The 2024 "GROW - Agrobiodiversity in a Changing Climate" course successfully concluded on 22 November 2024, bringing together 29 participants from 18 countries. The programme focuses on how biodiversity can enhance resilience and adaptability to climate change in mountain farming systems. 

A key highlight of the course was the inclusion of new case studies that focused on sustainable natural resource management and accountability tools in supply chains with an example from the Italian food company, Barilla. The curriculum also featured discussions on the conservation and sustainable use of edible plants, led by the University of Turin. These topics provided valuable insights into practical solutions for managing natural resources and promoting sustainability in agriculture and food systems.  Students were also provided with hands-on experience and tools to adapt agricultural methods to address the biodiversity challenges posed by climate change. 

The course brought together prominent lecturers in the field, each contributing unique expertise to the programme. Devra Jarvis from the Platform for Agrobiodiversity Research (PAR), Abdel Kader Naino Jika from the Alliance of Bioversity International (CIAT), and Fabio Attorre from the Botanical Garden of Rome, Sapienza University, shared insights into biodiversity and its role in agriculture. Michele Zerbini from Barilla presented the case study of Barilla and how they incorporate biodiversity in their sustainability strategy. Federica Matteoli from FAO OCB and Roberto Ugas and Patricia Flores from IFOAM - Organics International further enriched the curriculum with their diverse perspectives on sustainability and resilience in farming systems. 

Aida Musaeva, from Global Saemaul Foundation in Kyrgyzstan said about the course, "I thoroughly enjoyed the course, especially the group work, where we got to know each other, exchange ideas and even share fun moments. Michele Zerbini's session about Barilla inspired me to focus on entrepreneurship. My unique pilot project feels more sustainable thanks to my participation in the 2024 GROW summer school." 

Fellow participant, Dorji Om from FAO in Bhutan, said, “I found the 2024 GROW course immensely valuable in terms of gaining practical insights into sustainable farming and climate adaptation strategies. The breakout sessions were a fantastic platform to interact with like-minded learners from over 18 countries, and hearing from experts across diverse organizations was truly inspiring." 

Looking ahead, the GROW programme is set to return in 2025 with an in-person format hosted at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations headquarters and the Botanical Garden of Rome, offering participants an even more immersive learning experience. 

Download the GROW 2024 programme.

The annual GROW course “Agrobiodiversity in a changing climate” closed on 24 November 2023 with 29 participants from 20 countries. The two-week course equipped participants with tools, knowledge and understanding for enhancing agricultural productivity and improved marketing strategies in sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.

The course discussed how the reduced variety of crops on which commercial farming is based creates a reduced capacity for agriculture to adapt to environmental changes and stresses. The loss or lack of adaptive capacity in modern, commercial agriculture is a cause for concern in relation to the present and expected impact of climate change. This is particularly relevant to mountain areas, where mountain farmers are preserving many rare varieties of cultivars in functioning biodiverse agroecosystems, but the harshness of the environment and the effects of climate change increasingly pressure mountain communities to modify their traditional approaches to agriculture.

Instructors of the course emphasized the importance of biodiversity in agriculture for enhancing resilience and climate adaptability. Lectures illustrated principles and practices for gathering agrobiodiversity data through participatory diagnostic approaches and increasing resilience and adaptability to climate change.

Specific topics the course covered were the management of agrobiodiversity through genetic diversity, climate-smart agriculture, innovation and organic systems. Participants learned about traditional crop varieties, tool and methods for measuring diversity, the impact of policies on farmers, how to build trust and equitable collaboration, and some of the challenges and opportunities for agriculture in the face of climate change.

Participant Kazim Ali from Pakistan said about the course, "I learned how to add value to traditional growing methods and underutilized food crops to access local and international markets. I also learned how important organic food production is and how it can be implemented in mountain agriculture."

The annual GROW training programme is organized by the Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Environmental Biology; Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT); the Platform for Agrobiodiversity Research; and the Mountain Partnership Secretariat. Technical support is provided by FAO. Scholarships were made available by Sapienza for a limited number of participants.

Innovation contest

The 2023 GROW Agrobiodiversity in a Changing Climate course featured an innovation contest focused on the importance of biodiversity for creating jobs in agriculture. Ysa Calderón from Peru won the contest with a project proposal to protect biodiversity and address threats to pollinators such as climate change, pesticides and deforestation.

