Code:
ATN/CX-14837-RG#92
Initiative:
Extraordinary Call
Other agencies:
USD 199.997
Counterpart Amount:
USD 241.701
Execution time
42 Months
Total Amount:
USD 441.698
Participating countries:
Chile Chile Argentina Argentina Bolivia Bolivia Costa Rica Costa Rica
Funding source:
Other agencies 45% Counterpart Amount 55%

Executive Summary

During the last 20 years, food demand increments have led to greater agricultural and livestock production in South America. However, climate change effects, mainly on small producers, can negatively affect their future development. In Chile, about 90% of livestock systems depend directly on rainfall intensity and frequency. In Argentina, the Pampean region, where the highest percentage of national agricultural production is concentrated, has a very variable rainfall regime. This results in dry, intermediate or very rainy years that alternate not uniformly. In Bolivia, the intensification of droughts in recent years has resulted in a significant decline, with a trend towards disappearance, in sheep production. In Costa Rica, approximately 70% of meat and dual-purpose producers are farmers who develop subsistence production systems and face higher production costs than the rest of Latin America. 

The challenge is to respond to global food demands under a scenario of increasingly adverse weather conditions and small producers with minimal technologies and investment. Hence, the objective of this project was to evaluate how forage resources genetically tolerant to water stress result in increase livestock productivity without increasing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions at a Family Farming level.

Results

The implementation of forage adaptable to climate change (drought or flood) resulted in productive and economic benefits and reductions in GHG emissions. For example, experiments were performed to evaluate drought-tolerant forage (Chile); forage and tuna fodder (Bolivia); soy adapted to direct grazing in livestock conditions (Costa Rica); and growth promotion of Lotus (Argentina). The forage species implemented had higher yields and helped reduce GHG emissions per kg of live weight during critical times. In Argentina, for example, an increase in cumulative annual production of 9% of Dry Digestible Matter and 58% of Crude Protein was observed in comparison to unmanaged natural grasslands. The invested capital was recovered over a period of one to four years, depending on the country.

Beneficiaries

  • 706 people trained (25% women) 
  • 10 field experiments 
  • 3 standard operation procedures 
  • 26 workshops 
  • 3 undergraduate theses 
  • 1 graduate thesis

Sustainable Development Goals

No poverty Zero Hunger Good health and well-being Gender equality Decent work and economic growth Sustainable cities and communities Responsible consumption and production Climate action

Main donors

Participating Organizations

Executor
  • Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA) - Chile
Co-executor
  • Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) - Argentina
  • Fundación para la Promoción e Investigación de Productos Andinos (PROINPA) - Bolivia
  • CICA - UCR - Costa Rica
Associated
  • COLUN LTDA
  • Corporación Ganadera (CORFOGA) - Costa Rica

Graphics and data

Financing by country (in USD)
FONTAGRO Amount Other agencies Counterpart Amount

Geolocated Map

Researchers

Sponsors
BID
IICA
With the support of
Fondo Coreano de Alianza para el Conocimiento en Tecnología e Innovación (KPK)