In 2013, the Collaborative Crop Research Program of McKnight Foundation, initiated support for farmer research networks (FRNs). FRNs were envisaged as a general approach to networked participatory research aimed at supporting the agroecological intensification of smallholder farming in ten countries in Africa and the Andes region in South America. The 30 FRNs ranged...

La Fédération des paysans du Fouta Djallon ne pouvait orienter ses membres vers l’agroécologie sans en vérifier l’efficacité selon les terroirs.La Fédération a recensé auprès de ses membres les meilleures pratiques agricoles respectueuses des ressources naturelles, dans le but de les diffuser largement, avec l’appui scientifique de la recherche guinéenne.  ...

Agroecology enables the improvement of agricultural production through the enhancement of local natural resources and traditional know-how. It contributes to maintaining biodiversity and restoring land in drylands, which are particularly threatened by global warming and food insecurity, while contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Within the framework of the AVACLIM project,...

Tea is a major cash crop in Malawi and the industry is one of the country’s biggest employers. For small-scale farmers, it is an important source of cash income. But deep gender inequalities prevail at smallholder level, and women tea farmers are being left behind. As part of the Empowering Rural Producers...

Farmers need new ideas, and researchers need data. When these two professional groups meet in the framework of collaborative or participatory research, it is often not clear who has to evolve in what direction: do farmers need to learn about research protocols, systematically collecting and analysing data, or do researchers...

Esta guía está dirigida al equipo técnico de las Unidades Agropecuarias, de Seguridad Alimentaria y Medio Ambiente a nivel municipal, y presenta una propuesta metodológica para el desarrollo de temáticas integrales en seguridad alimentaria y nutricional en el marco de la metodología de Escuelas de Campo para agricultores familiares. El...

Santander es el primer productor de cacao en Colombia y con un rendimiento promedio de 600 kg/ha de cacao seco, superior a otros departamentos. Sin embargo, esos indicadores de productividad no le garantizan una rentabilidad, ni la sostenibilidad que permita que la producción de cacao sea aspiracional para todos los...

18 months after the people from Ouarkhokh commune were contacted and the socio-ecological situation of this agro-sylvo-pastoral site in the central North of Senegal was analysed, a first two-day encounter in September 2022 between farmers and project staff from Senegal and FiBL took place. Over 15 researchers and advisers of SustainSahel...

Agroecologie enables the improvement of agricultural production through the enhancement of local natural resources and traditional know-how. It contributes to maintaining biodiversity and restoring land in drylands, which are particularly threatened by global warming and food insecurity, while contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Within the framework of the AVACLIM project, the Brazilian...

More than one billion people in the Asia Pacific region work in agriculture – from growing coffee in the Philippines, to harvesting rubber in Indonesia; from rice farming in Thailand to pepper production in Vietnam. This makes the sector one of the largest, and most dynamic in the world. Agriculture...

This report aims at inspiring strategic thinking and actions to transform agrifood systems towards a sustainable, resilient and inclusive future, by building on both previous reports in the same series as well as on a comprehensive corporate strategic foresight exercise that also nurtured FAO Strategic Framework 2022–31. It analyses major...

The PPILOW project aims to co-construct through a multi-actor approach solutions to improve the welfare of poultry and pigs reared in organic and low-input outdoor production systems. The project will target nonconventional and outdoor rearing systems with reduced (notably drug) inputs and organic systems (as defined by EU, so considering defined...

What is agroecology? The AEEU understanding: As a science, it gives priority to action research, holistic and participatory approaches, and trans disciplinarity that is inclusive of different knowledge systems. As a practice, it is based on sustainable use of local renewable resources, local farmers’ knowledge and priorities, wise use of biodiversity to provide...

El cacao (Theobroma cacao), como cultivo comercial, es de alta importancia en áreas tropicales de Centro y Sur América, Sureste de Asia y África y es el sustento de millones de agricultores. En el departamento de Sucre el cultivo ha tenido gran relevancia durante los últimos años por su fácil...

FAO’s Strategic Framework (2022–2031) envisages the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind. In this scope, FAO promotes inclusive economic growth by reducing inequalities between urban and rural areas, rich and...

The terms ‘regenerative agriculture’ and ‘nature-based solutions’ have gained prominence in policy and funding spaces related to food systems. Global policy fora like the UN Food Systems Summit and the UN climate and biodiversity conferences have recently used these terms as bywords for sustainable development. They add to a collection...

Around the world, countries are struggling to adapt their agriculture and food systems to conditions of water scarcity, climate change and increased competition between users. Water scarcity trends are expected to increase. Smallholder farmers are particularly vulnerable to changes in water access and availability. A strengthened focus on water accounting and...

La rápida evolución de la tecnología financiera (Fintech) en la última década tiene implicaciones importantes para la promoción de la inclusión financiera, especialmente en contextos en desarrollo y emergentes. Las innovaciones digitales en el campo financiero, y especialmente los servicios de dinero móvil, tienen un vasto potencial para aliviar algunas...

IN THIS EIGTH EPISODE we’re examining this country’s agricultural system through the lens of decolonization and focusing on the importance of Indigenous foodways. Our guest, Tiffany Traverse, tells us about her work with Fourth Sister Farm, preserving traditional Indigenous foods and reframing our relationship with seeds and with the land. More info...

Across the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has imposed stresses on the ability of food systems to deliver their primary functions: providing food security and nutrition to growing populations, supporting livelihoods for farmers, fishers and workers along the agrifood chains, and supporting environmental sustainability and resilience. Pacific Island Countries (PICs) already...