Calderón’s winning proposal featured a three-phased solution focused on research, restoration and conservation. So far, her project – which is already being implemented in Peru with plans to scale up – has preserved three species of native stingless bees and reforested 1 500 trees. The project furthermore emphasizes supporting women.

"The course helped me strengthen my knowledge of agrobiodiversity. It showed me the importance of generating resilient and adaptive initiatives in the face of the climate crisis. I now have a more comprehensive vision of how my small business venture ‘Sumak Kawsay honey’ can continue to positively impact the farmers in my local community," said Calderón.

Download the 2023 GROW course programme.

The fifth annual GROW – Agrobiodiversity in a changing climate course concluded earlier this month. The two-week course held online from 15–25 November 2022, included lecturers from the Mountain Partnership Secretariat, Sapienza University of Rome Department of Environmental Biology, and IFOAM Organics International. The 31 students from 20 countries that participated each received six Crediti Formativi Universitari/European Credit Transfer System (CFU/ ECTS) credits.

The classes focused on the importance of biodiversity in agriculture, with particular focus on biodiversity’s role in enhancing cropping and farming systems’ resilience and adaptability to climate change. The sessions aimed to equip participants with necessary tools, knowledge and understanding to enhance productivity and marketing strategies in sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.

“The GROW course gave us insights and multidisciplinary knowledge about agrobiodiversity and its fundamental role in strengthening the resilience and adaptation of farming systems to climate change,” said Emanuela-Adina Cocis, research scientist from the Centre of Mountain Economy “CE-MONT”, Romania.

Freeco Minyahel Tilahun, Senior Lecturer at Wolkite University in Ethiopia added, “The training has many special deliverables to scholars from different backgrounds and research interests. The diversity of the trainers in terms of the geographical location, discipline, experience, and skill, resembles the topic given for the course. The training has shown greater knowledge to using tools and programmes in agricultural activities, monitoring and biodiversity assessments.”

The importance of agrobiodiversity relates particularly to mountain areas. Many of the world’s most important crops and livestock species originate in mountains. The agrobiodiversity mountain areas provide are key to achieving sustainable agrifood systems.

During the course of GROW, the United Nations General Assembly also approved a resolution on sustainable mountain development with the support of 110 governments. The resolution recognizes the need to increase the adaptive capacity, resilience and sustainability of food and agricultural production regarding climate change, noting that sustainable production practices, agroforestry, and the conservation of agrobiodiversity in mountain areas ensure food security, nutrition and dietary diversity. It also notes that agrobiodiversity generates income for smallholder farmers and aids conservation and restoration.

With the second part of the Fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) taking place next month in Montreal, Canada, this timely meeting offers a strategic opportunity to reiterate key takeaways from this year’s GROW course. Namely that we must protect mountain biodiversity at global scale and protect and restore ecosystem functions and services upon which communities in mountains and lowlands depend.

The GROW course was organized by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat, in collaboration with Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Environmental Biology, Alliance of Biodiversity International and the Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), and the Platform for Agrobiodiversity Research. Technical support was provided by the Food and Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Download the 2022 GROW programme

Jyoti Patil from India won the 2021 GROW Summer School innovation contest focused on improving smallholders’ livelihoods through agrobiodiversity in fragile ecosystems.

The GROW Summer School is an annual training programme for young professionals focusing on agrobiodiversity in a changing climate and is organized by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat and partners, with technical support from FAO.

Patil’s winning proposal outlined how the prolific use of machine-made synthetic fibres for rope-making are compromising traditional knowledge and biodiversity in remote areas of India, where indigenous communities historically cultivated diverse trees and shrubs for their fibres.

Patil’s proposal to study, document and promote traditional methods of rope-making using local and natural fibres aims to enhance biodiversity by conserving native trees and plants, revive the traditional skill of rope-making and create an alternative source of livelihoods for rural populations.

“The GROW course has given me a greater theoretical understanding of agrobiodiversity and has revived my interest in local biodiversity. I plan to take concrete steps to consolidate my idea of developing traditional products and encouraging the community in my small mountain village to grow the shrubs and trees required for rope-making,” said Patil.

Participants at the GROW Summer School submitted their contest proposals before the course began and continued to develop them further by applying their newfound knowledge and skills. Final proposals were presented on the last day of the course and the winner was voted based on innovation, feasibility and sustainability.

