Katrien Descheemaeker is Professor Plant Production Systems in the Plant Science Group of Wageningen University (Netherlands). Katrien's research focuses on farming systems analysis, soil-plant-animal interactions, sustainable development and resource use efficiency, with a special interest in the functioning and dynamics of mixed crop-livestock systems. Current activities combine experimental trial work with simulation modelling to identify and assess options for sustainable intensification and climate-smart agriculture. Across various projects on smallholder farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa, Dr. Descheemaeker designs participatory and co-learning approaches that aim to co-design tailored agricultural technologies and practices to improve farm productivity, food security, resilience to shocks, and natural resource integrity.

Current projects include the following:

• Pathways to Agro-ecological Intensification in southern Mali. Three phases of participatory agricultural research with smallholder farmers. 2012 – 2023. Funded by The McKnight Foundation. https://www.ccrp.org/grants/pathways-to-aei-iii/
• STEP-UP: Sustainable Transition to Entrepreneurial Production in Agriculture through Upgrading. Combining farming systems analysis with value chain analysis to move towards sustainable intensification. September 2018 – August 2021. Funded by NWO-WOTRO under the LEAP-Agri programme. https://leap.iamb.it/?page_id=313
• FAIR-Sahel: Fostering an Agroecological Intensification to improve farmers’ Resilience in Sahel. 2020-2024. Funded by the European Commission under the DESIRA programme. https://europa.eu/capacity4dev/desira/wiki/fair-sahel
• AfricaRISING: Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation. Two phases of interdisciplinary systems research across West and East Africa. 2012 – 2021. Funded by USAID. https://africarising.net
• 3F: Feeding the soil and feeding the cow to feed the people. https://www.ccrp.org/grants/3f/

Pathways to agro-ecological intensification of mixed crop-livestock systems in southern Mali

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mdeaqu8eiva8msk/mini%20case%20pathways%20to%20AEI_final.pdf?dl=0

https://www.ccrp.org/grants/pathways-to-aei-iii/

STEP-UP: Sustainable Transition to Entrepreneurial Production in Agriculture through Upgrading. Combining farming systems analysis with value chain analysis to move towards sustainable intensification. September 2018 – August 2021. Funded by NWO-WOTRO under the LEAP-Agri programme.

https://leap.iamb.it/?page_id=313

FAIR-Sahel: Fostering an Agroecological Intensification to improve farmers’ Resilience in Sahel

The general objective is to create the conditions for small producers in the Sahel to set up innovative technical systems of agro ecological intensification (AEI), allowing them a more efficient and sustainable management of resources and an improvement of their incomes, while making their operation more resilient to climate change in the three countries of intervention of the project. A more specific objective is to redefine the role of research so that institutional, political and technical actors have access to the necessary knowledge, effectively support organized and voluntary producers and create favorable conditions for AEI.

https://europa.eu/capacity4dev/desira/wiki/fair-sahel

Crop-livestock intensification in the face of climate change: exploring opportunities to reduce risk and increase resilience in Southern Africa using an integrated multi-modelling approach

www.agmip.org/southern-africa-livestock

Africa RISING - Africa research for sustainable intensification for the next generation

www.africa-rising.net

- Analyzing sustainability of farming systems (PPS-30806)

- Systems Analysis, Simulation and Systems Management (PPS-20306)

- Quantitative Analysis of Land use systems (QUALUS) (PPS-30306)

- Climate Smart Agriculture (WSG35806)

- The Art of Modelling (see www.PE-RC.nl)

- Farming Systems and Rural Livelihoods (https://www.pe-rc.nl/postgraduate-courses/Farming-Systems)