Synecocultureの生態最適の原理に基づき、2015年からはアフリカ・サブサハラにおけるブルキナファソをはじめとしたサヘル地域においてSynecocultureを導入。砂漠化し自然回復が不可能だった土地においても、150種の現地作物を用いたSynecocultureの実践により、1年間で砂漠化を逆転させ、森林生態系の回復に成功しました。
またサブサハラ諸国の50を超える圃場において実装を支援し、慣行農法が難しい環境でも生物多様性を拡張しながら自律的な食料生産が可能であることを示しました。その過程で、従来の食料生産にとっては打撃となる気象の不安定性が、Synecocultureの生態系においては多様性や生産性に対してポジティブに作用することも実証しました(https://www.nature.com/articles/s44264-024-00014-4)。
アフリカにおけるSynecocultureの国際シンポジウム
- Proceedings of the 1st African Forum on Synecoculture(2016)
- Proceedings of the 2nd African Forum on Synecoculture(2017)
- Proceedings of the 3rd African Forum on Synecoculture(Feb.2018)
- Proceedings of the 4th African Forum on Synecoculture(Nov.2018)
- Proceedings of the 5th African Forum on Synecoculture (Sep.2019)
- Proceedings of the 6th African Forum on Synecoculture (Aug.2022)
この実証実験の成功を受けて、アフリカにおけるSynecocultureの研究教育センター、CARFS/ACTRS(Centre Africain de Recherche et de Formation en Synécoculture/African Center for Training and Research in Synecoculture)が創設されました。私は同センターの科学ディレクター(Directeur Scientifique)も兼ねています。CARFSを通じて、サブサハラ諸国でSynecocultureにより食料生産と生態系荒廃地の緑化を推進する複数の国際および民間プロジェクトが展開されています。
Based on the ecological optimization principles of Synecoculture, we introduced the method in the Sahel region of Sub-Saharan Africa, starting with Burkina Faso, in 2015. Even in areas that were desertified and impossible to restore naturally, the practice of Synecoculture using 150 local plant species successfully reversed desertification within one year and contributed to the restoration of forest ecosystems.
We have also supported the implementation of Synecoculture in more than 50 fields across Sub-Saharan Africa, demonstrating that self-directive food production is possible even in environments where conventional farming is challenging, all while augmenting biodiversity. We have also shown that climate instability, which is typically detrimental to traditional food production, can have a positive impact on the diversity and productivity of Synecoculture ecosystems.
International symposiums on Synecoculture in Africa
- Proceedings of the 1st African Forum on Synecoculture(2016)
- Proceedings of the 2nd African Forum on Synecoculture(2017)
- Proceedings of the 3rd African Forum on Synecoculture(Feb.2018)
- Proceedings of the 4th African Forum on Synecoculture(Nov.2018)
- Proceedings of the 5th African Forum on Synecoculture (Sep.2019)
- Proceedings of the 6th African Forum on Synecoculture (Aug.2022)
Following the success of these demonstration experiments, the 、CARFS/ACTRS(Centre Africain de Recherche et de Formation en Synécoculture/African Center for Training and Research in Synecoculture), an African research and education center for Synecoculture, was established. I also serve as the Directeur Scientifique of CARFS. Through CARFS, several international and private sector projects have been launched in Sub-Saharan countries to promote food production and the greening of ecologically degraded lands through Synecoculture.