Глобальный форум по продовольственной безопасности и питанию (Форум FSN)

Proponent 

Sunniva Bloem

Saskia de Pee

Main responsible entity

Sunniva Bloem

Saskia de Pee

Date/Timeframe

19 September 2016

Funding source

N/A

Location

Low and Middle Income Countries

Background/Context

The globe is rapidly urbanizing and for too long have challenges of malnutrition been ignored in urban areas. Why we must act now to plan cities in a more nutrition sensitive manner is the subject of our article: Developing approaches to achieve adequate nutrition among urban populations requires an understanding of urban development. In this article we analyse the complexity of cities and put forward several policy recommendations for how to improve urban food systems that take urban dynamics into account. 

Read full article here: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211912416300128

Focus/Objectives

Since 2008 the world has become predominantly urban. By 2050, there will be 2.5 billion more people living in cities and most of these will be in small and medium-size cities in Africa and Asia. These continents are home to high malnutrition rates. Policy makers will need to ensure that food and nutrition security can be achieved by the growing urban populations, including the urban poor, in order for this urban growth to generate equitable economic growth. This paper demonstrates how understanding urban dynamics such as city size, urban infrastructures, and rural-urban linkages are critical for planning for adequate urban nutrition. In particular it highlights the potential strength of strategically investing in medium-size cities as they are more likely to generate equitable growth, including for their surrounding hinterlands, thus strengthening local foods systems and creating better enabling environments for improved urban nutrition through better sanitation infrastructures and increased access to nutritious foods by the urban poor.

Key characteristics of the experience/process

Urban areas are not homogenous. Policy makers should not just analyses differences amongst urban rural dynamics but should also understand the complexity and diversity amongst cities. For example, the size of a city can have impacts on the structure of rural-urban linkages, food access, trade, infrastructure and equitable growth.

Key actors involved and their role

• Urban planners
• Food system actors
• Nutritionists
• Informal sector
• Private sector
• National and local governments

Key changes observed with regards to food security and nutrition and sustainable agriculture and food systems

Urban food and nutrition security has finally risen to prominence on the global agenda. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda both reflect the importance of improving urban food systems and tackling malnutrition in urban areas. Furthermore the role of local municipal governments has been recognized as a key agent of change as seen by initiatives as the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact.

Challenges faced

Many current approaches surrounding urban food systems have a rural bias. This rural bias can come at the detriment of the urban poor and can fail to take into account how city dynamics impact food and nutrition security in urban areas.  

Lessons/Key messages

• Rapid urbanization brings nutrition challenges affecting food access, diet and health.
• Urban dynamics such as city size, infrastructure and rural links affect nutrition.
• Medium-size cities can generate more equitable growth and better nutrition for the poor.
• The fastest growing cities are in Africa and Asia, where malnutrition is most prevalent.
• Now is the time to plan city development for better nutrition for its inhabitants.

Changing rural-urban contexts, potential approaches to address food security and nutrition

I use my rural home to discuss change, emerging rural-urban reality and suggest approaches to achieve food security and nutrition.

In the last 20 years, every time I have made a visit to my rural home in Kenya, there is noticeable change to the landscape, and height of people; previously a healthy and tall group of people.

In the 1990s, once darkness set in, only unavoidable circumstances could make me walk the rural road from the main road to my home, worse still, walk 10 kms past my home area. The place was made up of a rural road where the occasional public transport stopped operating by 5:30-6:00pm. The telephone and electricity grid system extended barely beyond 5kms inroad. Homes were visible mostly during the day due to their metallic-roofing. The rest of the land was trees, a variety of food and cash crops and livestock.

Fast forward to 2016 and the whole place is lit up. A drive from the urban center 15 kms away is squeezed by shops and houses along the main road and deep into former croplands. Branch off to my rural home and beyond, no more fear walking the area after sunset; there is development; as it were.

The thicket at hilltops and along rivers, food and cash crops on farms along the rural road have been replaced by grocery stores and imposing residential homes. The rural public transport is very frequent, dominated by the newly introduced motorcycle transport to people’s door steps. The electricity grid system now extends as far as the rural road; branching into many homes and on to the far end of another main road.

When I asked if all the sons from the various homes decided to construct huge houses with red-tiled roofs, I was told most of those houses belong to land buyers, many who reside in urban centers (nearest town or the nation’s capital city)!

Whenever I visit, I look forward to consume only the best natural food items (that self promise of many city dwellers). I ventured into the nearby farmer’s markets, to more surprises; the price of bananas and indigenous vegetables was almost what I pay in Canada, where all bananas are imports. My researcher brain got into gear and I spent many days at various markets, not on formal research, but observing, purchasing and chatting with sellers on the price and food items.  

What has changed?

Many rural areas are now linked to an urban center; directly and indirectly.

Devolution in Kenya has brought about rural development in the form of expanded road networks, telephone and electricity networks.

• The expansion of previously small towns into large cities – sort of competition on which region has the largest town or city!
• Able urban residents constructed city-like homes in rural areas.  

Government supported land titling programs led to quick land transactions; previously, many rural lands belonged to families, acquired through inheritance, never sold.

Introduction of modern farming technologies with pros and cons on rural farmers.

o   Farmers who have a good comprehension and can afford the whole package (seed to processing, storage and marketing) have seen increased food yields.

o   Small scale farmers, especially the older generation of family farmers; lacking in literacy, have embraced the new farming technology in bits; seeds without related fertilizers, processing and storage. The result is part of the failed crops on many rural family farms.

Climate change, witnessed in the form of changing weather patterns, extended drought periods and floods catch many farmers unaware. The result is wasted seed and destroyed harvests.

Increased rural-urban migration left many rural farms lacking workers. Once rural labour arrives in urban centers, the immigrants prefer to consume familiar foods; multicultural foods, yet rural areas lack labour to produce the desired food.

Approaches to address food security and nutrition

• On-going land titling programs to incorporate information on the role of a title deeds; provision of security of tenure and not a license to sell land.
• Civic education on the value of land; goes beyond the one-off payment of thousands or millions of shillings – wasted money when handed over to a family lacking in knowledge on cash investments.
• Information on devolution as more than expansion of urban centers, to include inclusive decision-making to maximize on regional advantages - my rural home, a highland landscape, previously known for its bananas, cash and other food crops, can continue to safeguard that advantage to feed urban centers.
• National and local programs on food diversity and nutrition. The expansion of road networks provided false food security – rural families base their food security on the market to feed them – the tragedy; who will grow the food?
• Though more and more people prefer that governments set the market free to regulate itself; it has not worked in rural settings where literacy levels are still wanting. The old debate is still relevant on governments watching out on agricultural technologies (especially seeds) now aggressively marketed to rural farmers.  

o   Noticeable in cases where youth farming has succeeded – partly because they have the education, hence comprehend the whole agricultural production system, including inputs and outputs. Raises the issue of gender, access to education, agricultural inputs, and inclusive decision-making from household to national levels.

