The first part of this document presents the main elements forming the physical, administrative, social, economic, and political situation of the Hauts-Bassins region. It then presents the main characteristics of the production systems in the region: (1) the characteristics and changes in the agro-sylvo-pastoral system, the main form of agriculture; (2) the milk production systems that will be the focus of our work under the Initiative on Agroecology; and (3) legume production systems, which, through the production of good-quality fodder biomass, have important potential links to milk production systems. Finally, the document covers the agroecological characteristics of agriculture and food systems.