OVER 700 PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING farmers, indigenous people, researchers and technicians from governmental and non-governmental organizations have directly contributed to determining the thematic axis of this project: agricultural biodiversity, agricultural food systems, food security, the semi-arid ecosystem of Minas Gerais, climate change and farmers´ rights. Brazil has a vast number of plant varieties that are vital for building the national economy and guaranteeing food security; nevertheless, a number of factors, natural and manmade, have resulted in a disruption of agro-ecosystems, an erosion of biodiversity and the degradation of traditional communities’ food systems PIPPO. The Alternative Agriculture Center of Northern Minas Gerais State, a Brazilian NGO, is developing a strategic plan aimed at increasing food security for indigenous and traditional communities of the Minas Gerais region. This region has the highest small farming density in the country, and is characterized by rich socio-biodiversity where indigenous and traditional communities still manage and retain a significant range of species and varieties of plants that are used for food, medicine and commercialization. Despite this, they suffer from severe food deprivation and low human development. This plan will focus on developing strategies to reduce risks to climate change, identifying and exchanging experiences in shared management of (agro) biodiversity resources, integrating practices and knowledge of indigenous and traditional communities with other farmers, NGOs and government institutions, as well as setting up for further integration of the SAP into national policies and programs. Besides involving statewide and nationwide governmental institutions, the strategy of this project is centered on the involvement of local and federal authorities in a dialogue with existing social networks such as the Semi-Arid Articulation, National Coalition of Agroecology, Savannah Network, National Commission of Indigenous  and Traditional Communities, Citizenship Territories, Rural Territories, and others.