The overall aim of WaCASA is to generate and integrate knowledge to analyse and design sustainable production systems for crops, livestock and their interactions, with a focus on resource use efficiency and equitable management of natural resources. WaCASA works across multiple spatial and temporal scales, i.e. from crops and livestock to farms, landscapes, regions and globe. Using concepts of systems analysis, staff contribute to the development of productive and resource use efficient agricultural systems, and develop methods that allow integrated analysis and design of alternative futures of agricultural production systems.
WaCASA staff develop and use systems analysis approaches and apply key concepts such as resource use efficiency, sustainability and up- and down-scaling of information. The research and education of WaCASA contributes to resource-use-efficient agricultural (plant and animal) production systems around the globe that meet the multiple aims of sustainable development at global, regional and local levels.
WaCASA brings together two chair groups with complementary expertise - Animal Production Systems (APS) and Plant Production Systems (PPS). Staff work together across the groups on a set of themes, each with a leader who coordinates the work and oversees acquisition. Themes are dynamic and evolve over time in relation to developments in science, in societal demands and in funding opportunities.
Close collaboration is fostered with Agrosystems Research of the Plant Sciences Group and the Wageningen Livestock Research of the Animal Sciences Group in Lelystad. WaCASA is created to stimulate collaboration and we strive to ensure that there are no barriers to collaboration with other Wageningen chair groups and with external partners.