Events

Agrobiodiversity in a mountain environment – 2nd International Agrobiodiversity Congress side event

From: 17.11.2021 to: 17.11.2021

The food we eat and the way we produce it has an impact on both human and planetary health. Agriculture as we know it contributes to a third of anthropogenic global greenhouse gas emissions.

As of today, 75 percent of agricultural crop varieties have disappeared, and three quarters of the world's food comes from just 12 plant species and 5 animal species. This dependence on a limited number of varieties carries many risks for humankind, particularly in the face of climate change as it limits the adaptation capacity of farmers.

This is even more evident in mountain areas, where smallholder farmers have built their resilience over centuries on a richness of agrobiodiversity. This traditional scheme is quickly disappearing as farmers abandon traditional crops to grow more productive commercial varieties.

Enhancing agrobiodiversity can help improve human nutrition, human health and the health of ecosystems as well as make agriculture more sustainable and resilient to climate change.

This event, organized as part of the 2nd International Agrobiodiversity Congress, aims to explore the potential of preserving and increasing agrobiodiversity, as well as creating ecological niches in agricultural production areas to strengthen livelihoods without decreasing productivity. Speakers will share experiences in promoting positive interactions between what is grown for production purposes and the natural life forms present in the agroecosystem, with a particular focus on mountain areas.

"Agrobiodiversity in a mountain environment" will be held via Zoom on 17 November 2021 at 18.00-19.00 CET.

The Zoom details to join are as follows:

https://fao.zoom.us/j/93016064230

Meeting passcode: Mountains

Download the event flyer

Learn more about the Congress

Photo by Man Chung on Unsplash