• Climate change and food security takes us back to evaluate the extent to which national governments implement global and national policies.

o   For example, relations between land sales, clear felling and rivers drying up.

o   Expansion of road networks and pollution from the long distance that food travels.

o   Urbanization increases competition for water resources; construction of houses, roads, etc., – and pollution of water sources and food crops.

• Food, markets and marketing in relation to the rising cases of overweight and obesity (in both urban and rural areas) – calls for awareness creation on food diversity, food choices and nutrition.

Dear Sir/Madam,



Please find below my Submission for the Call for experiences and effective policy approaches addressing food security and nutrition in the context of changing rural-urban dynamics.



The text is largely taken from my book on Local Food for Global Future. I think the findings fit well in the purpose of the Call as I indicated in the Submission.



The book is available on Research Gate as I mentioned in the Submission:  

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305990538_Local_Food_for_Global_Future



I hope this information is useful for you.



Sincerely yours,



Harry Donkers

Proponent

Harry Donkers

The Netherlands

Main responsible entity

Harry Donkers

Date/Timeframe

17-2-2017

Funding source

Own

Location

Waalwijk, The Netherlands

Background/Context

Addressing sustainable food security in rural, urban and regional dynamics by developing a a clear classification, stressing the need to adapt, develop and strengthen government policies and governance structures and presenting urgency for the development of specific knowledge and innovation is the subject of my book published in 2015: ‘Local Food for Global Future’.

The book contains years of experience in sustainable food security. Various kinds of local and regional food systems are distinguished and associated with adequate (multi-level) governance structures. Policy approaches relate to developing and implementing knowledge and innovation tailored to these food systems.

The complete text of the book is available at:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305990538_Local_Food_for_Global_Future

Focus/Objectives

The explicitly defined paradigm of sustainable food security (based on Brundtland’s sustainability and Shiva’s food security) requires a focus on local and regional resources. Based on a classification of local and regional food systems, including a further classification of city regions, on practical experiences (in The Netherlands and in Russia) and on examples from throughout the world, specific governance approaches were developed at all levels. To be successful in realizing these local and regional food systems specific knowledge development and innovations are needed. The focus is on scientific developments (basic and aspect disciplines), appropriate technologies and organizations, policy and aid, and implementation.

Key characteristics of the experience/process

Cities and rural areas should not be viewed as separate entities but as one broad local system of producers and consumers interactions.

City regions are so different, because of differences in population density and geographic aspects that it is necessary to distinguish between metropolitan and cityside regions, corridor and connected cities regions and conurbations and countryside regions. Apart from producers and consumers, governments should play an active and responsible role.

Most important recommendation in short chains is cooperation. Recommendations in local (rural and urban) food systems relate to supporting and facilitating rural and urban cooperation. In city regions integral regional planning, regional cooperation, transparency and certification are of utmost importance. Interregional food systems will benefit from creating logistics hubs, regulations, interregional cooperation and responsibility. Transregional food systems can be established by building international connections, agreements, cross-regional cooperation and trust.

Key actors involved and their role

The role of practical farmers/producers and consumers is to increase direct markets between producers and consumers.

In combination with local governments and area parties producers and consumers have the role to create employment opportunities and make the rural area attractive. Together with citizens these parties should exploit urban challenges and opportunities for sustainable food production and biodiversity in urban and peri-urban areas. Organizations of producers and consumers, already operating local and regional food systems, regional governments and area parties have the task to develop self-sufficiency and sustainable food security in the variety of metropolitan and cityside regions, corridor and connected cities regions and conurbation and countryside regions. Note that rural and urban areas are to be seen as conjunctive wholes.

Together with these regional organizations the role of the national governments is to increase efficiency and exchange information, products and services between interregional food systems.

The role of national governments, international governance bodies, interregional food systems and representatives of international movements is to attain conditions favourable for national, regional and local interests in the development of transregional food systems.

Key changes observed with regards to food security and nutrition and sustainable agriculture and food systems

There are a number of arrears in the knowledge system to accommodate the sustainable food security paradigm in local and regional food systems. More knowledge is needed in fields like ecology, environmental sciences (soil, landscape and nature, climate), local production and processing (on-farm-impact, local and regional impact), food science (health and nutrition, safety, gastronomy), social sciences (social nearness, trust, food sovereignty), economics (micro, meso and macro). Technology development should be better balanced between industrial local and regional food systems. What we need is a  brake on the explosively growing nano- and biotechnology and incentives for technologies, like equipment, precision technology, drones, energy sources, alternative farming systems and on-farm value added. Organizational issues should better deal with short chains, local network and community cooperation, increasing regional capacities.

Challenges faced

Policy objectives should relate to building regional food strategies with all relevant stakeholders, providing awareness, achieving food sovereignty and creating conditions for free competition and avoiding oligopolistic competition. Aid issues deal with building a more equitable world. Applying knowledge management, innovation methods, ICT, financial and logistics elements could improve the implementation of local and regional food systems.

Lessons/Key messages

The explicitly defined paradigm of sustainable food security requires a focus on local and regional resources.

The development of local and regional food systems is best served by a structured approach, based on a clear classification, the need to adapt, develop and strengthen government policies and governance structures and the development of specific knowledge and innovation.

Worldwide small farms produce a large part of our food. These farms are extremely suited for realizing the sustainable food security paradigm, but these farms encounter worldwide difficulties in the oligopolistic global markets of today. These farms and their local partners need support to continue and improve in their natural way of production, without input of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, mixed farming and short cycles of production.

Further information is to be found in the abovementioned book: ‘Local Food for Global Future’.

Proponent 

Md. Aman Ullah Aman

Main responsible entity

Md. Aman Ullah Aman

Date/Timeframe

10/01/2016- 21/07/2016

Funding source

Own

Location

Dhaka city

Background/Context

To facilitate the food production in urban area by rooftop gardening. Besides this to involve the slum people in this production system to solve their unemployment problem.

Focus/Objectives

01. Day by day green lands are decresing  as the buildings are increasing.

02.Scarcity of fresh food in urban areas.

