Frugal and Inclusive: Community-led nature-driven innovation for greening agrifood systems in Europe and Central Asia

Background

By imitating nature’s forms, processes and ecosystems we can find new ways to solve global challenges without harming our nature. Harnessing innovations that are inspired by nature (so-called, mimic nature) and focused on holistic sustainability can lead to more efficient, inclusive and resilient agrifood systems.

Producing enough food for everyone requires continuous innovation, especially in the face of emerging challenges and scarce resources. A frugal mindset (careful and intentional management of resources) is well-shaped to produce sustainable and affordable innovations that deliver more value with less resources.

Engaging smallholders, farmers, women, youth, and rural communities in the co-creation of locally adapted innovations, can drive sustainable agricultural and rural development. Leveraging local and indigenous knowledge ensures that the most vulnerable are not only beneficiaries but also co-developers and early adopters of locally relevant solutions.

Altogether this creates opportunities for a more inclusive and sustainable innovation ecosystem with strengthened potential for improving the capacity of agroecosystems to respond to poly-crisis and food and livelihood security needs.

The regional event is organised in the framework of the FAO Science and Innovation Forum 2024 with the theme “Inclusive Science and Innovation for Agrifood Systems Transformation, Leaving No One Behind” and within the subtopic of “Community-Driven Innovations” highlighting grassroots innovations and community-led initiatives that drive local agrifood systems transformation.

Objective

FAO aims to provide a forum to discuss and share experiences related to the needs, gaps and opportunities for nature-inspired community-based frugal innovations to accelerate the transformation to more sustainable, inclusive and resilient agrifood systems in ECA region.

Expected outcomes

• Provided a framework for actioning nature mimicry and frugality approach in the agrifood innovation ecosystems;
• Discussed the community’s good practices, lessons learned and anticipated barriers and enablers for harnessing nature-based frugal innovations in the region

Target audience:

• Farmers, small-scale producers, Indigenous Peoples, civil society and the private sector
• Representatives from national governments and development agencies for the region
• Representatives of research institutes, members of academia and scientists
• FAO technical staff from the Regional, Subregional and Country Offices

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