Summary

Acknowledgements

List of Figures

List of Boxes

List of Plates

List of Tables

Acronyms

1. Objectives and Context of the Londrina workshop

Background

Soil biodiversity, agriculture, sustainable management and farmer context Workshop process and objectives

2. Review of knowledge and issues through case studies on soil Biodiversity, Ecosystem Management and Sustainable Agriculture

Indicators for assessment and monitoring of soil health

Case 1 – Bioindicators of soil health: their use by the sugar-cane industry in Australia

Case 2 – Participatory assessment of macrofaunal functional groups for rehabilitation and improved productivity of pastures, cropland and horticulture

Case 3 – Methods for assessment of soil health or quality focusing on a case in Bhutan Adaptive management for enhanced soil productivity and restoration

Case 4 – Adaptive management and technology innovation in Mindanao, Philippines

Case 5 – Biodynamic agriculture for reclamation and cotton production in Egypt

Case 6 – Biofertilizers – arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium bacteria – for mixed agriculture in Cuba

Case 7 – No-till agriculture for smallholder cropping in Brazil

Case 8 – A case of the transition of a renowned coffee growing area

Case 9 – Selection of legumes that produce beneficial plant flavonoids for various functions

Case 10 – Integrated pest management and biomass management for managing Helicoverpa armigera (pod borer) and enhanced productivity in Asia

Case 11 – Plant parasitic nematodes associated with common bean: as integrated management approach in Kenya

Case 12 – Role of termites in the soil rehabilitation process in Burkina Faso

Case 13 – Use of vermicompost with a focus on tea plantations in India

Case 14 – Use of vermicompost to reduce soil A1 toxicity in Brazil

Case 15 – Conservation and sustainable use of soil biodiversity

Case 16 – Adaptive management for redeveloping traditional ecosystems Capacity building for integrated soil biological and ecosystem management

Case 17 – Capacity building tools and methods for improving knowledge

Case 18 – The Global Environment Fund (GEF) – TSBF BGBD Network project on the conservation and sustainable management of below-ground biodiversity

Case 19 – The organic resources database

Case 20 – Use of farmer field schools for soil productivity improvement (FFS-SPI)

Case 21 – The African Conservation Tillage network Research and innovation in soil biological understanding and application

Case 22 – Innovative methods for monitoring soil biological activity and pest-pathogen interactions

Case 23 – Soil biological activity and C sequestration with a focus on no-tillage systems in Brazil

Case 24 – CGIAR Challenge Programme on Biological Nitrogen Fixation (CP-BNF)

Case 25 – Soil and water conservation research in Burkina Faso

3. Workshop discussions and findings on Improving Understanding and Management of soil biodiversity and ecosystems for productive and sustainable agriculture

Soil biodiversity understanding, status and trends

Biological indicators of soil health

Development of an assessment and monitoring framework

Development of target values and thresholds

Development and adaptation of productive and sustainable agricultural management practices

Integrated ecosystem and adaptive management approaches for soil health

Sharing experiences and lessons learned and identification of gaps and priorities

Sustainable production systems

Organic matter management and the soil ecosystem

The cropping system and the soil ecosystem

4. Strategy and Actions for Implementing the Soil Biodiversity Initiative

Guiding principles and objectives

Strategic framework on soil biodiversity and agro-ecosystem management

Increasing recognition of the essential services of soil biodiversity across all production system and its relation to land management

Capacity building to promote the adoption of integrated approaches and coordinated activities for the sustainable use of soil biodiversity and the enhancement of agro-ecosystem functions

Parnership development and coorperation

Operational mechanisms

Framework for action as a basis for the further development of the Soil Biodiversity Initiative

Objective 1 – Sharing of knowledge and information and awareness raising

Objective 2 – Capacity building for the development and transfer of knowledge of soil biodiversity and ecosystem management into farmers practices

Objective 3 – Strengthening collaboration among actors and institutions and mainstreaming soil biodiversity and biological management into agricultural and land management and rehabilitation programmes

References

Annexes

1. Workshop Agenda

2. Workshop Participants and Contact Details

3. Working group composition and guiding questions

4. Matrix of Case Studies on soil Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management

5. Ongoing Activities and Potential Collaborative Actions

6. Indicative outline for case studies on agricultural biological diversity and checklist for their analysis

7. The Ecosystem Approach and Adaptive Management