03.Global warming duie to excess CO2 emission.

04.Unemployment problem.

05 Kitchen waste management.

Key characteristics of the experience/process

Key actors involved and their role

Slum people and their role in this project to cultivate the food  product.

Key changes observed with regards to food security and nutrition and sustainable agriculture and food systems

Day by day land decreasing and the organic food are not available. My project is also help in the sustainable food cause it supply the fresh food in the city people.

Challenges faced

Yield, scarcity of water in the rooftop. Scorching sunlight effect.

Lessons/Key messages

I state that rooftop gardening is the main key in the urban area for food security and sustainable agriculture.

English translation below

Below you will find the template form related to the call for experiences and effective policy approaches in adressing food security. The project was implemented in Mexico as " El patrimonio biocultural como alternativa para la seguridad alimentaria y la conservación de los recursos naturales en comunidades indìgenas".

Hope this experience will be a contribution to overcome the food insecurity for indigenous people, 

Best

Dr. Julio Díaz José

Proponente

Julio Díaz José



Principal entidad responsable

Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Zongolica – México



Fecha/periodo

2016-2017



Fuente de financiación

Gobierno de México- Secretaría del Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales



Lugar

Veracruz, México



Antecedentes/Contexto

La perspectiva biocultural parte de las interrelaciones observadas entre diversidad lingüística, cultural y biológica, la superposición de sus distribuciones a nivel global y del hecho de que cada una de ellas se encuentra amenazada por procesos similares, de este modo, la pérdida de biodiversidad se encuentra estrechamente relacionada con la pérdida de diversidad lingüística y cultural (Maffi, 2007). Se considera que la riqueza en la biodiversidad debe satisfacer parte de las necesidades de los pobladores que habitan en esos espacios, los cuales pueden utilizar los recursos naturales de manera racional para lograr un acceso a alimentos sanos y de calidad y al mismo tiempo conservar los recursos naturales; sin embargo esa riqueza biocultural se ve amenazada por factores como: la migración, el cambio de uso de suelo, la influencia de nuevas formas de vida, el cambio tecnológico, entre otros, teniendo como consecuencia la degradación socio-ambiental así como la pérdida del conocimiento y uso tradicional de los recursos naturales.



El crecimiento poblacional, así como las migraciones del campo a la ciudad, han ocasionado cambios significativos en la dieta de las familias urbanas y rurales (Nantapo et al., 2015), principalmente de comunidades indígenas; por ejemplo, en un análisis del subministro excesivo de kilocalorías en México, durante el periodo 1990 -2013 (Hernández Ramírez & Ortega Canto, 2016) encontraron que a partir de los azúcares- dulcificantes y la carne se tendió a configurar el suministro energético y su respectivo excedente, lo cual tiene implicaciones directas en la prevalencia de enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles así como en el uso insostenible de la tierra, el agua y la energía. En México existen diversas plantas nativas que fueron el principal alimento de los mexicanos en la época prehispánica y actualmente ha disminuido su consumo entre la mayoría de la población, aun cuando siguen siendo un recurso importante para la alimentación en las comunidades indígenas. En la actualidad, durante la temporada de lluvia, las comunidades indígenas dependen en gran medida de estos recursos para su alimentación. La problemática que se presenta es que existen escasas capacidades para revalorar y conservar a este grupo de plantas como una alternativa para la seguridad alimentaria (Mera-Ovando et al., 2003) y como solución a muchos problemas de salud que enfrentan las comunidades indígenas en la actualidad, principalmente los niños y jóvenes van cambiando sus patrones alimentarios, lo que se refleja en obesidad y riesgo de enfermedades crónicas en el futuro. Por otro lado, estas especies se encuentran amenazadas por la pérdida de hábitats donde crecen.



A través de estrategias de educación ambiental, actividades para el establecimiento y manejo de recursos bioculturales, así como la generación de materiales de divulgación, se implementó el proyecto denominado “El patrimonio biocultural como alternativa para la seguridad alimentaria y la conservación de los recursos naturales” que busca rescatar el conocimiento tradicional, satisfacer parte de las necesidades de alimentación que tienen los pueblos indígenas nahuas en México, así como la conservación de la biodiversidad.



Enfoque/Objetivos

Revalorizar el patrimonio biocultural como alternativa para la seguridad alimentaria y la conservación de los recursos naturales en comunidades indígenas nahuas de Veracruz, México.



Características principales de la experiencia/proceso

Está enfocado en la participación comunitaria, involucra a personas de comunidades indígenas y de diferentes edades, así como a profesionales con perfiles multidisciplinarios para la implementación del proyecto (biólogos, antropólogos, ingenieros forestales, agrónomos y especialistas en TIC’s, nutriologos).



Actores clave involucrados y su función

Gobierno – Recursos económicos para el Proyecto.

Centro de Investigación – Desarrollar el proceso metodológico y facilitador del proyecto.

Comunidades indígenas – Participación, identificando oportunidades y trabajando para manejar en forma adecuada sus recursos.

Organización No Gubernamental (ONG) – Asesoría en temas de nutrición y manejo agronómico.



Principales cambios observados que suponen una mejora de la seguridad alimentaria y la nutrición

Las comunidades indígenas valoran los recursos que tienen para su alimentación, les dan un manejo adecuado y conservan el patrimonio biocultural.



Desafíos a los que hubo que enfrentarse y cómo se superaron

La escasa participación de autoridades locales, la cual se superó mediante procesos de sensibilización y pláticas sobre la importancia del proyecto.



La mayoría de los profesionales involucrados en el diseño no son hablantes de la lengua náhuatl, lo que impide una efectiva comunicación con las comunidades indígenas, por ello, se involucró a jóvenes y alumnos de la universidad que viven en las diferentes comunidades, con el objeto de facilitar los talleres y mejorar la participación.



Enseñanzas/mensajes clave

1. El 70 % de las personas en el área del proyecto consume especies locales para su alimentación, por lo menos una vez a la semana, y el 90% mencionó que el consumo de estos productos ha disminuido en los últimos 20 años. Los recursos bioculturales pueden satisfacer las necesidades alimentarias de las comunidades indígenas cuando se realiza un manejo adecuado y con un enfoque sustentable.



2. Las políticas públicas dirigidas a la seguridad alimentaria de las comunidades indígenas, deben considerar en sus objetivos el manejo adecuado del patrimonio biocultural como fuente importante para la alimentación.

Proponent

Julio Díaz José

Main responsible entity

Instituto Tecnológico Superior, Zongolica – Mexico

Date/period

2016-2017

Source of funding

Government of Mexico- Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources

Location

Veracruz, Mexico

Background/Context

The biocultural perspective stems from the identified interrelations between linguistic, cultural and biological diversity, the overlapping of their distribution at global level, and the fact that each of them is threatened by similar processes. Thus, the loss of biodiversity is closely related to the loss of linguistic and cultural diversity (Maffi, 2007). The rich biodiversity must fulfil some of the needs of the inhabitants living in those areas who, at the same time, can rationally use the natural resources to have access to healthy and quality food whilst preserving these assets. However, this biocultural wealth is threatened by several factors such as migration, land use change, influence of new lifestyles, or technological changes among others. This leads to a socio-environmental degradation, as well as a loss of the knowledge and traditional use of natural resources.

Population growth, as well as rural-urban migration, have caused substantial changes in the diet of urban and rural households (Nantapo et al., 2015), mainly in indigenous communities. For example, an analysis of the excessive caloric consumption in Mexico between 1990 and 2013 (Hernández Ramírez & Ortega Canto, 2016) found that the energy intake and corresponding surplus rely on sugars-sweeteners and meat. This directly affects the prevalence of chronic noncommunicable diseases as well as the unsustainable use of land, water and energy. In Mexico, there are several native plants that were the main food staple in the country during the pre-Hispanic era. Their consumption has decreased nowadays among most of the population, even though they are still an important food source in indigenous communities. Currently, during the rainy season, indigenous people rely to a large extent on these resources to obtain their food. The problem lies in the limited capacity to enhance and preserve these plants as an alternative to improve food security (Mera-Ovando et al., 2003) and as a solution to many health problems faced by indigenous communities these days. Especially children and young people, who are changing their eating habits, increasing as a result obesity and future chronic-disease risk. On the other hand, these species are threatened by the loss of habitats in the areas where they grow.

Through environmental education strategies, activities for the establishment and management of biocultural resources, and the development of outreach materials, the project entitled “Biocultural heritage as an alternative to improve food security and preserve natural resources” was implemented. It aims to rescue traditional knowledge, fulfil part of the nutritional needs of the Nahua indigenous communities in Mexico, and preserve biodiversity.

Approach/Goals

Enhance the biocultural heritage as an alternative to the improvement of food security and the conservation of natural resources in Nahua indigenous communities in Veracruz, Mexico.

Main features of the experience/process

Focused on community participation, involving indigenous communities and different age groups, as well as professionals with multidisciplinary profiles for the project implementation (biologists, anthropologists, forest engineers, agronomists and IT specialists, nutritionists).

Key actors involved and their role

Government – Provides economic resources for the project.

Research Centre – Develops the methodological process and facilitates the project.

Indigenous communities – Participate in the process, identifying opportunities and working to adequately manage their resources.

Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) – Provides nutritional and agronomic management advice.

Main changes identified entailing an improvement of food security and nutrition

Indigenous communities appreciate their food sources, manage them adequately, and preserve biocultural heritage.

Challenges addressed and how they were overcome

The low level of participation of local authorities, which was overcome with awareness-raising processes and discussions about the importance of the project.

Most of the professionals involved in the design of the project did not speak Nahuatl language, hampering an effective communication with the indigenous communities. Hence, young people and university students living in the different communities were involved in the project to facilitate the workshops and enhance the overall participation.

Key lessons/messages

1.-           70% of the people living in the area where the project was implemented eat local species at least once a week, and 90% mentioned that the consumption of these products has decreased in the last 20 years. Biocultural resources can fulfil the food needs of indigenous communities when they are adequately managed following a sustainable approach.

2.-           Public policies aimed at improving food security of indigenous communities should include among their objectives the appropriate management of biocultural heritage as an important food source.

Call for experiences and effective policy approaches in addressing food security and nutrition in the context of changing rural-urban dynamics

Let me start by making a reference to an article written in Gurdian news paper in my country Nigeria, with this link. https://guardian.ng/opinion/mangoes-are-out/

This article is about Mango fruit that in season now, before you know it, let's say in about three months time you might not find it anywhere across the nation Nigeria again.

This is one of the major problem associated with agriculture in this country,  Africa is not poor, it is only poorly managed.  This statement is very correct.

According to the above news link, Mangoes-are-out now in Nigeria, but most of these Mangoes will begin to loose its original taste, nutritional content and also become waste due to lack of preservation and storage medium required. It is actually difficult to have preservation and storage facilities in Nigeria without having constant supply of electricity power in place in most African countries especially the rural areas.

The problem is so enormous,  so therefore,  government cannot solve all this problems at once and all alone.  Many a time,  government will set up panels to look into the problem of food security in most nation, but all their finding is to no avail.

We cannot move forward in not having good knowledge of food processing, preservation and storage. 

In the rural areas we can set up medium scale processing factories that will be beneficiary to the women and the youth and this will also help to stop crop deterioration and high prices of food crops. When food processing centre with good quality control in practice is in existence, this will automatically stop the wastage and we can have food both in season and out of season.

Lack of food preservation and storage is mainly responsible for high cost of food in rural-urban areas.  Especially in Africa, the former central bank of Nigeria, governor Sanusi said it in a video interview and a newspaper that 65%of tomatoes that is being growing in the northern part of the country always goes to waste due to lack of proper preservation and storage.  This tomatoes can be converted or process into tomato pulp e.g. ketchup or tomato paste and the processing is very simple, instead of allowing the farmers to carry every thing out of  their farms and deteriorate.  The youth and women can undertake little training of less than three weeks and start the production with little aids of materials for production like pet bottles and cover.

Okros can be harvested and well grated under a good hygienic condition and well sealed and preserve also. It can also be sliced and dried in an oven or even sun dried following a good quality control process. Same with palm fruit which can first be converted to palm oil and the nut can also be converted to both refined and unrefined palm kernel oil and be wll preserved.  Even the waste from it can be used for the production of animals feed.

Lack of agricultural crops preservation and storage in all rural-urban area is responsible for not been able to export our farm products to other parts of the world.  There is need for refriend ice system to keep the food crop immediately it is being harvested,  because it must contain the same amount of nutritional content from harvesting point to the delivery point. With a required temperature for particular food products.  The income that our farmers will make from this alone will be much appreciated and better than what oil and gas will be giving.

