Sustainable intensification of livestock systems with legumes

Code:
ATN/RF-16926-RG
Initiative:
Joint proyects
FONTAGRO Amount:
USD 305.000
Counterpart Amount:
USD 1.421.499
Execution time
42 Months
Total Amount:
USD 1.794.524
Participating countries:
Argentina Argentina Chile Chile Dominican Republic Dominican Republic Ecuador Ecuador Nicaragua Nicaragua Paraguay Paraguay Uruguay Uruguay Brazil Brazil
Funding source:
FONTAGRO Amount 17% Other agencies 4% Counterpart Amount 79%

Executive Summary

This project brings together eight countries characterized by their high livestock activity for meat and dairy production. They hold an estimated 400 million heads of cattle, representing more than 20% of global stock.

Livestock is produced primarily under direct grazing, in different agroecosystems, with a high diversity of forage resources. Nevertheless, these countries present noticeable similarities: (i) livestock is reared in marginal areas for agriculture, (ii) livestock productivity is low, with poor grazing management and animal loads that are usually less than one animal per hectare, (iii) efficiency rates are low and (iv) livestock is the principal source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in all eight countries.

Forage legumes can play a central role through their biological fixation of atmospheric nitrogen (N), the improvement of the nutritional value of the animal’s diet, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Addressing these challenges and opportunities can be achieved more efficiently through joint effort. Thus, this project aims to establish a regional platform of cooperation to strengthen livestock systems using forage legumes.

The technological solution

Beef production is crucial for the economies of all platform member countries. Additionally, they can all use legumes as a forage resource. This practice contributes to reducing N fertilizers use, the supply of N to plant nutrition, and the sequestration of carbon from soils. The possibility of mitigating GHG emissions depends on the balance between emissions and carbon sequestration. Savings on fertilizers also implies significant economic, energy and environmental benefits.

This program trains human resources within a collaborative and complementary setting.

Results

Creation of a cooperative platform to improve livestock production systems in Latin America and the Caribbean through the inclusion of legumes in pastures. This platform is producing a massive amount of data that will be arranged into integrated databases. The approaches are the relationship between biological fixation of N by legumes and edaphoclimatic variables: soil density and carbon and N contents in different profiles; N2O and CH4 emissions from grassland soil with and without legumes; enteric CH4 emissions in cattle for animals fed with and without the inclusion of legumes; and the impact of the inclusion of legumes on animal production.

Obtained results are being published in scientific publications, conference presentations, and mass media articles. Annual technical reports are also being produced. In addition, technical-scientific capacities will be strengthened through theses, internships, workshops, and courses.

Among the results obtained so far, an increase in carbon stocks has been observed with the inclusion of legumes in pastures, as well as a differential enteric CH4 emission according to the concentration of condensed tannins in the plants. Therefore, we can infer the importance of managing pastures with legumes to mitigate the effects of climate change linked to the livestock sector, also improving the quality of soil and feed for livestock.

Beneficiaries

The direct beneficiaries are 2,532 people, including farmers, technicians, researchers, and students of the eight participating countries (Argentina 361, Brazil 163, Chile 333, Ecuador 336, Nicaragua 120, Paraguay 85, Dominican Republic 98, and Uruguay 1036.

Regarding the type of beneficiaries, 37 research institutes will participate with their respective experimental stations, 18 universities, 247 researchers, and 2,230 farmers.

Sustainable Development Goals

Zero Hunger Good health and well-being Responsible consumption and production Climate action Partnerships for the goals

Main donors

Project news

BlogInternal trainings
26/04/2021
Webinars 2020
28/12/2020
WEBINARS
03/06/2020

Participating Organizations

Executor
  • Fundación ArgenINTA (ARGENINTA) - Argentina
Co-executor
  • Instituto Dominicano de Investigaciones Agropecuarias y Forestales (IDIAF) - República Dominicana
  • Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA) - Chile
  • Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (INIA) - Uruguay
  • Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIAP) - Ecuador
  • Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) - Argentina
  • Instituto Nicaragüense de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) - Nicaragua
  • Instituto Paraguayo de Tecnología Agraria (IPTA) - Paraguay
Associated
  • Empresa Brasileña de Investigación Agropecuaria (EMBRAPA) - Brasil
  • Programa Cooperativo para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Agroalimentario y Agroindustrial del Cono Sur (PROCISUR) - Uruguay

Graphics and data

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

Geolocated Map

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