While interest is generated over new and emerging technologies, there is a diversity of knowledge, technologies and practices in agriculture, health care, conservation and sustainable use of natural resources and ecosystem management. Many of these support the livelihoods of small farmers, fisherfolk, indigenous peoples and local entrepreneurs affecting millions of people and communities across the world, especially in developing countries. In many cases, national industries have developed from traditional knowledge and endogenous technologies.There are thus vast potential and promises in these sustainable systems and practices, requiring investment and mainstreaming into development policies at the national, regional and international level. A holistic approach to technology assessment and choice would develop sophisticated principles, criteria and indicators that enable countries to benefit from sustainable production and conservation systems.

Transforming Land Use and Food Systems Has Mitigation Potential of 23 Gt CO2-eq Per Year by 2050

A new report shows how greater ambition to secure land rights, restore forest ecosystems and move towards sustainable food systems can provide ‘missing pathways’ toward limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C. […]

Agroecological Transitions Away from Industrial Food and Farming Systems

Seven case studies analysed by IPES-Food provide concrete examples of how, in spite of barriers to change, people around the world have been able to fundamentally rethink and redesign food systems around agroecological principles. […]

Rural Women in Paraguay on the Frontlines to Save Native Seed Varieties

Rural and indigenous women in Paraguay rise up to collect and preserve native seeds across the country to counter the expansion of large-scale, industrial agriculture. […]

Building Resilience Through Agroecology

Around the world, innovative agroecological farmers are combining local and scientific knowledge, putting resilience thinking into practice to feed growing populations and cope with climate change, water scarcity, market volatility, and more. […]

Andhra Pradesh to Become India’s First Zero Budget Natural Farming State

The State Government of Andhra Pradesh in India has launched the Zero Budget Natural Farming programme which aims to transition 6 million farms/farmers to 100% chemical-free agriculture by 2024. […]

Four-year Drought Forces Cuba to Find Ways to Build Resilience

As Cuba faces a prolonged drought, agroecology offers a promising means by which to increase farm resilience. […]

How Agroecology Can Ensure Dietary Diversity and High Nutrition

Agroecology can contribute greatly to dietary diversity and high-quality human diets by promoting more biodiverse, equitable and sustainable food systems […]

Farmers’ Seed Systems Best Defence Against Corporate Control of Agriculture

Unlike agri-corporate giants that seek to control food and agriculture for profit, small farmers have found that the best way to save traditional agricultural knowledge is to grow seeds and give them away as a means to limit corporate control. […]

Agroecology Beats Land and Water Scarcity

With agroecology providing innovative water and production techniques, small farms in Brazil have been able to thrive despite drought. […]

Impressive Yield and Income Increases from SRI Project in West Africa

A project implementing the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in West Africa has benefited some 50,000 rice farmers with yield increases of 54-153% and an average income gain of 41% compared to conventional farmers. […]