In my own opinion, this refriend ice system is now available with the use of generating set, if this can be provided for the farmers in certain areas and help them form a cooperative so they can know how to contribute and pay back, this will provide a lot of job opportunity for our youths. As times goes on the engineers that doesn't have job in the city can be well trained in the construction of this refriend ice system.

Once we have more than enough of this refrigerator system, the wastage of farm products will be eradicated in all rural areas and farmers can make more than enough profit and food can also be processed to extend their shelf life by this there will be food security in the nation and also food nutritional content will be adequately preserved.  Thank you.

Enhancing Green commodities Value chains in the Argan Biosphere Reserve as an integrated urban - rural area cooperation system

Moha HADDOUCH : Independent expert 

The Argan Biosphere Reserve (ABR) extends over 2.5 million hectares and it is home to 3 million inhabitants making their living mainly from agriculture, a key economic sector making contribution of an average 40% of GDP.

This area was inscribed as part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves since 1998 in recognition to its global benefits including a high biodiversity value and the central role it plays in buffering the desertification progress towards northern Mediterranean regions. Argan trees (Argania spinosa) and the gommier marocain (Acacia gummifera Willd.), two common drought-resistant species of tropical origin, still strive to stop expansion of the African Sahara Desert.

This biological barrier is in fact supported by ecosystem services flowing from the Atlas Chains in a mutual defense system where mountains and oases are vitally linked within the argan ecosystem. However, deforestation and soil erosion in the uplands of the Souss massa water basins and ground water depletion and pollution in lower agricultural plains constitute the main drivers of environmental disruptions. 

Recent studies on environment limits to provisioning ecosystem services highlighted tree major effects of modern intensive agriculture on environmental  sustainability to the detriment of the traditional ingenious systems : (i) Water depletion trend had adversely affected the traditional hydraulic systems (khettara / canals) and the unit shadow price of water over the next 4 decades (2011-2045) will rise by almost 300 percent, as the average water table declines from a depth index of 1 to 33.8 , (ii) Insecticide applications in modern agriculture affected drastically wild bee colonies (50 to 70%)  and their pollination services during the last decade and (iii) Overgrazing by goat herds was demonstrated to cause the main argan forest cover loss, shrinking at an average rate of 600 ha/year. 

To put some numbers on how this region is resources dependant, the agricultural added value driven from natural capital represented 40 % of GDP in 2013. However, the poverty and the vulnerability rates remain high: 12.7 % and 19.6 % respectively (2007). 

Reversing this trend by rebuilding natural capital is a new option of the Government. Actually, a project entitled: “A Circular Economy Approach to Agro-Biodiversity Conservation in the Souss-Massa Region of Morocco” has recently been launched under the Regional MENARID program, Integrated Nature Resources Management in the Middle East and North Africa Region. The project, endorsed by the GEF, in accordance with the UNDP procedures, is intended to strengthen the environmental pioneer programs of the Green Morocco Plan.

The rationale of this sustainable development paradigm lays on three pillars (i) Payments for ecosystem services (PES) as market based instruments for biodiversity conservation through mainstreaming natural capital into argan and honey value chains, two  species of high biodiversity significance (ii) Enhancing creativity and innovation through appropriate environment engineering to sustain the water basin functions and ensure better disaster risks management and (iii) enhanced protection of human rights relating to indigenous people that stand behind these vital ecosystem services supplies.

Four low-hanging fruit options of PES are identified and put into practice:

1/ Subsidizing land terracing by enacting the 1969 Decree and the Agricultural Development Fund to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality. In fact land terracing provides three flows of ecosystem services mostly for public use. Soil carbon sequestration of global benefit, water regulation, flood control and dam silting prevention considered as public goods and finally food security benefitting directly to local populations. Preliminary environmental economics relating to land terracing indicate a 1: 7.5 cost benefit ratio (1 dollar invested in nature provides 7.5 dollars of ecosystem service value), as much as 60 percent of this value is benefiting the rural poor through stronger food security.

2/ Eco-branding of ABR products and services by converting organic certified product into green commodities. These double human health and ecological resilience benefits are crucial to build a strong urban and rural cooperation system that secure sustainable supply chains and food safety.  Argan oil, aromatic and medicinal plants, honey, goat meat and ecotourism services are major sectors that contribute significantly to food security and income generation with a potential impact on the environment.  These products will be certified ABR according to the MAB/UNESCO program.

3/ The Moroccan Crowdfunding Act was submitted by the Ministry of Finance to the national Parliament. The Act is scheduled to come into force in 2017. This novel financial tool will support the creation of new sources of financing, particularly for investment in natural infrastructures that experience difficulties in obtaining financing through traditional funding channels, particularly for NGO and PES start-ups.

4/ Payment for ecotourism ecosystem services through carbon footprint offsetting. The Ida-outanane circuit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGGi_r6LEfw&t=117s known as the honey road is a sustainable development platform that experiences bundled PES aiming at (i) preserving the beauty of the landscape in the Paradise Valley, (ii) promoting bee pollination services at the biggest and oldest traditional apiary of Inzerki and (iii) planting argan trees for carbon sequestration. 

These startups are also submitted to other funding instruments (LDN/UNLCD global mechanism, the GCF and the GEF/SGP).

The project will contribute to achieve most of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development targets and more significantly goal 11 relating to safe cities and communities, goal 12 of responsible production and consumption, goal 13 aiming to stop climate change and goal 15 related to life on earth and sustainable land use.

In sum, this contribution sets out an ecosystem service approach that combines the concept of circular ecology by valuing the natural capital with the complementary concept of social boundaries in terms of food security systems linking rural population to urban communities. 

To ensure a safe and just rural and urban cooperation, agri-food systems should lay on deforestation-free commodity trade evolving equitable public and private PES.  

Proponent 

Moha HADDOUCH, Project National Coordinator

Main responsible entity

Project management unit

“A Circular Economy Approach to Agro-Biodiversity Conservation by introducing payment for ecosystem services (PES) in the Souss-Massa Region of Morocco”

Date/Timeframe

07/2014 to 06/2019

Funding source

GEF,  UNDP and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of Morocco

Location

Souss massa region of Morocco

Background/Context

MEN ARID Integrated Nature Resources Management in the Middle East and North Africa Region (PROGRAM),

Focus/Objectives

Conserve the globally important Argan ecosystem in Morocco’s SM region through payment for ecosystem services and the sustainable use of related agro-biodiversity

Key characteristics of the experience/process

In order to achieve the above objective, the project’s intervention has been organized in four main components:

Component 1: Improved enabling environment for the establishment and promotion of PES schemes in the SM region and mainstreaming the approach at national level.

