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.

Benefits of Bt Cotton Elude Farmers in China Over Time

Farmers in parts of China reported increased secondary pests since they adopted Bt cotton while yields have been lower than conventional cotton. […]

Fundamental Transformation Towards Sustainable Agriculture Urgently Needed

A new discussion paper from UNCTAD calls for a rapid and significant shift from conventional, industrial, monoculture-based and high-external-input dependent agriculture towards mosaics of sustainable production systems. […]

UN: Agroecology can Double Food Output in 10 years

This report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food demonstrates that agroecology, if sufficiently supported, can double food production within 10 years while mitigating climate change and alleviating rural poverty. […]

‘Green Agriculture’ Would Yield Multiple Benefits

The Agriculture chapter of UNEP’s Green Economy Report calls for investments and policy reforms aimed at “greening” agriculture. […]

Call for Shift to Low-Carbon Food Production

The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food called for a global transition from unsustainable industrial agriculture to low-carbon ways of producing food. […]

Sustainable Agriculture in India

This report shows how sustainable agriculture can help India’s farmers – especially those in poor, remote areas – pull themselves out of poverty. […]

Colombia: Climate Science Reaching Out for Traditional Farmers’ Wisdom

The wide-ranging knowledge about climate variation possessed by native people and other small farmers has been shown to match scientific measurements recorded on high-tech instruments. […]

Agriculture is Not a Carbon Commodity

Agriculture is the most important sector in many developing countries. It should not be treated as a commodity in the search for solutions to address climate change problems. […]

Guaranteeing Food Security in a Changing Global Climate

Experts at a meeting made a strong call for a rapid and significant shift from conventional, monoculture-based and high-external-input-dependent agricultural production towards sustainable production systems. […]

Ecological Agriculture is ‘Development-Smart’

TWN briefing on ecological agriculture as the solution for food security, farmers, livelihoods and addressing climate change. […]