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.

New UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food Calls on Governments to Prioritise Small Farmers and Agroecology

The new UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food has called on governments to shift their subsidies and research funding away from industrial agriculture to small farmers practicing agroecology. […]

Scientists Praise and Challenge FAO on Agroecology

Nearly 70 scientists and scholars of sustainable agriculture and food systems sent an open letter to the FAO calling for a solid commitment to agroecology from the international community. […]

The Time has Come for Agroecology

Speakers at FAO symposium on agroecology call for this new agricultural model that ensures that enough quality food is produced where it is most needed, that preserves nature and that delivers ecosystem services of local and global relevance. […]

Addressing Injustice Vital to Eradicating Hunger

This paper identifies injustice as the main cause of hunger and makes recommendations on how to address power inequalities in order to bring about a just and sustainable global food system, including opting for agroecological methods of production. […]

Mainstreaming Agroecology Requires Fundamental Shift

This paper provides policy recommendations on mainstreaming agroecology, given the growing evidence of its contribution towards sustainable livelihoods, food sovereignty and climate resilience. […]

Organic Food is Nutritionally Far Superior to Non-Organic Produce

A ground-breaking study has found overwhelming evidence that organic food has more nutritional benefits than non-organic food. […]

Seed Diversity Critical in Building Farm Resilience to Climate Change

Seed diversity plays a critical role in ensuring farms are resilient to the impacts of climate change. […]

Organic Farms Support More Species, Greater Biodiversity

A new study finds that organic farms have consistently supported about 30% more species than conventional farms over the last 30 years. […]

Democracy and Diversity can Mend Broken Food Systems

In his final report to the UN Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur on the right to food has called for the world’s food systems to be radically and democratically redesigned. […]

Scaling Up Agroecology Best Option for Sustainable Food Production

This discussion paper provides key evidence and recommendations on how to scale up agroecology to become the world’s dominant agricultural system, which will ensure food security and environmental sustainability. […]