Natural Resource Management

Natural resource management research aims to generate outputs that help maintain or improve the natural resource base for agriculture and/or mitigate the negative environmental side-effects of agricultural production.

In those cases where the benefits from natural resource management research are in terms of maintained or improved agricultural productivity, we expect to see farmers adopt particular NRM outputs. These outputs may be embodied in technologies such as a new form of mechanised seeder or drill, or disembodied in the form of a bundle of management recommendations.

There are also cases where there is a trade-off between agricultural productivity and the conservation of natural resources that society values. In these instances, the incentives for farmers to adopt or not adopt are not clear. In these instances, the research outputs are targeted more at influences on policy or the creation of new institutions that can better facilitate a socially desirable outcome.

Impact pathways: Natural Resource Management research

1) Via adoption of specific outputs by farmers

2) Via institutional innovation or policy-influence

Some examples of studies assessing the impact of CGIAR natural resource management research: