CONTEXT Robusta coffee and black pepper sustain the livelihoods of around 800,000 households in Vietnam's Central Highlands. Facing market fluctuations, farmers increasingly diversify cropping systems by combining coffee, black pepper, and fruit/nut trees. OBJECTIVE To assess whether diversification improves land and labor productivity, profitability, and labor dynamics in coffee- and black pepper-based systems. METHODS Survey data from 238 households were used to classify cropping systems into monocultures and three diversified systems, and to compare input use, productivity, labor dynamics, and profitability. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Regarding agronomic performance, diversification increased planting density and land-use efficiency. Diversified systems displayed improved nutrient-use efficiency, while maintaining yields per tree/pole for coffee and black pepper. In diversified systems, lower coffee/black pepper yields per hectare were compensated by yields from other crops. Black pepper systems used more phosphorus and pesticides, whereas coffee systems used more nitrogen and water. Diversified coffee systems irrigated more frequently but with lower volumes per tree, reducing water use. Regarding labor, black pepper systems were the most labor-intensive, driven by harvest labor (also the most labor-demanding practice in coffee systems), while diversification reduced labor peaks by spreading workloads across the year. Regarding economic performance, black pepper systems generated higher gross products but had higher operating costs, resulting in comparable gross margins across systems, while diversified systems provided a higher return to labor. SIGNIFICANCE Despite increased management complexity and trade-offs shaped by the initial cropping system, diversification displays resource-use and labor benefits, while profitability remains comparable across systems under 2023 market conditions.

Highlights• Knowledge is dynamic, combining traditions, observations or novel sources of information.• Local knowledge regarding trees in Nicaraguan coffee plantations was assessed.• Easily observable attributes of trees were accurate used in farming management.• Ecological processes that were difficult to observe was not well put into actions.• Records and analysis of local knowledge are needed to design cropping systems.

Diversification of farming systems at plot scale is increasingly seen as an essential option to meet agriculture sustainability challenges and support agroecological transition. Significant progress has been made in recent years on methods for designing diversified cropping systems based on annual crops. However, few methods have been tested for designing diversified cropping systems based on perennial crops, and in particular perennial crop-based agroforestry systems, despite their important dietary and economic roles in the world. In this study, we argue that the characteristics of perennial crops induce specific structural and functional changes that impact the design process. We identified four key concepts for the design of diversified perennial crop-based agroforestry systems: (i) the targeted productivity must be considered over the long term and at the plot level, and encompass not only the productive and non-productive stages of perennial crops but also of associated plants; (ii) these systems will eventually face shocks and crisis in their lifetime, so they should be designed with resilience and adaptability in mind; (iii) initial designs will necessarily evolve throughout the long lifespan of perennial crops, and so a combination of de novo design from scratch and step-by-step design approaches for regeneration or transformation will be required; and (iv) due to the high complexity of these systems and the difficulty of setting up trials, the design process should draw from a range of knowledges from academics and practitioners and hybrid them. These four key features show that perennial crops offer distinct opportunities for the design of sustainable diversified cropping systems, but also face specific challenges that require more transdisciplinary research.

Pesticides remain the most efficient way to control pest and disease pressure in vineyards and obtain satisfactory yields in terms of quality and quantity. However, because of the harmful effects of pesticides on human health and the environment, winegrowers have had to change their practices. To reduce pesticide use, winegrowers have a range of levers at their disposal that are implemented at different spatial and temporal scales and with different intensities of change. Beyond simply reducing pesticide use, these changes can also impact farms’ economic and social performances notably because vine is a perennial crop with inertia in the impacts of changes operated. In this work, we assessed the covariation between various performances with time. We used the Agrosyst database, which compiles data on the performances of French vineyard cropping systems engaged in a pesticide reduction process for the past 10 years, implementing a reduction of 34%. Based on existing knowledge on transition processes and pesticide reduction in vineyards, we used partial least squares path modelling (PLS-PM) to assess the dynamic trade-offs between different performances during the pesticide use reduction process. We verified the model we built (GoF = 0.44) and found no significant correlation between pesticide reduction, economic performances (operating costs and fuel consumption), technical performance (mechanical work time) or productivity (yield). Interestingly, we did not observe any effect from reducing fungicides on yield. We only noticed a significant correlation between the initial weed control strategy and the change in weed control strategy (β = 0.18). Furthermore, stopping herbicide use did not affect mechanical work time or costs. Our results are encouraging in terms of maintaining both agronomic and economic performances when reducing pesticides in vineyards.

