Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

Re: Sustainable agricultural development for food security and nutrition, including the role of livestock - E-consultation to set the track of the study

Benjamin Graub

FAO
Italy

The overall structure of the proposed report seems logical and useful for the aims of the report

I especially liked:

  • Critical overview and discussion of the current projections including their underlying assumptions
  • Focus on practices and their potential roles in pathways towards sustainable agricultural development – especially the mention of agro-ecological practices. Based on the experience in regards to the International Symposium on Agroecology for Food Security and Nutrition (in Sept. 2014 at FAO), agroecological approaches are seen to hold a very large potential to contribute to sustainable agricultural development
  • The incorporation of policies and enabling environments necessary for sustainable agricultural development

We would like to point out that:

  • The International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) had a similar focus and should be considered in the writing of the HLPE report
  • Regarding the “objectives and elements of sustainable approaches to agriculture” (pg. 2) should also take into account the aspect of resilience.
  • That apart from considering the specific sustainability challenges for “various farm sizes”, also other characteristics of the farms should be considered. Especially, with regards to FAO’s on-going work on family farming, the specific sustainability challenges of family farms should be considered.