economic and governance levels.
After synthetic review of the options for expansion of push-pull and integration with other crops and practices, multi-actor needs assessment to identify priority crops and systems for integration was performed. Field experiments and trials including 'mother-baby' participative trials are underway in all 5 countries to test the identified options and the efficacy of push-pull integration.
To ensure that farmers are linked to the main value chain players in the market, value chain analyses for push-pull products were carried out and key elements of the push-pull value chains are being stimulated for increased market integration and to facilitate farmers' access to push-pull inputs, notably seeds of companion plants. Insights from the MACs and ongoing partnerships have been synthesized to develop policy guidelines and advocacy for high-level push-pull integration in national and international policy settings.
Communication materials are leveraged along with the project website and Knowledge Exchange Hub (KEH). Farmer mobilization is using cost-effective dissemination pathways developed in connection with MACs including e-extension. 78 demonstration plots have been set up, training materials are developed and farmer trainings are being performed in all 5 countries. To date 38 million people have been reached through mass media with push-pull messaging, and 18,220 farmers and extension staff were trained to implement the technology. Push-pull technology is furthermore being included in national guidelines for sustainable and climate-resilient farming practice, and push-pull companion plants are valuable components of enhancing livestock value chains through the production of fodder.
Efficient project and data management structures and Ethical guidelines are in place including a project management platform and a database for FAIR archiving of the data generated in UPSCALE.
Key results to date highlight the critical role of extension in guiding push-pull adoptions. Inclusive and integrated extension packages that train on agroecological practices and leverage existing social network structures are an essential tool for securing durable and effective adoption of push-pull technology. In addition, we demonstrate the role of Desmodium nurseries and vegetative propagation in bridging supply gaps for companion plants and facilitating crop rotation. Push-pull can be integrated very effectively with crops outside cereal such as high-value vegetables, edible legumes and agroforestry. Chemical profiles of push-pull fields are consistently distinct from conventional cereal, including through maize-produced defense compounds.