An estimated 3.4 million hectares of cocoa and 9.7 million hectares of coffee are cultivated, globally, under shade trees, i.e. in agroforestry systems. Shade canopies are characterized in terms of tree density (N, trees ha −1 ), tree basal area (G, m 2 ha −1 ) and percent canopy cover (%Cov). N, G and %Cov are named shade canopy density variables (SCDV). The use of these SCDV has two important limitations: (1) different combinations of values of the three SCDV variables generate very different shade tree stands (hence very different shading levels), and (2) Additional factors modify shading under shade canopies with constant SCDV values. This article uses the software ShadeMotion ( www.shademotion.net ) to show how 24 different, simple, even-sized, mono-layered, Cordia alliodora shade canopies with constant N, G and %Cov display significantly different shade levels and temporal patterns of shading depending on tree stem and crown diameter ratios, tree height, spatial planting configurations (square, random and alleys) and leaf fall patterns. A minimum set of variables capable of providing a more accurate description of the shading characteristics of a cocoa or coffee shade canopy is proposed. Our findings can shed light on the current debate on the pros and cons of the definitions of cocoa agroforestry used by chocolate and certification companies, governments, non-governmental organizations, and donors, especially in West and Central Africa. In this article, emphasis is given to cocoa, but the analysis, results and conclusions are equally applicable to coffee agroforestry systems.

Created in 2010, the DEPHY-Vigne network is formed of winegrowers who are committed to reducing the use of pesticides, and thus aims to demonstrate that such a change is possible using currently available techniques. The DEPHY-Vigne network showed an average reduction in pesticide use of 32 % over 10 years, with high inter- and intra-annual variability indicating a wide range of pesticide reduction pathways (Fouillet et al., 2022).

There has been substantial research on shade in cacao agroforestry systems, with most studies focusing on the impact of the shade cast by the associated shade trees on microclimate and yield. However, to our knowledge, no cacao agroforestry studies have explored how shade and its microclimate-modifying capacity influence the agrosystem’s pest and disease regulating service. Utilizing thermal hygrometers and hemispherical photographs, we measured temperature and relative humidity during the dry and wet seasons as well as the shade of associated trees (associated shade), combining the latter with cacao self-shade (total shade). This approach enabled us to uncover how each shade type influences microclimate, yields, and pests and diseases beneath cacao trees. Additionally, we developed a novel method to estimate attainable yield, actual yield, and yield loss due to pests and diseases. Using yield loss as a proxy of the pest and disease regulating service and structural equation modeling, we built a model depicting the interaction network between shade types and their role in cacao pest and disease regulation. Our results showed that each shade type uniquely influenced cacao agroecosystem outcomes, with the associated shade negatively impacting attainable yield and total shade having a positive effect. Associated shade also mitigated the dry season microclimate and limited pest and disease occurrence. Notably, shade alone was not the sole pest and disease-related yield loss driver; it is part of a complex interaction network. These innovative shade measurement and yield loss estimation methods have enhanced enhance our understanding of pest and disease regulation. Conclusively, different management approaches for associated shade and total shade are crucial for optimizing yields and pest and disease regulation in cacao agroforestry systems.