Component 2: Strengthened capacities to implement and mainstream payment for ecosystem services and the sustainable use of related agro-biodiversity.

Component 3: Organic and biodiversity-friendly businesses strengthened through the improved labeling and marketing of agro-biodiversity products from the Argan ecosystem.

Component 4: Pilot PES schemes enhance the conservation of agro-biodiversity in the Argan ecosystem.

Key actors involved and their role

1/ The Agency for Agricultural Development (ADA) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries (MAMF),  is mandated to implement the project

2/ The GEF is the main funding partner

3/ UNDP is the GEF agency

4/ The National Agency for the Development of the Oases and Argan Zones (ANDZOA) is responsible, in coordination with other government authorities, for developing a comprehensive development program that integrate PES.

5/ The Network of Associations of the Argan Biosphere Reserve (RARBA) is supporting community action on the ground

6/ The Idao Tanane pays d’accueil touristique, a nonprofit organization in charge of the ecotourism development

Key changes observed with regards to food security and nutrition and sustainable agriculture and food systems

Enhancing land terracing subsidies

Initiating the argan biosphere reserve products eco-branding

Capacity strengthening to enhance environmental finance

Setting a sustainable development platform in the honey road ecotourism circuit

Challenges faced

Lack of legal and regulatory framework for the financial instrument

Lack of awareness among different actors to enable instruments of subsidies

Lack of awareness among corporate to adopt ecolabeling products and services

Lessons/Key messages

To ensure a safe and just rural and urban cooperation, agri-food systems should lay on deforestation-free commodity trade evolving equitable public and private Payment for Ecosystem Services.

English translation below

L’insécurité alimentaire et le chômage des jeunes constituent un défi que tendent à relever les gouvernants. L’inadéquation entre la formation et la demande du marché font que le nombre de jeunes sans emploi augmente au jour le jour. Selon l’institut national de la statistique et de l’analyse économique (INSAE), seulement vingt-deux virgule deux pourcent (21,2%) des jeunes sont occupés dont quatorze virgule sept (14,7%) sont des travailleurs irréguliers. Face cette situation qui accentue la pauvreté des jeunes, l’entreprenariat agricole est une solution pouvant permettre non seulement à ces milliers de jeunes de s’auto employer, mais également de contribuer à la réduction de l’insécurité alimentaire. CASAD-Bénin, conscient de cet enjeu a eu l’initiative du Projet d’initiation et de formation des Jeunes en Entrepreneuriat Agricole (PIFJEA)

L’objectif principal de ce projet est de contribuer efficacement à la lutte contre l’insécurité alimentaire et le chômage d’une part et à la promotion de l’entrepreneuriat des jeunes au Bénin d’autre part.

A travers le Projet PIFJEA, les jeunes en milieu rural sont convaincus que l’entrepreneuriat agricole est un puissant moteur générateur de revenu et d'accès à l'emploi. Le coup de vie étant très coûteux en milieu urbain aujourd'hui au Bénin, les jeunes des zones rurales trouvent l'initiative de CASAD-Bénin comme une opportunité et sont nombreux à se faire former en agriculture. Le problème qui pouvait se poser était celui de la commercialisation des produits, mais le Projet à prévu créer un système de contractualisation entre les Marchés urbains, ruraux et les jeunes professionnels entrepreneurs. Ce système de contractualisation est une opportunité qui non seulement connecte les jeunes entrepreneurs aux marchés urbains, mais également renforce la motivation des jeunes dans la production agricole.

Le Projet d'Initiation et de Formation des Jeunes en Entrepreneuriat Agricole (PIFJEA) est un projet qui mérite d'être soutenu. L'ONG CASAD-Bénin sollicite l'appui des partenaires internationaux afin que tous les objectifs de ce projet soient atteints.

Plus spécifiquement, ce projet vise à :

-         Accroitre la production agricole au Bénin,

-         Encourager les jeunes à s’intéresser et à croire aux potentiels de l’agriculture,

-         Permettre aux jeunes de réfléchir sur des idées pertinentes en entrepreneuriat agricole,

-         Renforcer la capacité entrepreneuriale des jeunes pour une transformation économique et sociale au Bénin

Promoteur

Ir. OLOUNLADE ODOUNTAN AMBALIOU

Principale entité responsable

Centre d’Actions pour la Sécurité Alimentaire et le Développement Durable (CASAD-Bénin)

Date/délai

2016-2017

Source de financement

CASAD-Bénin

Lieu

Arrondissement de Takon, Commune de Sakété

Contexte

L’insécurité alimentaire et le chômage des jeunes constituent un défi que tendent à relever les gouvernants. L’inadéquation entre la formation et la demande du marché font que le nombre de jeunes sans emploi augmente au jour le jour. Selon l’institut national de la statistique et de l’analyse économique (INSAE), seulement vingt-deux virgule deux pourcent (21,2%) des jeunes sont occupés dont quatorze virgule sept (14,7%) sont des travailleurs irréguliers. Face cette situation qui accentue la pauvreté des jeunes, l’entreprenariat agricole est une solution pouvant permettre non seulement à ces milliers de jeunes de s’auto employer, mais également de contribuer à la réduction de l’insécurité alimentaire. CASAD-Bénin, conscient de cet enjeu a eu l’initiative du Projet d’initiation et de formation des Jeunes en Entrepreneuriat Agricole (PIFJEA)

Axe/objectifs

L’objectif principal de ce projet est de contribuer efficacement à la lutte contre l’insécurité alimentaire et le chômage d’une part et à la promotion de l’entrepreneuriat des jeunes au Bénin d’autre part.

Plus spécifiquement, ce projet vise à :

·         Accroitre la production agricole au Bénin,

·         Encourager les jeunes à s’intéresser et à croire aux potentiels de l’agriculture,

·         Permettre aux jeunes de réfléchir sur des idées pertinentes en entrepreneuriat agricole,

·         Renforcer la capacité entrepreneuriale des jeunes pour une transformation économique et sociale au Bénin

Principales caractéristiques de l’expérience/du processus

-         Atelier d’initiation des jeunes en Entrepreneuriat Agricole et Rédaction de plan d’Affaire;

-         Formation pratiques des jeunes (Pisciculture, Reproduction artificielle des alevins, Elevage de Canard, Elevage des poulets locaux, Maraîchage et Elevage de proc);

-         Appui et installation des jeunes en entrepreneuriat agricole,

-         Facilitation de l’accès au marché de vente par la mise en place d’un système de contrat de production ;

-         Evaluation de l’impact des activités des jeunes formés sur la sécurité alimentaire et le niveau de pauvreté.

