Integrated knowledge, rooted in local contexts, for more sustainable and equitable irrigated systems.
COSTEA is convinced that the challenges of water for food can only be met by collectively rethinking irrigated systems. In the face of climate change, dwindling water resources, and transformations in agricultural territories, it produces knowledge, fosters dialogue among stakeholders, and supports the development of more sustainable public policies.
Water issues cannot be separated from agricultural, economic, social, environmental, and institutional realities. COSTEA favors global approaches that connect all components of irrigated systems.
The quality of knowledge relies on confronting experiences. Researchers, managers, farmers, public decision-makers, technical and financial partners all contribute to producing useful references for action.
Solutions are built upon local realities. COSTEA’s work is based on field experiments, feedback, and participatory approaches conducted with local stakeholders.
Family farms play a central role in many irrigated systems. COSTEA’s work pays particular attention to their adaptive capacity, economic resilience, and role in agroecological transitions.
Agroecological transition cannot be considered without taking into account the economic realities of producers, value chains, and water managers. COSTEA’s work analyzes the costs, risks, economic models, and viability conditions of proposed transformations.
COSTEA integrates gender issues and strives to promote more inclusive participation in its work. Women, youth, and different categories of stakeholders must be able to contribute fully to discussions and benefit from the transformations undertaken.
COSTEA’s work is part of an action-research approach. Knowledge is produced as close as possible to local contexts, involving researchers, public decision-makers, managers, farmers, and technical partners.
This approach relies on field studies, participatory methods, training, serious games, and experiments that allow scientific knowledge to be confronted with operational realities.
COSTEA’s ambition is to transform this knowledge into references, methods, and tools that can be directly mobilized to support public policies, investments, and the transformation of irrigated systems.