Since winning the first GROW innovation contest in 2020, Matthew Purkis of South Africa has gone on to realize his idea for an app, Umlimi, for data collection and value chain development focused on participatory guarantee systems and agrobiodiversity. His team integrated biodiversity mapping into the app to contribute to biodiversity data collection in South Africa and the Southern African Development Community region. He recently presented his app at IFOAM-Organics International’s Organic World Congress, and is raising funds to continue development.

Innovative tools for a changing climate

Thirty young professionals from 21 countries attended the 2021 two-week-long GROW Summer School, held online, which introduces students to the importance of biodiversity in agriculture and, in particular, agrobiodiversity’s role in enhancing the resilience and adaptability of cropping and farming systems to climate change in fragile ecosystems such as mountains and islands.

The effects of climate change are putting increasing pressure on mountain and island communities to modify their traditional approaches to agriculture.

The two-week course equips practitioners with the necessary tools, knowledge and understanding to enhance productivity and improve marketing strategies in sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.

Participant Edelweiss Hildebrand from Guatemala said: “The innovative tools they have presented to us in GROW will be useful for developing studies that conserve edible plant species produced on small-scale, climate-smart farms in Guatemala.”

GROW is organized in collaboration with La Sapienza University of Rome; the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT); and the Platform for Agrobiodiversity Research. Sponsors and partners of the summer school include the Italian Development Cooperation, NaturaSì, Slow Food and IFOAM-Organics International.

Watch the 2021 GROW promotional video

Thirty young professionals and researchers joined the ranks of the GROW alumni network as the third annual Summer School on Agrobiodiversity in a Changing Climate concluded. For the 2020 edition, participants tuned in to the virtual lessons from 18 countries across the globe. The course included lecturers from NaturaSi, IFOAM Organics International and Slow Food as well as a first ever innovation contest on “Improving smallholders’ livelihoods through agrobiodiversity and organic solutions.”

The GROW Summer School introduces students to the importance of biodiversity in agriculture – from its management, to what it looks like on the ground, to its values as market drivers. GROW gives particular attention to agrobiodiversity’s role in enhancing the resilience and adaptability of cropping and farming systems to climate change. This is of particular relevance to mountain areas, where farmers preserve many of the rarest cultivars in functioning biodiverse agro-ecosystems.

In her closing remarks to participants, Mountain Partnership Secretariat (MPS) Coordinator Yuka Makino said, "I congratulate all of you for making it through these intense nine days. I hope that you will be able to immediately apply what you have learnt directly into your work in the field. And more importantly, I hope that you maintain the friendships and networks you have cultivated through this course and continue sharing your experiences with each other.”

The post-course survey revealed that many students found the course beneficial to their work and will be using the new skills they gained in their projects and research. Rommila Chandra, a Summer School student from India, shared, “GROW helped me understand adaptation mechanisms at local and regional levels for the exploration of livelihood opportunities through agrobiodiversity conservation and diversification. I have advanced my knowledge and thinking about the vulnerability and resilience of mountain ecosystems, with a view of developing future strategies for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”

In addition to the coursework, participants were invited to submit proposals for the innovation contest. "Small-scale organic family farming needs innovative ideas to get its due dignity and recognition in the run to feed the growing population while respecting the environment, people and animals," commented Carlo Murer from EcorNaturaSi, Italy’s largest organic food retailer.

Matthew Purkis from South Africa won the contest's Selection Committee Award with his proposal for developing a mobile app called Umlimi, designed for data collection and value chain development specifically focused on participatory guarantee systems (PGS) and agrobiodiversity.

"The Umlimi app has been designed and developed to connect and showcase the power of organic production and PGS. The opportunity to present the app to the Summer School has given it more credibility by winning the Innovation Challenge. We will integrate the biodiversity mapping into the surveys and contribute to the biodiversity data collection in South Africa and into the Southern African Development Community region," he said. Purkis will receive EUR 1 000, offered by NaturaSì, as well as kick-off technical assistance to implement his proposal.

Additionally, Carolina Zamorano-Montañez won the Audience Award for her proposal on weeds as soil cover in small banana and plantain crops in Colombia, and will also receive kick-off technical assistance to implement her proposal.

The Summer School was organized by the MPS, in collaboration with Sapienza University of Rome and the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture. Technical support is provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Sponsors and partners of the summer school included the Italian Development Cooperation, NaturaSì, Slow Food and IFOAM-Organics International and Platform for Agrobiodiversity Research.