Principales parties prenantes et rôles respectifs

-         CASAD-Bénin : Le Centre CASAD-Bénin est porteur du projet PIFJEA et a pour rôle de coordonner la mise en œuvre du Projet en collaboration avec le centre CERIDAEP ;

-         CERIDAEP : A pour rôle d’assumer la formation pratique aux jeunes  (Pisciculture, Reproduction artificielle des alevins, Elevage de Canard, Elevage des poulets locaux, Maraîchage et Elevage de proc).

Principaux changements observés en termes de sécurité alimentaire et de nutrition et d'agriculture et de systèmes alimentaires durables

-         Les capacités de 70 jeunes ont été renforcées pour entreprendre eux même la production piscicole, la production de provende pour les poissons, la reproduction artificielle des alevins, l’élevage des poulets locaux, l’élevage du porc et le maraîchage.

-         Au cours de la formation des jeunes, plusieurs étangs piscicoles ont été aménagés, des espaces maraîchères aménagées avec de bon rendement permettant d’alimenter les ménages et marchés de Takon en légumes.

Défis rencontrés

-         L’ONG CASAD-Bénin est confrontée aux défis d’appui et installation des jeunes formés par manque de financement.

-         Les ressources financières de CASAD-Bénin étant faibles, nous n’avons pas pu accompagner et installer les jeunes formés. Il faut noter qu’il est difficile aux partenaires financiers internationaux d’accompagner les ONG aujourd’hui. Nous avons la volonté de sortir les communautés rurale de l’impasse de la pauvreté et de l’insécurité alimentaire. Mais les moyens financiers font grands défaut. Nous profitons de cet appel de la CSA pour demander l’appui des partenaires afin nous permettre de bien réaliser ce projet toujours en cours d’exécution.

Leçons/messages clés

L’entrepreneuriat agricole par les jeunes est non seulement le moteur de la réduction de la pauvreté en milieu rural, mais également la réduction de l’insécurité alimentaire. Le projet PIFJEA initié par CASAD-Bénin est d’un grand intérêt et mérite d’être accompagné par les partenaires. Pour plus d’informations sur le projet veuillez consulter notre site web : www.casad-benin.org

Food insecurity and youth unemployment represent a challenge that tends to remove governments. The mismatch between training and what the market wants means that the number of the unemployed youth grows day by day. According to the Institut National de la Statistique et de l'analyse économique (INSAE) [National Institute for Statistics and Economic Analysis], only twenty two point two percent (22.2%) of people are employed of which fourteen point seven percent (14.7%) are occasional workers. In the face of this situation which increases the poverty of the youth, agricultural business is a solution that could allow not only of these thousands of young people to be self-employed but that would also contribute to the reduction of food insecurity. CASAD-Bénin [Centre d’Actions pour la Sécurité Alimentaire et le Développement Durable-Bénin, Centre for food security and sustainable development], aware of this difficulty, has developed the initiative of the Projet d’initiation et de formation des Jeunes en Entrepreneuriat Agricole (PIFJEA) [Introduction and training of young people in agricultural entrepreneurship]

Through the PIFJEA [Introduction and Training of young people in Agricultural Entrepreneurship] project, young people living in rural areas are convinced that agricultural business is a powerful motor that generates income and access to employment. In Benin today, the cost of living in urban areas being very high, young people in rural areas consider the CASAD-Benin initiative an opportunity and there are many who get trained in agriculture. The problem that could have arisen was the marketing of products, but the Project envisaged the creation of a contracts system between urban and rural markets and the young professional entrepreneurs. This system of contracts is an opportunity that not only connects the young entrepreneurs to urban markets but also strengthens the motivation of the youth towards agricultural production.

The Projet d'Initiation et de Formation des Jeunes en Entrepreneuriat Agricole (PIFJEA) project is an initiative that deserves support. The CASAD-Bénin NGO requests the support of international partners so that all the objectives of this project may be achieved.

The main objective of this project is, on the one hand, to contribute effectively to the fight against food insecurity and unemployment and, on the other, to the promotion of young people in business in Benin.

More specifically, this project seeks to:

- Increase agricultural production in Benin,

- Encourage the youth to become interested and believe in the potential of agriculture,

- Enable young people to develop ideas related to agricultural business,

- Reinforce the business capabilities of young people for an economic and social transformation in Benin

Promotor

Leader: OLOUNLADE ODOUNTAN AMBALIOU

Main responsible entity

Centre d’Actions pour la Sécurité Alimentaire et le Développement Durable (CASAD-Bénin)

Date

2016-2017

Funding source

CASAD-Bénin

Place

Arrondissement de Takon, Commune de Sakété [Takon District, Sakete Municipality]

Context

Food insecurity and youth unemployment represent a challenge that tends to remove governments. The mismatch between training and what the market wants means that the number of the unemployed youth grows day by day. According to the Institut National de la Statistique et de l'analyse économique (INSAE) [National Institute for Statistics and Economic Analysis], only twenty two point two percent (22.2%) of people are employed of which fourteen point seven percent (14.7%) are occasional workers. In the face of this situation which increases the poverty of the youth, agricultural business is a solution that could allow not only of these thousands of young people to be self-employed but that would also contribute to the reduction of food insecurity. CASAD-Bénin [Centre d’Actions pour la Sécurité Alimentaire et le Développement Durable-Bénin, Centre for food security and sustainable development], aware of this difficulty, has developed the initiative of the Projet d’initiation et de formation des Jeunes en Entrepreneuriat Agricole (PIFJEA) [Introduction and training of young people in agricultural entrepreneurship]

Objectives

The main objective of this project is, on the one hand, to contribute effectively to the fight against food insecurity and unemployment and, on the other, to the promotion of young people in business in Benin.

More specifically, this project seeks to:

·         Increase agricultural production in Benin,

·         Encourage the youth to become interested and believe in the potential of agriculture,

·          Enable young people to develop ideas related to agricultural business,

·         Reinforce the business capabilities of young people for an economic and social transformation in Benin

Main characteristics of the experience/procedure

-         Workshop to introduce young people to Agricultural Business and the Drawing up of a Business Plan.

-         Practical training of the youth (Pisciculture, artificial reproduction of fry; raising ducks; raising local chickens; market gardening and raising of pigs);

-         Support and setting up of young people in agricultural business,

-         Facilitating market sales access by the implementation of a production contract  system;

-         Assessment of the impact of the activities of the trained youth on food security and the degree of poverty.

