Embedding stakeholders’ priorities into the low-emission development of the East African dairy sector
A growing body of evidence shows that more intensive dairy systems can be good for both nature and people. Little research considers whether such systems correspond with local priorities and preferences. Using a mixed methods approach, this study examined the effects of three intensification scenari...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abfe2d |
| _version_ | 1797747650686091264 |
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| author | Gabriel U Yesuf George C Schoneveld Mink Zijlstra James Hawkins Esther M Kihoro Vera Vernooij Mariana C Rufino |
| author_facet | Gabriel U Yesuf George C Schoneveld Mink Zijlstra James Hawkins Esther M Kihoro Vera Vernooij Mariana C Rufino |
| author_sort | Gabriel U Yesuf |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A growing body of evidence shows that more intensive dairy systems can be good for both nature and people. Little research considers whether such systems correspond with local priorities and preferences. Using a mixed methods approach, this study examined the effects of three intensification scenarios on milk yield and emission intensities in Kenya and Tanzania. Scenarios included (a) an incremental change to feed management; (b) adaptive change by replacing poor quality grass with nutrient-rich fodder crops; and (c) multiple change involving concurrent improvements to breeds, feeds and concentrate supplementation. These scenarios were co-constructed with diverse stakeholder groups to ensure these resonate with local preferences and priorities. Modelling these scenarios showed that milk yield could increase by 2%–15% with incremental changes to over 200% with multiple changes. Greenhouse gas emission intensities are lowest under the multiple change scenario, reducing by an estimated 44%. While raising yields, incremental change conversely raises emission intensities by 9%. Our results suggest that while future interventions that account for local priorities and preferences can enhance productivity and increase the uptake of practices, far-reaching shifts in practices are needed to reduce the climatic footprint of the dairy sector. Since top-down interventions does not align with local priorities and preferences in many situations, future low-emission development initiatives should place more emphasis on geographic and stakeholder heterogeneity when designing targeting and implementation strategies. This suggests that in low-income countries, bottom-up approaches may be more likely to improve dairy productivity and align with mitigation targets than one-size-fits-all approaches. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:53:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4449f019f2fc46f58a9f6897e8c0bb92 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1748-9326 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:53:35Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-4449f019f2fc46f58a9f6897e8c0bb922023-08-09T15:00:19ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research Letters1748-93262021-01-0116606403210.1088/1748-9326/abfe2dEmbedding stakeholders’ priorities into the low-emission development of the East African dairy sectorGabriel U Yesuf0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0963-2998George C Schoneveld1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1157-8222Mink Zijlstra2James Hawkins3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5880-4771Esther M Kihoro4Vera Vernooij5Mariana C Rufino6https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4293-3290Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University , Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United KingdomCentre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) , Nairobi, KenyaWageningen University , Wageningen, The NetherlandsLancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University , Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United KingdomWageningen University , Wageningen, The Netherlands; International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) , Nairobi, KenyaWageningen University , Wageningen, The Netherlands; International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) , Nairobi, KenyaLancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University , Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom; Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) , Nairobi, KenyaA growing body of evidence shows that more intensive dairy systems can be good for both nature and people. Little research considers whether such systems correspond with local priorities and preferences. Using a mixed methods approach, this study examined the effects of three intensification scenarios on milk yield and emission intensities in Kenya and Tanzania. Scenarios included (a) an incremental change to feed management; (b) adaptive change by replacing poor quality grass with nutrient-rich fodder crops; and (c) multiple change involving concurrent improvements to breeds, feeds and concentrate supplementation. These scenarios were co-constructed with diverse stakeholder groups to ensure these resonate with local preferences and priorities. Modelling these scenarios showed that milk yield could increase by 2%–15% with incremental changes to over 200% with multiple changes. Greenhouse gas emission intensities are lowest under the multiple change scenario, reducing by an estimated 44%. While raising yields, incremental change conversely raises emission intensities by 9%. Our results suggest that while future interventions that account for local priorities and preferences can enhance productivity and increase the uptake of practices, far-reaching shifts in practices are needed to reduce the climatic footprint of the dairy sector. Since top-down interventions does not align with local priorities and preferences in many situations, future low-emission development initiatives should place more emphasis on geographic and stakeholder heterogeneity when designing targeting and implementation strategies. This suggests that in low-income countries, bottom-up approaches may be more likely to improve dairy productivity and align with mitigation targets than one-size-fits-all approaches.https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abfe2dsmallholdersdairy farmemission intensitiesprioritiesland use changeintervention |
| spellingShingle | Gabriel U Yesuf George C Schoneveld Mink Zijlstra James Hawkins Esther M Kihoro Vera Vernooij Mariana C Rufino Embedding stakeholders’ priorities into the low-emission development of the East African dairy sector Environmental Research Letters smallholders dairy farm emission intensities priorities land use change intervention |
| title | Embedding stakeholders’ priorities into the low-emission development of the East African dairy sector |
| title_full | Embedding stakeholders’ priorities into the low-emission development of the East African dairy sector |
| title_fullStr | Embedding stakeholders’ priorities into the low-emission development of the East African dairy sector |
| title_full_unstemmed | Embedding stakeholders’ priorities into the low-emission development of the East African dairy sector |
| title_short | Embedding stakeholders’ priorities into the low-emission development of the East African dairy sector |
| title_sort | embedding stakeholders priorities into the low emission development of the east african dairy sector |
| topic | smallholders dairy farm emission intensities priorities land use change intervention |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abfe2d |
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