Diversified farming practices offer a promising pathway to sustainable food production by providing economic, environmental, and social benefits to farmers and society. However, the factors influencing their adoption are poorly understood, hindering the development of effective promotion strategies.This study presents a comprehensive global meta-analysis of 154 peer-reviewed studies analysing factors influencing adoption. We examined the effects of 71 factors across nine key categories—biophysical context, farm management characteristics, farmers’ attitudes, political and institutional context (access to knowledge, land tenure, financial risk management), and five forms of capital (financial, human, natural, physical, and social)—on the adoption of ten diversified practices in 42 countries across five UN regions.Our results reveal that access to knowledge, social capital, and farmers’ attitudes are key enablers of adoption, surpassing financial, physical, human, and natural capital. Specifically, access to extension services, strong social networks, and perceived environmental benefits significantly correlate with adoption. Land ownership, household income, literacy levels, and shallow soils have smaller positive effects. The influence of these factors varies across practices and geographic contexts, highlighting the complex and multifaceted nature of adoption.These findings emphasize the need for holistic agricultural initiatives and policies to promote the adoption of sustainable practices. Strategies that build technical knowledge and social capital and that are tailored to local contexts, sociocultural norms, and market structures, considering farmers' perceptions and attitudes through codesign processes, are more likely to succeed. Adaptive and context-specific strategies are crucial for fostering the widespread adoption of diversified farming practices and a more sustainable agricultural future.

CONTEXT: Oil palm smallholders often have difficulty implementing good agricultural practices and replanting, and tend to obtain low yields compared to corporate plantations. A frequent strategy to improve the sustain ability of smallholder production systems is sustainable intensification, aimed at increasing land productivity and farmers' incomes. To facilitate sustainable intensification, many leading public and private sustainability initiatives require farmers to join farmer organisations as a precondition for certification and assistance, with the objective of achieving advantages of scale. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to analyse the resilience of farmer organisations in the Ophir plantation when faced with replanting. We do so by linking actors, situations, and contexts relevant to collective action in five farmer cooperatives in Ophir over a 40-year period. Our aim is to offer unique insights into the enduring dynamics that influence the resilience of farmer organisations, shed light on smallholder oil palm replanting strategies, and draw several key lessons from this case.METHODS: Our findings are based on field visits by the lead author before, during and after replanting. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected to enable a holistic overview. During visits, 110 interviews with relevant stakeholders were recorded, project reports were collected, as were data on yields, costs, and other information on the functioning of the farming system. Analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery of the Ophir plantation and plantation inspections allowed us to further quantify replanting methods and replanting progress. A combined IAD-SES-NAS framework was used to structure findings and link variables, key events and context. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that farmer organisations can facilitate sustainable intensification in smallholder systems, but the resilience of farmer organisations proved diverse during replanting. Thus, farmer organisations are by no means a silver bullet for sustainable intensification. Landscape conditions, palm tree age, smallholder diversity and financial (mis)management play crucial roles in the resilience of farmer organisations and replanting strategies. Significant investment in various types of collective action is needed to encourage sustainable intensification through farmer organisations. SIGNIFICANCE: This article reports a rare holistic analysis of the bio-physical, socio-economic, and institutional aspects impacting collective action and replating in smallholder oil palm plantations. We present significant empirical data, which allows us to link 40 years of interactions between farmers, their institutions, plantations and changing contexts. Thereby we provide unique insights into farmer organisations, collective action and smallholder oil palm replanting.

