Biodiversity plays a key part in maintaining healthy and functioning ecosystems. However, in many instances, modern agricultural practices neglect the environmental aspect, prioritizing higher rates of production and economic benefits. This issue of AGRIDAPE looks at how agroecology can help maintain biodiversity while achieving satisfying yields.

This issue of Caravan provides examples of ICARDA's work with its partners to help ensure sustainability of livelihoods for the poor in marginal areas.

Reconciling food production and nature conservation is a challenge shared by all. This document stresses the need to maximize the contribution of protected areas to food security and poverty alleviation through soundlymanaged agriculture. Farmers and forest dwellers, including a large proportion of indigenous people, are the main inhabitants and users...

"El número de LEISA que aquí presentamos, trata de la importancia de las especies vegetales subutilizadas en la sostenibilidad de la biodiversidad de los agroecosistemas, así como para una nutrición humana y animal balanceadas. Sabemos que la dieta humana, a nivel mundial, se encuentra restringida a unos pocos cultivos básicos,...

There is a wide diversity of cultivated banana (Musa spp.) found growing in small-holder systems around the world. The main types of bananas that are important for small-holders differ from region to region. Diversity is important for small-holders for many reasons. Diversity-rich production systems help to ensure a continuous supply...

For centuries, traditional farmers have developed diverse and locally adapted agricultural systems, managing them  with  ingenious  practices  that  often  result  in  both  community  food  security  and  the  conservation  of agrobiodiversity. This strategy of minimizing risk stabilizes yields, promotes dietary diversity, and maximizes returns using low levels of technology and limited...

El Proyecto Escalonamiento de Experiencias Agroecológicas Exitosas en América Latina representa una segunda fase del Proyecto “Sustainable Agriculture Networking and Extension” (SANE), la misma que fue financiada por el Centro Internacional de Investigaciones para el Desarrollo (CIID) en el marco del Programa Minga “Gestión de Recursos Naturales en América Latina...

Local agricultural knowledge in dry-land land-use systems is centred on the conservation, use and optimisation of soil moisture and soil organic matter. Additionally, biodiversity is carefully managed and nurtured to interface with hydrological and nutrient cycling to provide for ecosystem resilience, food security and diversity, and risk minimisation.

Based on a review of its history, its present structure and its objective in the future, agroecology is defined as an integrative discipline that includes elements from agronomy, ecology, sociology and economics. Agroecology’s credentials as a separate scientific discipline were measured against the norms of science, defined by Robert King...

La pobreza rural constituye uno de los mayores problemas de América Latina y del Caribe. En América Central la incidencia de la pobreza alcanza a casi la mitad (49.9%) de la población. En 1999, 17,5 millones de centroamericanos tenían ingresos por debajo de la línea de pobreza y 9.3 millones...

The Gambian government, with the assistance of donors, is involved in the promotion of the local milk and dairy products sub-sector. The farming system in this country is characterised by the predominance of mixed crop-livestock production. The cattle stock is mainly composed of N’Dama, a breed described as a low...

Subsistence agriculture is a phenomenon that is presently encountered not only in developing countries, but also in the Central and Eastern European transition countries (CEECs). The various land reforms implemented in Eastern Europe have led to differences in the land tenure and farming systems and have influenced the access to...

Cultural methods such as crop fertilization can affect susceptibility of plants to insect pests by altering plant tissue nutrient levels. Research shows that the ability of a crop plant to resist or tolerate insect pests and diseases is tied to optimal physical, chemical and mainly biological properties of soils. Soils...

Organic agriculture is defined as an environmentally and socially sensitive food supply system. This publication examines its many facets, looking at the contribution of organic agriculture to ecological health, international markets and local food security. It builds on empirical experiences throughout the world and analyses the prospects for a wider...

Throughout the developing world, resource-poor farmers (about 1.4 billion people) located in risk-prone, marginal environments, remain untouched by modern agricultural technology. A new approach to natural resource management must be developed so that new management systems can be tailored and adapted in a site-specific way to highly variable and diverse...

Throughout the developing world, resource-poor farmers (about 1.4 billion people) located in risk-prone, marginal environments, remain untouched by modern agricultural technology. A new approach to natural resource management must be developed so that new management systems can be tailored and adapted in a site-specific way to highly variable and diverse...

A study using a participatory research approach and simple field techniques found significant differences in agroecological resistance between plots on “conventional” and “sustainable” farms in Nicaragua after Hurricane Mitch. On average, agroecological plots on sustainable farms had more topsoil, higher field moisture, more vegetation, less erosion and lower economic losses after...

En este canal, se encuentran una serie de videos sobre la experiencia de la Finca del Medio.  La Finca del Medio, está en en centro de Cuba, km 349 Autopista Nacional, Municipio Taguasco, provincia Sancti Spíritus, Cuba. Tiene un área de 12 ha y una familia conformada por 11 personas que...

This study explores the potential of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) for farm diversification and community development. We define CSA as: A partnership between farmers and consumers where the responsibilities and rewards of farming are shared. The study investigates a range of CSA initiatives from around the world and concentrates on...

The EIP-AGRI Focus Group on Fertiliser efficiency - horticulture in open field brought together 20 experts to find answers to this question. The final report, published in July 2016, contains a set of innovative fertilisation approaches, ideas for Operational Groups, needs from practice, recommendations for farmers and advisers and links...