Genetic diversity provides the fundamental basis for the evolution of forest species and for their adaptation to change. Conserving forest genetic resources (FGR) is therefore vital as they constitute a unique and irreplaceable resource for the future. At its Eleventh Regular Session, the FAO Commission on genetic resources for food...

ICARDA is pleased to share the scaling out of some important research outcomes and their impacts in 2013. For example, the innovative adaptation of raised bed machines to small-scale farming – developed with farmers and private sector in Sharkia province in Egypt – delivers a 24% saving in irrigation water...

The First Regional Symposium on Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Mediterranean and Black Sea was organized from 27 to 30 November 2013 by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) in partnership with the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) – Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (MAIB),...

The concept of family farming is the recipient of much high-level political capital right now...  The United Nations has declared 2014 the International Year of Family Farming, the primary aim of which is to promote, develop and strengthen all types of familyoriented agriculture - from horticulture and livestock to fisheries and forestry - as a socially...

le rapport de situation s’intéresse aux exploitations paysannes familiales, lesquelles constituent encore et toujours la forme d’exploitation habituelle même si elles sont confrontées à divers problèmes. C’est pourquoi l’ONU a déclaré 2014 «Année internationale de l’agriculture familiale». Les petites et moyennes exploitations familiales produisent 70% de toutes les denrées alimentaires...

The European Commission launched on 5 August 2013 an on-line public consultation with the aim to understand citizens' experiences and perceptions on family farming. The survey also looked at some of the challenges and priorities faced by family farming (FF).  All citizens, organisations and public authorities in the European Union and beyond interested in the...

Most of world’s rural population depend on livestock for their livelihood, especially in the Mediterranean, African and many Asian countries. To reduce poverty, fight hunger and ensure global food security, there is an urgent need to increase livestock production in sustainable ways. However, livestock production systems in those areas are...

In this issue of GREAT insights we have asked the ‘custodians’ of the UN Year of Family Farming and the AU Year of Food Security, the Director General of the Food Agriculture Organization and the AU Commissioner for Agriculture, what outcomes they expect from these international processes, particularly in terms of the...

Союз органического земледелия является добровольным, самоуправляемым, основанным на членстве общественным объединением граждан и юридических лиц, общественных объединений, созданном на основе совместной деятельности для защиты общих интересов и достижения уставных целей. Союз является независимой, политически не ангажированной общественной организацией в сфере органического земледелия. Основой Союза является некоммерческое партнерство его членов, которое...

In collaboration with the World Rural Forum, the International Cooperative Alliance and the World Farmers Organization, FAO plans to hold a series of regional dialogues to enhance local, regional and global discussions on family farming, including small-scale farming. The outcomes of these regional dialogues will set the ground to provide...

It is in the mandate of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), as stated in Article 1 of its constitution, “to collect, analyse, interpret and disseminate information related to nutrition, food and agriculture”. Within this framework, in 1993 FAO launched a programme known as AQUASTAT, its...

Despite the increasing attention given to organic supply chains over the past decade, there are still significant market opportunities to pursue. The demand for organic products in developing countries continues to grow and price premiums for organic certified products are available, albeit not comparable with those of a decade or...

The aim of the study was to gain a better understanding of the consumption and perception of processed fruits in Western Balkan countries in order to support consumer-oriented product development. In-depth interviews (n ¼ 183) were used to explore the consumption of processed fruits, the motives to consume such fruits...

Sustainability assessment oriented to improve current systems and practices is urgently needed, particularly in the context of small farmer natural resource management systems (NRMS). Unfortunately, social-ecological systems (SES) theory, sustainability evaluation frameworks, and assessment methods are still foreign not only to farmers but to many researchers, students, NGOs, policy makers/operators,...

La presente caja de herramientas está diseñada para ayudar a los profesionales de la seguridad alimentaria a desarrollar una estratégica de comunicación, y a comunicarse más eficazmente con los grupos que son el blanco de sus esfuerzos. Secciones específicas de la caja de herramientas enfocan a los formuladores de políticas...

The Strategy for transforming and strengthening agricultural research and innovation systems in the CAC provides an integrated approach based on (i) need for an integrated regional agricultural policies aimed at achieving the above goals; (ii) the opportunities for bigger impact by strengthening cooperation between national AR4D institutions and multi‐ stakeholder...

Сегодня органическое сельское хозяйство получило признание во всем мире, а спрос на ор- ганик-продукты увеличивается с каждым годом. Органическое фермерство поддерживает здоровое состояние земли, экосистемы и людей, учитывая весь жизненный цикл веществ и элементов.

This paper presents issues and challenges for farm and enterprise diversification and integration of small scale farmers into value chains in East Europe and Central Asia (EECA). First, it discusses context and approaches to agricultural and rural income diversification. Second, it assesses the extent of agricultural diversification in EECA. Third,...

This web site represents the Agricultural Pollution Control Project - APCP, funded by the World bank/GEF in the period from 2008-2012. The project represented an important agricultural activity of the Republic of Croatia in the context of adoption of new standards and legislation related to Good agricultural practice, especially environmental...

Grassland-based systems are no longer seen exclusively as livestock production enterprises but as multiple use systems with important consequences for the global environment. They are crucial for the protection of ecosystem goods and services, for tourism and for mitigating climate change. Well-managed grasslands provide important benefits such as increased water...