TROPENTAG: annual interdisciplinary conference on research in tropical and subtropical agriculture

11-13 September 2024. TROPENTAG. 

The annual interdisciplinary conference on research in tropical

and subtropical agriculture, natural resource management and rural development (Tropentag) was jointly organised by the universities of Berlin, Bonn, Göttingen, Hohenheim, Kassel-Witzenhausen, ZALF e.V. (all Germany), Ghent University (Belgium), Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (Czech Republic), BOKU Vienna (Austria), and the Council for Tropical and Subtropical Research (ATSAF e.V.) in co-operation with the GIZ Fund International Agricultural Research (FIA).

Tropentag 2024 (TT24) was organised as a hybrid 'green event' by University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU University), Austria (Insitute and Cluster for Development Research), in cooperation with ATSAF e.V.

Topics:

1. 
   Agroecology and sustainable resource management practices: This includes discussions on sustainable agriculture practices, such as crop management, soil conservation, organic agricultural production, agroecology and agroforestry systems, aiming to optimize natural resource management while preserving the environment.
2. Livestock management and human well-being: Addressing sustainable and resilient animal production systems, promoting animal welfare, healthy animals as high-quality food resources, and enhancing human well-being through sustainable livestock management practices. Discussions link to the current discourse regarding economic viability and environmental aspects of animal production systems, increasing consumer demands for improved animal well-being, and calls for alternative non-animal protein sources.
3. Food and nutrition sovereignty: This session aims to bring together different perspectives contributing to a sustainable and just transformation of our food system. This involves addressing the underlying structural and socio-political issues related to malnutrition and advocating for sustainable diets. An emphasis is on democratic control over the production, distribution and consumption of food and the rights of peoples and communities to determine their own food and farming systems. This includes discussions on how to improve access to land and access to culturally appropriate, nutritious and affordable food, and the important intersection between food and health, identifying and assessing transformative solutions.
   
   
   
4. Sustainable water and fisheries management: Exploring innovative strategies and solutions to ensure the long-term viability of water resources and fisheries worldwide. Through interdisciplinary research and collaborative efforts, this session delves into the complex challenges facing sanitation, water ecosystems and fish populations, addressing overfishing, habitat degradation, pollution, and climate change impacts and offering insights into sustainable management practices, community engagement, policy frameworks, and technological advancements to promote the resilience and health of aquatic environments and fisheries.
5. Climate change adaptation and resilience: Sessions addressing adaptation to climate change in the context of agriculture and food systems, including pastoralism, natural resources management, and rural livelihoods. A critical perspective is laid on the potential threats of climate adaptation strategies for diverse rural livelihoods, in light of increased privatization, land grabbing and the rush for carbon and biodiversity credits. Sessions further focus on resilience strategies in agriculture, food systems and natural resource governance, including innovative approaches to mitigate environmental risks and enhance resilience of local populations.
6. Forestry, environmental conservation and ecosystem services: Exploring the intersection of agriculture and environmental conservation, including plant protection, agroforestry systems sustainability, and the importance of trees for environmental health and ecosystem services provision. This encompasses sessions on plant protection, trees for people and the environment, and understanding and managing soil-vegetation interactions, all of which contribute to environmental conservation and the provision of ecosystem services. This includes critical reflections on the benefits, trade-offs and potential threats of environmental conservation for rural livelihoods.
7. Gender and intersectional perspectives in the governance of natural resources: Critically explore how gender and other social dynamics intersect with and impact the governance of natural resources. Highlight the importance of inclusive approaches and practices, acknowledging diverse perspectives. Emphasize the importance and value of local knowledge systems, knowledge co-creation, co-learning, and actor-based initiatives in achieving more just and inclusive governance of natural resources and food systems.
8. Multiple crises: political, institutional and economic structures and challenges: Adopting a political ecology lens to explore the impact of multiple crises on our food and agriculture systems and natural resources, such as the climate crisis, violent conflicts and resulting economic crises. This includes reflections on the economic potential and profitability of agriculture and rural livelihoods, as well as collective action from grassroots organisations in shaping our future food and agricultural systems, and the role of policies and institutions amidst societal transformations.
9. Social and technological innovations for implementing the SDGs: Sessions focusing on technology adoption and dissemination, social innovations, and farmer perspectives in cropping and animal systems will highlight the role of technical and social innovations in agricultural practices and farmer-driven processes that contribute to sustainable resource management and securing livelihoods.

Keynote speakers

Tropentag 2024 had the honour to welcome three keynote speakers with diverging backgrounds: Franz Fischler, Anja Gassner, and Lerato Thakholi. Although the speakers shared different stories, their speeches united them in a shared vision of making efforts for brighter future prospects.

• Franz Fischler, President IHS, Institute Advanced Studies, Austria
• Anja Gassner, Managing Director, CIFOR Germany gGmbH; Director Europe
• Lerato Thakholi, Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands / University of the Western Cape, South Africa

Other speakers:

• Jennie Barron, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Dept. for Soil and
  Environment, Uppsala, Sweden
• Johanna Jacobi, Department of Environmental Systems Science, Agrarökologische Transitionen, ETH Zürich, Switzerland
• Nzula Kitaka, Egerton University, Dept Biological Science, Kenya
• Johannes M. Waldmüller, Department of Political Science, International Politics, University Vienna, Austria
• Achille Assogbadjo, Lab of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin

CIFOR-ICRAF's Dietmar Stoian led a session on developing agroforestry value chains in Rwanda, enhancing climate resilience and improving livelihoods through the TREPA project.

Transforming Eastern Province through Adaptation (TREPA)
A paradigm shift in land management practices in Rwanda’s Eastern Province to build resilience in the landscape to sustain agro-ecological systems and livelihoods. TREPA intends to increase the resilience of 75,000 smallholder farmers and restore 60,000 ha of drought-prone degraded landscapes as climate-resilient ecosystems through agroforestry, soil erosion control, reforestation, and the restoration of pasturelands, including economic incentives linked with the development of value chains of climate-resilient agricultural and tree products.

• Funding partners: Green Climate Fund & Government of Rwanda
• Implementing partner: Rwanda Forestry Authority (RFA)
• Budget: Entire budget 49,622,797 USD (Green Climate Fund + Co-financing)
• ICRAF budget 7,554,960 USD.