Watch the 2020 GROW promotional video

The second GROW Summer School on Agrobiodiversity in a Changing Climate concluded on 26 September 2019. Held at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquarters in Rome, the course included lecturers from NaturaSi, IFOAM Organics International and Slow Food, and a field trip to a nearby farm.

The Summer School focused on the significance of maintaining biodiversity in agriculture, especially because it enhances crop and farm systems’ resilience and adaptability to the effects of climate change.

“We should put food as absolute protagonist of the unfair food system and transform it in a good, clean and fair system,” said Emanuele Dughera from the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity.

Carlo Murer from EcorNaturaSi, Italy’s largest organic food retailer, added: "As a distribution company, we try to build a long-term relationship with farmers and create a community. We feel as responsible as the farmers."

The topic of agrobiodiversity is particularly relevant to mountain areas. Mountain farmers preserve many of the rarest cultivars in functioning biodiverse agro-ecosystems. Yet, the harshness of the environment, as well as the effects of climate change, increasingly pressures mountain communities to modify their traditional approaches to agriculture.

Many students found the course relevant to their work and learnt new skills. “Georgia is a mountainous country with high biodiversity and needs to be resilient against climate change and the loss of traditional knowledge. As a representative of local farmers and communities, I am attending the GROW Summer School to share international experiences and bring best practices to my country,” said Ilia Kunchulia, a Summer School student from the Georgian Farmers' Association.

“This course was important because there are not many courses that teach how to work and relate with farmers and, at the same time, to follow international policies,” said Marco Cannella, an intern at the University of Pavia. The course section which taught about applications of plant gerplasm banks was most beneficial to Cannella, who will take what he learnt at the Summer School and apply it to his everyday work.

“It was fantastic to see our 24 participants create long lasting networks and bring new knowledge and experiences to their home countries,” said Giorgio Grussu, Mountain Partnership Secretariat (MPS) Project Manager and Coordinator of the GROW Summer School, in his closing remarks.

The Summer School was organized by Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Environmental Biology; Bioversity International; and the MPS, with the technical support of FAO.

Watch the 2019 GROW promotional video

The first Summer School on Agrobiodiversity in a Changing Climate concluded on 5 October 2018. Held at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy, the course hosted high profile speakers from NaturaSi, IFOAM Organics International and Slow Food and looked at ways to enhance productivity and improve marketing strategies in sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.

“We know that today agriculture is unsustainable and that something has to change”, said Giorgio Grussu, Mountain Partnership Secretariat Officer at the closing session of the school. “Markets have put agriculture under huge strain, increasing yields reducing the variety of crops and their capacity to adapt to climate change especially in fragile ecosystems such as mountains, islands and drylands.”

Agrobiodiversity in a changing climate is relevant to mountain areas. Mountain farmers are preserving many of the rarest varieties of cultivars in functioning biodiverse agro-ecosystems, while the harshness of the environment as well as the effects of climate change increasingly pressures the mountain communities to modify their traditional approaches to agriculture. Selvaraju Ramasamy FAO’s environment officer said: “Climate change may be global, but the impacts are local and personal. We face it in day to day life.”

Federico Mattei from Slowfood International during his lecture on agrobiodiversity driving rural development highlighted how “it is crucial to understand how individual and collective consumption choices shape food production systems, including in mountain ecosystems.” The course analyzed the economic value of agricultural biodiversity in food systems as an incentive to conservation. Adriana  Ignaciuk FAO’s senior economist emphasized that ”well working markets are key in helping farmers adapt to climate change.”

During the session dedicated to effective and equitable techniques and distribution processes with low environmental impact Fabio Brescacin, President of NaturaSi, Italy’s largest organic food retailer said: “The challenge for the future is to have a different relation between farmers, traders and consumers to get the right price. The interests of farmers should be the same interests of consumers.”

Participants remarked on how effective the course was for their work back at home. Tuvshinjargal Ganbaatar office at the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia said: “When you work in the government you’re not really exposed to grassroots. The most practical thing the course gave me is that now I am able to communicate with the farmers, to speak the language of agriculture.”

Jirlyne Katharpi, Research Associate at FAO India added: “Sometime we lack information even at FAO. This course proved me with a lot of practical knowledge to make the right impact on the ground.”

The two week course was held in collaboration with Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Environmental Biology; Bioversity International; Mountain Partnership Secretariat and with the technical support from the FAO. The Summer School was sponsored by Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Naturasi, Slow Food international, IFOAM organics international and the University of Torino.