In the Aveyron river basin (France), the low-lying, fertile lands are usually used for monocultures, and the higher, less fertile areas for livestock. Recently, a research project has led to the construction of a scenario in which crop farmers would introduce alfalfa into their rotations, in response to more frequently...

FAO is about to complete one of the largest seed distribution campaigns in the history of ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, aimed at helping farmers get ready for the next planting season. The FAO team continues to deliver humanitarian aid in conflict-affected eastern Ukraine, with a focus on rural people living...

In the rural areas where there is an economic potential clearly defined by the agricultural or commercial activities, tourism is the business key within reach. Under the circumstances, the socio-economic reflex takes the form of developing projects for tourist services, especially in the places with tourist potential. Further, the local economy, at...

A year ago this week, I adopted an olive tree. I called it Carmen, after my grandmother. Whenever I want to know about my tree I just need to open an app that I have installed on my mobile phone. I can see pictures of it and whether it has...

The geographical isolation of islands makes them highly dependent on the resources available within their localities, especially fisheries resources. The right to fish, and to access fishery resources are prerequisite to the prosperity and very survival of such island communities.

The monthly newsletter of the Low Impact Fishers of Europe

Receive advice and advisory services to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of your fishing activities, for example, to: • develop marketing / business strategies, • undertake feasibility studies, • receive professional advice on how to apply for EMFF support.

In the global moment of uncertainty we need to both guarantee our fisheries’ sustainability and the continuation of our specific cultural traditions and ways of fishing. Narratives of doom and gloom need to be met, addressed and learned from, but central to the survival of European small-scale fisheries will be...

Farmers in France are seeking growth through direct sales, short supply chains and local agriculture, targeting a burgeoning market in local produce. More and more consumers are choosing to eat local, and farmers are responding.

Le numérique, les technologies de l’information et de la communication constituent un déterminant de plus en plus important dans les stratégies agricoles et de développement rural. De manières inégales et différenciées ces dynamiques globales se diffusent dans l’ensemble des pays méditerranéens qui doivent faire face à la rareté des ressources naturelles,...

On March 31st 2017, representatives from different institutions met in Solčava, a remote village in the Upper Savinja valley in Slovenia, to publicly present their initiative to form a project consortium whose main aim will be to establish a wood value chain for Mountain wood as a developmental opportunity for...

The EIP-AGRI network is holding a two-day workshop dedicated to Operational Groups dealing with organic farming, in cooperation with the German Federal Office for Agriculture and Food, Innovationsbüro EIP Agrar Schleswig-Holstein, Innovationszentrum Niedersachsen GmbH and IFOAM EU. Around 300 Operational Group projects supported by the Rural Development Programmes have started....

The circular economy is based on “sharing, leasing, reuse, repair, refurbishment, and recycling” of products and materials in an ideally closed loop. The goal is to reduce waste by keeping products and materials within the economy. The necessity for a more circular economy will only increase with increasing pressure on...

Aiming to boost short food supply chains in Europe, a newly launched Horizon 2020project – SKIN – will work to create a knowledge and innovation network and foster demand-driven, bottom-up innovation. The project will bring together food producers and consumers into a permanent association of stakeholders, working to improve the efficiency...

The Family Agriculture Yearbook in Spain has become a referenceFor all the professionals who follow the agrarian activity in Spain. The theme that is developed in the 2017 edition, "Agriculture, development and innovation in rural territories. The risks of depopulation: Where there is agriculture, there is life ", has a...

Natura 2000 is the largest network of protected areas in the world. People living in and around Natura 2000 areas utilise these for a variety of economic activities. Designation of Natura 2000 areas often creates additional restrictions though, sometimes leading people to perceive Natura 2000 as a burden. One solution...

A branding campaign and a dedicated website to promote Natura 2000 products with the aim of showcasing their socio-economic benefits and triggering new partnerships between site managers, farmers and local businesses has been launched.

This issue of Farming Matters is about food sovereignty. Food sovereignty is a self-organised, grassroots response to today’s problematic food and farming system. Diverse people, such as producers, consumers, peasants, migrant farm workers and urban citizens, to name a few, are uniting around initiatives to regain control over their food...

Climate change resulting in flooded lands, droughts, water shortages and poor water quality has a direct impact on farming in Europe. Farmers need to manage the water on their farms, without compromising farm viability. Concrete on-farm solutions ranging from active cooperation to water sensing systems, multi-functional wetlands and rain harvesting,...

Urgenci, the international network of Local Solidarity Partnerships for Agroecology between producers and consumers (LSPA) and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). As part of the 3-year mutual commitment, the Mediterranean network, including members...