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.

Is ecological agriculture productive?

This paper summarizes some of the available evidence to demystify the productivity debate of organic agriculture and demonstrates that ecological agriculture is indeed productive, especially so in developing countries. […]

Recommendations of ecological agriculture conference

Participants of a conference in Africa on ecological agriculture called for the promotion and implementation of ecological agriculture in the continent. […]

Ecological agriculture in Africa

Ecological agriculture can provide food security and improve rural livelihoods for African farmers, as well as mitigate and help farmers adapt to climate change, a conference concludes. […]

Sustainable Agriculture: Meeting Food Security Needs, Addressing Climate Change Challenges

This paper argues that sustainable agriculture is a viable option for meeting food security needs and addressing climate change challenges. […]

Organic Agriculture Can Feed Africa

This report published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provides evidence that organic farming “could feed Africa”. […]

Organic Farming and Climate Change

A report by UNCTAD/WTO and the Research Institute of Organic Farming concludes that organic agriculture has much to offer in both mitigation of and adaptation to climate change. […]

Organic Agriculture and Food Security in Africa

This paper argues that organic agriculture can play a significant role in meeting the food security needs of Africa. It was presented at a conference in Oslo, Norway, 6-8 June 2007. […]

Saying “No” to Chemical Farming in India

This article highlights the move by many farmers in India to switch from chemical-based agriculture to organic farming and the benefits they derived from it. […]

Low Greenhouse Gas Agriculture

An FAO report argues that organic agriculture offers valuable techniques that could mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. […]

Small farms as a planetary ecological asset

This paper, by Miguel Altieri, President of the Latin American Scientific Society of Agroecology (SOCLA) and Professor of Agroecology at the University of California, Berkeley, argues that small farms are ecological assets. […]