Olympe is a software developed by INRA , IAMM and CIRAD to model and simulate cropping and farming systems functioning. As it is based on economic analysis that considers contextual components, it enables to identify and model one or several farmers‟ strategies and trajectories. Prospective analysis is also possible, including prices volatility or climatic eventsand their impacts. This tool was first developed in close cooperation with research institutions involved in tropical agriculture and testedin different case studies , including agroforestry systems,in North and West Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America, leading to a wide variety of applications. Such variety displays the richness that can be expected from reliable and representative farming sys tems studies at various levels. These levels go from the simple comparison between two cropping sy stems, through farming system modelling and further monitoring or counselling, to study of entire irrigated schemes at regional level, prospective analysis and elaboration of potential scenarios and role games. Such diversity in uses can be addressed to anequal diversity of actors : farmers, project or community leaders, extension institutions, researchers and policy makers.

Agroforestry is probably one of the most controversial word for the definition of a combination, or integration of trees (forestry components) and crops or fodder (agricultural components) into various types of cropping systems. Agroforestry systems varies from the most simple (SAF), a crop associated with a tree, to the most complex in terms of structure, the CAF (complex agroforestry systems) with multi-strata components, a large biodiversity in terms of species and frequencies, where several perennial crops and trees are associated. After describing rapidly the concept of agroforestry, we will focus on a particular typology and provide two examples of simple agroforest (SAF), parkland in Africa, and complex agroforests (CAF) in Indonesia. SAF are considered as a “regreening factor” when CAF in humid tropics can be considered as a reforestation factor. CAF in humid tropics are developed by farmers, whose structure and dynamic are close those of secondary forests. Such CAF may replace natural forests in areas where forests may have completely disappeared. There is therefore a clear dynamic from forests to agroforests, from natural vegetation to real man-made forest-like cropping systems based on trees.

After a review of the rubber smallholder sector situation, it will be presented the potential to develop other technical alternatives between jungle rubber currently cropped by the majority of farmers and current rubber development projects in Indonesia. The Rubber Agroforestry Systems (RAS) in a global perspective including the search of sustainable cropping systems, alternative to slash and burn process and reliable, increased and diversified source of income for rubber farmers.