Main parties involved and their respective roles

-         CASAD-Bénin: The CASAD-Bénin center is the promoter of the project PIFJEA and its role is to coordinate the implementation of the project in collaboration with the centre CERIDAEP ;

-         CERIDAEP: Its role is to carry out the practical training of people (Pisciculture, artificial reproduction of fry; raising ducks and local chickens; market gardens and raising of pigs);

The main changes observed in terms of food security, nutrition, agriculture and sustainable food systems

-         The capabilities of 70 youth have been developed to begin themselves fish production, production of food for the fish, artificial reproduction of fry, raising of local chickens, market gardening and raising pigs.

-         In the course of training the youth, several fish ponds have been constructed, and market gardening areas developed with good yields allowing the households and markets of Takon to be supplied with vegetables.

Challenges encountered

-         The CASAD-Bénin NGO faced the challenges of supporting and setting up of young people trained, arising from lack of funding.

-         The financial resources of CASAD-Bénin being modest, we were not able to support and install the young people trained. It should be noted that today it is difficult for the international funding partners to support NGOs. We have the will to bring the rural communities out of poverty and food insecurity. But the available funds are seriously insufficient. We take advantage of this appeal from the CSA to call for the support of partners to allow us fully to carry out this project, still currently being executed.

Lessons/key messages

The taking up of agricultural business by young people is not only the driver of poverty reduction in the rural areas, but also of reduction of food insecurity. The PIFJEA project started by CASAD-Bénin is of great interest and deserves to be supported by partners. For more information on the project, please visit our website: www.casad-benin.org

Dear FSN Moderator,

Please find below a submission for the recent "Call for experiences and effective policy approaches in addressing food security and nutrition in the context of changing rural-urban dynamics".

Best Regards,

Bert Cramer

Proponent 

Bert Cramer

Main responsible entity

Public Fund ‘Arysh’ / Общественное объединение "Арыш" (http://aryshkg.kloop.asia)

Date/Timeframe

2015 – Present

Funding source

DanishChurch Aid Central Asia (DCA CA) (at present); local community funding

Location

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Background/Context

As Kyrgyzstan, a small, mountainous country in the heart of Central Asia continues to go through demographic, economic, and environmental upheaval following the collapse of the USSR, more and more people continue to move from rural areas to the booming informal settlements around the capital city of Bishkek. However, Bishkek’s informal settlements are increasingly becoming a way-station for people of working age to pursue labor migration to Kazakhstan and Russia, leaving the elderly and young behind. Dependent on remittances and unreliably small pension, the elderly of Bishkek’s informal settlements face significant economic and social hardship which is compounded by their structural isolation from meaningful social services.

High on the list of challenges the elderly of the informal settlements face is access to healthy and affordable food.  In this situation Arysh, a community-based organization with a long history of social mobilization and advocacy in the informal settlements, has stepped up to assist their nation’s neglected community elders. Using an innovative whole-of-community approach, Arysh brings together youth and elders to engage in community gardening through peri-urban agriculture and animal husbandry. Not only does this link disparate generations through meaningful labor, but also provides a source of readily available and locally produced food for both consumption and sale at bazaars. Additionally, by encouraging knowledge sharing between the rural elders to their young, urban counterparts, Arysh maintains traditional knowledge which would otherwise be lost. Underpinning these processess is Arysh’s longstanding advocacy with political and governmental structures for land-rights recognition of those who dwell in the informal settlements (http://aryshkg.kloop.asia/2015/06/18/gosudarstvennye-i-obshhestvennye-o…).

Based on the success of their initial work in community agriculture (http://aryshkg.kloop.asia/2015/06/18/vishnevaya-ulitsa-sadyr-ake/); DCA provided  Arysh additional funds to expand their resilience building throughout the informal settlements.

Focus/Objectives

- Reduce food insecurity and provide livelihoods generation through community agriculture

-  Through community agricultural practices, foster inter-generational understanding and solidarity, which in turn builds community resilience

Key characteristics of the experience/process

- intentional community building; recognizing the value of overlooked or structurally marginalized people’s knowledge, experiences, and practices; fostering learning

Key actors involved and their role

Public Fund ‘Arysh’: community organization, fund raising, and provision of technical expertise

Key changes observed with regards to food security and nutrition and sustainable agriculture and food systems

Proximal changes: The former rural elderly living in Bishkek’s informal settlements now have immediate access to fresh, seasonal food stuffs which supplements and improves their diet which was formerly restricted to pension facilitated purchases. By engaging born-urban youth from the informal settlements in community agricultural practices, traditional smallholder agricultural practices are passed down through generations.

Distal:  Repeated harvests coupled with seasonal celebrations (http://aryshkg.kloop.asia/2015/06/18/vishnevaya-ulitsa-sadyr-ake/) help to ensure larger awareness of the importance of community food security and agricultural- cultural practices. Reaffirming ‘traditional’ knowledge in a contemporary environment of rapid change and climate/economic/political/food insecurity builds broader community resilience.

Challenges faced

- Funding for community level food security interventions and long-term programming remains meager. While communities are sometimes able to raise funds through their own community savings groups, larger structural barriers (land tenure; community mobilization in socially isolated areas; cheap, subsidized food-stuffs with poor nutritional content; labor-market competition for unpaid community agricultural labor; etc.) to instilling broader community food security remain.

-Both international donor funding and national government priorities tend to focus on large-scale industrial agricultural practices. However effective macro-industrial agriculture may be in providing basic carbohydrate requirements, it does not meet the needs of varied and healthy diets based on fresh and locally available food. As a result, community practices which increase food security are ignored and neglected in policy  decision making practices.

Lessons/Key messages

Food security/sovereignty is not a new or outside imposed concept: self-sustaining communities have been practicing techniques to ensure community food security for countless years. However, in the face of large scale political and economic structural upheaval, traditional practices which ensure food security risk being lost when placed in a ‘marketplace of ideas’ where modernizing and capital-technology intensive logic prevails. By supporting the adaptation of traditional knowledge and practices to contemporary life and linking disparate urban and rural generations, community integrity and food security can be bolstered and larger community resilience encouraged.

Dear sir/madam

Please find attached 13 case documented by RUAF, GIZ and FAO last year that would fit perfectly within this call

I hope they are of use to you

Regards

Ir. Marielle Dubbeling

Director

RUAF-Foundation (Global partnership on sustainable Urban Agriculture and Food systems)