CONTEXT: Winegrowers apply large quantities of pesticides to their vineyards to reduce high cryptogamic pressure. But these practices must change to lower pesticide use and improve viticulture sustainability. Different options for curbing pesticide use exist, and they can be progressively implemented following a specific temporal scheme in each production system. Some change trajectories can be more efficient than others in limiting pesticide applications. Combining trajectory studies and typology may be helpful in characterizing how farmers change their practices and in summarizing the various production system trajectories possible when transitioning towards pesticide use reduction.OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were i) to identify different types of pesticide use trajectories, and ii) to understand the options implemented by winegrowers to reduce their pesticide use. METHODS: We analysed data from 161 farming systems in the DEPHY farm network in 12 French winegrowing regions over a 10-year period. Pesticide use was assessed with the treatment frequency index (TFI). We char- acterized the TFI trajectory of each farming system with six indicators and built a typology of TFI trajectories. We then analysed several indicators such as the use of biocontrol products and the dose sprayed to identify some of the management options chosen to achieve these pesticide use trajectories.RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Three clusters were identified and characterized in terms of pesticide use strat- egy. The first cluster represented farms with an initial point close to the regional average and which did not experience a significant TFI reduction (-13%). The second cluster comprised farms with a low TFI when entering the network that were able to further reduce their TFI over time (-48%). The last cluster represented farms with a high initial TFI and a high reduction (-63%). All clusters managed to reduce their pesticide use by combining several technical levers at different intensities. Some differences in the levers between clusters were observed. Cluster 2 farms are in the process of converting to organic farming and using the associated levers such as biocontrol and mechanical weeding. SIGNIFICANCE: The changes implemented by cluster indicate a varying degree of progress in the transition to- wards pesticide use reduction. The initial point was identified as having a strong influence on the end result. The more intensively the technical levers were combined, the more difficult it was to reduce pesticide use. The DEPHY network supported winegrowers in their reduction of pesticides who managed to reduce their pesticide use by 13% to 63%.

CONTEXT: Agricultural systems can provide ecosystem services (ES) beneficial for both the sustainability of farms and the quality of life for humans. Agriculture is regularly criticized for focusing technical management of cropping systems more on production services than on support or regulation services. To achieve the agroecological intensification of cropping systems, a joint provision of multiple ES is required. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to (i) understand the determinants of the provision of ES and (ii) analyze the relationships between these services in order to (iii) identify agroecological intensification pathways. We focused our study on four ES, which are (1) coffee production, (2) water quality preservation, (3) carbon sequestration and (4) biodiversity conservation, provided by coffee agroforestry systems in a small region in Nicaragua. METHODS: A two-phase sampling scheme was implemented to measure and elucidate the provision of these services. First, we selected a large sample (82 coffee plots) to gain insight into and quantify the four ES. Secondly, we extracted a sub-sample (27 plots) showing variability in the provision of the four ES, to closely examine the determinants of the service most useful to farmers, coffee production. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The results showed that carbon sequestration (in average 36 t.haxe213; 1.yrxe213; 1) was not correlated with coffee yield (in average 1127 kg.haxe213; 1.yrxe213; 1) and depended more on the presence of a few big trees in farm plots (O > 0.9 m) than on tree density. Yield increased with tree biodiversity up to a threshold (Shindex = 1.5), after which it clearly declined. The use of the most harmful pesticides to human health at higher doses than recommended did not lead to the highest yields. The most important determinants of coffee production were soil nitrogen content, soil pH, solar radiation, disease and weed incidence. Although reducing the shade tree density increased coffee production, this reduction was not necessarily related to a decrease in shade tree biodiversity and carbon sequestration, or an increase in water contamination potential. A few farmers actually achieved such high joint ES provision, in particular by selecting adequate shade trees grown at moderate densities. SIGNIFICANCE: The novelty of this article lies on an original method that consists in analyzing the ES provided by cropping systems in order to identify management strategies that are effective in providing a higher combined level of ES than those currently provided. We emphasize the importance of linking agricultural practices to the ES delivered, in order to gain an in-depth understanding of which technical levers are positively correlated with the determinants of the expected services.

