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.

Making Agricultural Research Work for Small Farmers and Agroecological Approaches in West Africa

This paper highlights some of the outcomes of recent farmer deliberations on the governance and priorities of food & agricultural research in West Africa. […]

Organic Farming Benefits Outweigh Agrochemical-based Agriculture

A comprehensive study of the sustainability benefits of organic farming systems could have far-reaching implications on global agricultural practices. […]

Indigenous Crops to Solve Food Crises amid Climate Change

African scientists cautioned that agricultural development in rural areas based on Western-style methods could lead to increased loss of indigenous plants that are important as reliable and nutritious food sources. […]

Ecological farming: Drought-Resistant Agriculture

This Greenpeace report examines strategies to withstand drought in agriculture using ecological farming based on biodiversity. […]

Organic Agriculture Addressing Climate Change and Food Security

IFOAM and IFOAM EU Group argue that organic agriculture has a significant role to play in addressing climate change and food security. […]

Organic Agriculture for Biodiversity and Pest Control

A paper in the journal Nature provides evidence that organic farming promotes evenness among natural enemy species, a measure of biodiversity. […]

Organic Farming Gives Indian Farmers Greater Financial Security

This report finds that organic cotton farming that include practicing crop diversity can be more profitable than merely growing GM cotton. […]

Reducing Global Warming Through Organic Agriculture

Two research institutions argues that organic agriculture can help farmers adapt to climate change. […]

Ecological Food Provision for the Future

A new report from the UK Food Group points to the need for a radical shift towards more ecological and equitable food provision. […]

Organic Agriculture and Climate Change

This paper makes the case for good agricultural management via organic agriculture practices that can compensate for most of the agriculture sector’s greenhouse gas emissions. […]