Research topic: |
Assessing options to improve water-limited food security in the Sahel through scenario modeling with |
Main discipline and other relevant disciplines: |
Main discipline: Scenario modeling, agronomy, soil sciences |
Target region or country (if applicable): |
Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso |
Topic background information / scientific relevance: |
Water scarcity has long been a main driver for food insecurity in the Sahel, and this has been aggravated by climate change and increasing unpredictability of rainfall. Combined unreliability of water resources with shifts in land tenure and low soil fertility has led to changes in land use, resource overuse, soil degradation and ultimately conflicts between land users, such as farmers and herders. These conflicts are often fueled by politicians and armed groups. Elements of sustainable agro-pastoral systems like agroforestry with combined fodder use of native shrubs have been known in the region for centuries, but they are often confined by specific local conditions like plant species, groundwater availability, herd movement patterns or land tenure, among many others. Many entry points for the development of new systems exist, building on traditional local knowledge combined with scientific methods. In order to test the suitability of a given stakeholder-based approach, simulation modelling can be valuable, because production and environmental impacts can be assessed over longer times, across the landscape, and under different soil or weather conditions. An iterative approach of joint identification of scenarios and joint assessment of model outcomes between local stakeholders and scientists can help building a solid base for decision-making and assessing the potential success of new approaches. |
Research objectives: |
This study shall contribute to the identification of promising land use and management options for improved food security and sustainable natural resource use in the Sahel. Emphasis will be on integrated agricultural (tree-crop-shrub-systems) and plant-animal integration to optimise water use and nutrient cycles. Options for agricultural systems will be identified with stakeholders, and then modelled as scenarios at the landscape scale. Model simulations will be the centre-piece of this study. Outcomes will be discussed with stakeholders regarding model plausibility and feasibility of implementation. Research articles will be published on methodology, biophysical and management aspects of a case study. |
Required skills and qualifications of the applicant: |
The candidate needs to have experience in modelling, a solid basis in plant and soil sciences, should be communicative (French speaking), field proof, and dispose of at least basic programming skills (e.g. Python, GRASS, R). English scientific writing skills will be developed, but good written command of English language is required. |
contact person and host institute |
Carsten Marohn, 490e (Prof. G. Cadisch) |