Agricultural practices of smallholder farming systems of Latin America can play an important role in reducing their exposure to the risks associated with climate extremes. To date, however, there is no systematic analysis of scientific evidence for the extent to which these practices can provide the multiple benefits needed for smallholders to adapt to climate extremes. In this paper, we searched scientific databases to review scientific evidence of the benefit provided by twenty-six practices in crops commonly farmed by smallholders in the region and highly relevant for their food and nutrition security; namely, coffee, maize and beans. We reviewed scientific documents (n = 304) published in the period 1953–2021 to register evidence of the practices’ effects on fifty-five benefits. Our analysis of these documents found measurement records (n = 924) largely based on field experiments (85%). Our results show strong evidence of the multiple benefits that some ecosystem-based practices (e.g., tree-based practices for coffee and no tillage for maize) can provide to support the adaptation to climate extremes of smallholder farming systems and enhance a farm’s natural assets (e.g., biodiversity, water, soil). We also found that the majority of research on practices in the region focused more on the socioeconomic dimension (54%) rather than on the capacity of practices to improve the natural assets of a smallholder farmers or reduce the impact of climate extremes. Given these knowledge gaps, we discuss the importance of a renovated investment in research to address existing knowledge gaps. Our concluding suggestions for future research include the need for systematizing existing knowledge from different sources (e.g., peer-reviewed, gray literature, farmers, extension agencies, etc.), and to assess the extent to which these practices can provide multiple benefits for smallholder farming systems by improving their wellbeing, reducing their vulnerability to different hydroclimatic extremes while also contributing to ecosystem services provision at the landscape level.

To promote greater sustainability in agriculture, development of agroecology is increasingly being invoked. What are the conditions for establishing agroecological production in tropical regions? Based upon case studies in several tropical areas, we provide here some answers to this question. We review the "pillars" (i.e. principles) and the "implementation levers" (i.e., tools) for the development of agroecology. We identify three main pillars: (1) the mobilization and management of ecological processes for the sustainable production and the resilience of agroecosystems; (2) the development of interactions between technical, social, environmental, and institutional components of agroecosystems for a holistic approach to agroecology; and (3) the scaling up of agroecology that takes place with a plurality of actions and pathways at different organization levels rather than an increase in resources and a replication of standardized technical processes. To implement these three pillars, we identify 11 main bio-technical, cognitive, socio-political, and organizational levers. Bio-technical levers include those for (1) mobilizing complementarity between crop species to optimize natural resources use, (2) mobilizing functional biodiversity at the plot scale to optimize natural regulation of pests and diseases, (3) managing biodiversity at landscape and territorial scales, (4) increasing the efficiency of biogeochemical cycles, and (5) renewing targets for genetic improvement. Cognitive, socio-political, and organizational levers include those for (6) political and institutional action at the national and global level, (7) action at the local level to support producers, (8) political and organizational action at the territorial level, (9) the marketing and the development of new agri-chains, (10) the development of new methods for evaluating production systems, and (11) the recognition of the values of gender and generation within families and other organisational levels. This paper provides an overall orientation for the agroecological transition in tropical agriculture and also considers the socio-political context that underlies this transition.

High quantities of pesticides are applied on vineyards. For example, the average treatment frequency index (TFI) for French vineyards was 13.5 in 2016, whereas the average TFI for wheat (a major annual crop in France) was 4.9 in 2017. Reducing pesticide use is a key issue to improve viticulture sustainability. The aims of this study were (i) to analyse the evolution of pesticide use in vineyard farms voluntarily participating in a pesticide reduction programme, and (ii) to understand the options winegrowers used to reduce their pesticide use. We analysed data from the DEPHY farm network, including 244 cropping systems followed over 10 years and spread across 12 winegrowing regions. We used the TFI to assess the intensity of pesticide use. Mean pesticide use within the network decreased over the 10-year period and mostly concerned fungicide use. By analysing several indicators such as the number of treatments and the mean TFI per fungicide treatment, we were able to identify some of the management options mobilised for achieving this pesticide reduction. The use of biocontrol products and the reduction of sprayed doses were often associated with a low TFI. The analysis of yield evolution showed a significant mean reduction, although it was smaller than the TFI reduction. This raised the question of the impact of pesticide reduction on productivity. Further trade-off analyses are required in the future.

