RECOGNITION OF AGROECOLOGY IN THE RIO CONVENTIONS

CARI, Humundi and Iles de Paix have produced, with the support of Minka, a Summary Report on the consideration of agroecology in the Rio Conventions.

Following the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, three Conventions were developed by the States Parties, covering three global issues, namely: climate change, biodiversity loss and desertification. Although the primary concern of these Conventions is environmental, agricultural and food issues are underlying them, due to the impact of agriculture on the environment and the need to meet humanity’s food needs within the limits of available resources. Agroecology, as a holistic and integrated approach, offers cross-cutting responses to these global issues. Despite this, the place of agroecology within the decisions negotiated by the Rio Conventions is very limited.

As environmental issues become increasingly pressing, generating increased political attention for these international spaces, agroecology can provide structuring elements of solutions within three Rio Conventions, and guide the necessary transformation of global food systems.

On the eve of the end of the year when the three conventions will meet, Humundi, CARI and Iles de Paix, supported by Minka, have conducted joint research and analysis to take stock of the place of agroecology in the three Rio Conventions. They draw from this avenues of reflection for a better integration of agroecology in these three Conventions.

SHOULD AGRICULTURE BE INTENSIFIED IN THE NAME OF THE ENVIRONMENT? (Collection Phosphore #1)

Should we produce industrially and intensively to preserve the climate, biodiversity and feed the world? Should we describe organic farming as the worst form of agriculture for the environment and fight agroecology on the grounds that its yields perpetuate world hunger? These political arguments seem quite counter-intuitive, yet they are widespread in high decision-making circles, and pushed by powerful and well-organized agribusiness interests. These arguments are based, often in a very caricatural way, on a non-negligible scientific corpus which values ​​the economy of the earth, “land sparing”. This promotes the concentration of very intensive production in a minimum of space, to preserve the rest. Immersion into the heart of a scientific theory and its multiple limits, immersion into the heart of a controversy that configures the political debate and reinforces the inertia of a food system out of breath.

THE BISSIGA CENTRE FOR THE PROMOTION OF AGROECOLOGICAL PRACTICES

AN INCUBATOR FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF RURAL YOUTH AND PRODUCERS

For 20 years, APIL has been working to strengthen sustainable food security in 180 villages and considers farmers’ know-how as the starting point for introducing innovations in farming practices. It is in this context that an agroecological training centre was created in Bissiga to share APIL’s know-how in the area of agriculture-livestock and environment. After five years of operation, the centre has been able to instil a new dynamic and to achieve numerous results in the villages that benefit from its services. This publication aims to capitalise on the results obtained since 2015.

APIL’S APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY

APIL has been working in the field of local development for 20 years to help improve the living conditions of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups with the full participation of their respective communities. APIL has focused its interventions in the areas of sustainable food security, agro-ecology, gender equality, local governance, and strengthening the functional and organisational capacities of farmers’ organisations.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTRACTORS

A NEW MODEL AND CONCEPT FOR COMBINING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

This document aims to promote knowledge of the innovative profession of environmental entrepreneurship and its appropriation by producers and by all rural communities. Capitalising on the experience of environmental entrepreneurs allows them to know the importance of their practices, to tell others about them and to have them adopted by them. It offers community-based practices that provide answers to many of the issues related to climate change and desertification.

INTEGRATION OF AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK, AN ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEVER FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES

This document is the result of APIL’s experiences in agriculture-livestock integration projects in its intervention areas since 2008.
It is primarily intended for all producers, highlighting the importance of agriculture/livestock integration for the development of rural households.

SELF-DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE TO AGROECOLOGICAL PRACTICES IN THE FARMING ENVIRONMENT

Agroecology is promoted as a mode of agricultural production that can feed the entire world population while respecting the environment.

For SOS Faim, which publishes a guide on the subject, promoting agroecology is consistent with the support given to family farming in Africa and Latin America. This edition is a tool for the widest possible circle of practitioners in the field, so as to improve and enrich an approach that has begun to demonstrate its value.

RURAL, SOCIAL AND SOLIDARITY FINANCE: ZOOM ON PERU AND BOLIVIA – Zoom microfinance N. 50

What role do rural, social and solidarity-based finances play in Andean countries such as Peru and Bolivia? Even if it remains quantitatively limited, this sector nonetheless contributes to supporting and boosting family farming.

For more than 15 years, the Latin American Guarantee Fund (Fogal) has played an important role in linking actors in the social economy. Another way of financing family farms is possible. All that remains is to scale up! This is certainly one of the main challenges to be met by Fogal.

DEFIS SUD N°139 – 2021-2022 : FARMERS IN DEBATE

FOR TRADE THAT PROTECTS AGRICULTURE AND THE CLIMATE

The 2020-2021 annual edition of Défis Sud takes a look at the Congo’s challenges with banned pesticides, as well as giving women a voice in the battle they face as farmers.

DEFIS SUD N°138 – 2020-2021 : AGRICULTURE IN DEBATE

YOUTH TALK ABOUT THE RURAL ECONOMY

The 2020-2021 annual edition of Défis Sud takes a look at food systems and relocalisation.

This edition will address the situation of the agricultural sector sixty years after the independence of African countries.