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Development of sustainable farming systems on mountainous, low fertility grazing land in South America

Objective




PROBLEM ANALYSIS:
Millions of hectares of low grade pasture exists in South America on its mountainous land, formerly covered by forest.
- The soils are of low fertility with their "A horizon" already eroded. - Loss of primary forest owing to grazing and cultivation
- Large properties exist in the area but will not be included in the project - Lifestock farming systems face low productivity, erosion and emigrationproblems
- High intensity cropping/ley farming systems create problems oferosion and soil contamination; the agrochemicals contaminate water andpose health problems
OBJECTIVES:
- To develop economically viable, socially
acceptable and environmentally sound farming systems
- Increase supply of unpolluted agricultural produce to the urban markets - Protection of forest remnants; integration of agroforestry in the farming systems.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
A holistic approach to
- Give equal importance for socio-economic and biophysical factors - Consider the past and future dynamics along with spatial components - Give importance for farmers' participation in research activities
PROJECT LAYOUT ACTIVITIES:
The local partners from Brazil and Bolivia and 2 European institutions University of Karlsruhe and CSIC Barcelona) will cooperate.
Research work will be carried out in three areas where these problems are acute: two in Brazil (Mata Atlantica region) and one in Bolivia.
The main research tools will be:
- For diagnosis: Evaluation of statistics; in-house-research; analysis of soil, water and produce samples; interpretation of air photos and application of Geographic Information Systems
- For experimentation: On-farm-research on production technology and erosion.
Further activities include training; dissemination of results and publications.

Topic(s)

Data not available

Call for proposal

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Coordinator

Universität Karlsruhe (Technische Hochschule)
Address
12,kaiserstraße
76128 Karlsruhe
Germany

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Participants (3)

CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS
Spain
Address
18-26,jordi Girona 18-26
08034 Barcelona

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Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária
Brazil
Address
1024,rua Jardim Botanico
22460 Rio De Janeiro

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Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia
Brazil
Address
82,av. Venezuela
20081-310 Rio De Janeiro

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