Soil health is defined as the soil's capacity to deliver ecosystem functions within environmental constraints. On tree plantations, clear-cutting and land preparation between two crop cycles cause severe physical disturbances to the soil and seriously deplete soil organic carbon and biodiversity. Rubber, one of the main tropical perennial crops worldwide, has a plantation life cycle of 25 to 40 years, with successive replanting cycles on the same plot. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of clear-cutting disturbance on three soil functions (carbon transformation, nutrient cycling and structure maintenance) and their restoration after the planting of the new rubber crop, in two contrasting soil situations (Arenosol and Ferralsol) in Côte d'Ivoire. In this 18-month diachronic study, we intensively measured soil functions under different scenarios as regards the management of logging residues and the use or not of a legume cover crop. We investigated the relationship between soil macrofauna diversity and soil heath. At both sites, clear-cutting and land preparation disturbed carbon transformation and nutrient cycling significantly and, to a lesser extent, structure maintenance function. When logging residues were applied, carbon transformation and structure maintenance functions were fully restored within 12 to 18 months after disturbance. By contrast, no restoration of nutrient cycling was observed over the study period. A legume cover crop mainly improved the restoration of carbon transformation. We found a strong relationship (P ≤ 0.001; R2 = 0.62–0.66) between soil macrofauna diversity and soil health. Our overall results were very similar at the two sites, despite their contrasting soil conditions. Keeping logging residues in the plots and sowing a legume in the inter-row at replanting accelerated the restoration of soil functions after major disturbance caused by clear-cutting and land preparation. Our results confirm the necessity of taking soil macrofauna diversity into account in the management of tropical perennial crops.

Reliable and timely prediction of robusta coffee (Coffea canephora Pierre ex A. Froehner) yield is pivotal to the profitability of the coffee industry worldwide. In this study we assess the performance of a simple process-based model for simulating and predicting robusta coffee yield at the regional scale in Vietnam. The model includes the key processes of coffee growth and development and simulates its response to variation in climate and potential water requirements throughout the growing season. The model was built and evaluated for the major Vietnamese robusta coffee-producing provinces Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, and Lam Dong, using official provincial coffee yield data and climate station data for the 2001-2014 period, and field data collected during a 10-year (2008-2017) survey. Overall, good agreements were found between the observed and predicted coffee yields. Root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) values ranged from 0.24 to 0.33 t ha(-1), and 9% to 14%, respectively. Willmott's index of agreement (WI) was greater than or equal to 0.710 in model evaluation steps for three out of five provinces. The relatively low values of WI were found for provinces with relatively low inter-annual yield variability (i.e. Dak Lak and Dak Nong). Moreover, the model was successfully tested using remote sensing satellite and model-based gridded climate data: MAPE values were <= 12% and RMSE were <= 0.29 t ha(-1). Such evaluation is important for long-term coffee productivity studies in these regions where long-term climate stations data are not readily available. The simple process-based model presented in this study could serve as a basis for developing an integrated seasonal climate-robusta coffee yield forecasting system, which would offer substantial benefits to coffee growers and industry through better supply chain management and preparedness for extreme climate events, and increased profitability.

A finales de los anos 1990 el CATIE, con apoyo de varias ins tituciones, inicio una red de ensayos de largo plazo en sistemas agroforestales con cafe. Los vacios de informacion sobre las inte racciones agroecologicas en sistemas con diferentes enfoques de produccion a largo plazo, sumados a la urgente necesidad de ase gurar sostenibilidad y restauracion ecologica, fueron las principales motivaciones. Se presenta una resena general de los primeros 20 anos de estudios continuos en el CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica, a partir de un proceso interinstitucional e interdisciplinario. La idea base era generar conocimientos sobre las complejas interacciones entre clima, suelo, sombra, niveles y tipos de insumos y variedades de cafe que posibilitara el desarrollo de estrategias de diseno y manejo de sistemas agroforestales con potencial de sostener nive les de productividad aceptables y, a la vez, garantizar sinergismos ecologicos para la mejora del suelo, la biodiversidad y los servicios ambientales. El ensayo fue disenado con seis tipos de sombra con la especie de servicio Erythrina poepiggiana y los maderables Terminalia amazonia (no fijador de nitrogeno) y Chloroleucon eurycyclum (fijador de nitrogeno), solos y en combinacion, en contraste con el testigo a pleno sol. Como sub-tratamientos se definieron dos tipos de manejo (organico y convencional) en cuatro niveles: alto convencional (AC), moderado convencional (MC), organico intensivo (MO) y bajo organico (BO). La variedad principal de estudio fue la Caturra; ademas, se establecieron en algunos sistemas microparcelas con Costa Rica 95 y los hibridos Centroamericano y Milenio, L2A11, L3A17, L3A12 y L3A15. Luego de superar la fase critica de establecimiento (primeros dos anos), la plataforma de investigacion se consolido generando una invaluable base de datos y estudios a lo largo del tiempo. Con la colaboracion de 22 universidades e instituciones de diversas partes del mundo, se desarrollaron 41 tesis de grado y posgrado, 23 articulos cientificos en revistas internacionales y 22 documen tos tecnicos para diferentes publicos. Los resultados, usando una sintesis matricial sobre los estudios de los sistemas evaluados, indican elementos claves sobre las interacciones agroecologicas y sus vinculos con la sostenibilidad productiva y sinergias ecologicas. Los sistemas de produccion con la variedad Caturra a pleno sol y/o con dos podas drasticas anuales de los arboles de sombra (bajo aporte de biomasa y mucha entrada de luz) con manejos AC y MC, aun con altos niveles de productividad, impactaron negativamente en variables biofisicas y en servicios ambientales. Los SAF con Terminalia y Caturra con manejo BO perdieron viabilidad en los primeros 10 anos. Los SAF, en su conjunto, mejoraron el micro clima. En particular los SAF con presencia de Erythrina mejoraron el desempeno productivo y los servicios ambientales. Todos los SAF presentaron mejor valoracion de servicios ambientales que los sistemas a pleno sol. Los SAF que se destacaron en producti vidad y servicios ambientales fueron Erythrina en manejo MO y MC. Los sistemas Erythrina y Erythrina mas Chloroleucon, ambos en manejo BO, han presentado buena rentabilidad, con bajos costos y buena valoracion en servicios ambientales. Respecto a la comparacion productiva entre diferentes variedades, los hibridos F1 Milenio y Centroamericano, produjeron mas del doble (14 212,5 y 13 368,75 kg/ha respectivamente en valores promedio), que Caturra con el promedio mas bajo (5230,62 kg/ha), y tambien superado por Costa Rica 95 (con promedio de 9823,75 kg/ha). Tanto los enfoques metodologicos, como las innovaciones generadas, han sido sociali zadas ampliamente en procesos de fortalecimiento de capacidades en los paises productores de cafe en las Americas (capacitacion a mas de 42 041 productores). Se ha dado soporte al diseno e imple mentacion de politicas cafetaleras orientadas a la sostenibilidad productiva, economica, social y ambiental. Para este logro fue determinante la colaboracion con PROMECAFE, los Institutos de Cafe en Centroamerica, RECIPROCAFE y la Alianza de Mujeres en Cafe. En los ultimos cuatro anos, el Programa Regional de Gestion Integral de la Roya (PROCAGICA-IICA-UE), ha faci litado vinculos entre la agenda de investigacion/validacion en el ensayo propiamente y los protocolos de validacion de innovaciones en la red de fincas de referencia en cinco paises de America Central (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua y Costa Rica). Dada su relevancia, aun con la meta inicial de 20 anos ya cumplida, la idea es seguir operando en el ensayo de largo plazo de SAF con cafe en CATIE. Las experiencias pioneras desarrolladas han sido fuente para otras experiencias en diferentes paises, lo cual permitio ampliar la red de ensayos agroforestales para estudios de largo plazo. En este ambito, destaca el ensayo de SAF citricos organicos (Hacienda de la Toca, Sao Paulo, Brasil); los ensayos de cafe, cacao y naranjilla (INIAP-Estacion Central de la Amazonia, Ecuador); el ensayo SAF cafe (EARTH, Caribe, Costa Rica) y mas recientemente, los ensayos de largo plazo con cacao y pasturas establecidos en CATIE.