FAO Agroecology Newsletter

February 2019 / Issue #20

Latest from LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

Uruguay approves Law to promote Agroecology-based productions

Uruguay adopts Agroecology in its normative framework by approving the law “National Plan for the promotion of the agroecological-based production”.

Parliamentarians recognized the importance of the legislation as it is oriented towards strengthening family farmers’ rights, protecting their territories and water basins, and enhancing biodiversity.

he law is the result of joint initiative coming from farmers, producers and civil society organizations and it was approved unanimously by the members of the Parliament on 11 December 2018.

Photo credit: FAO / Javier Calvelo

Agroecology in the Caribbean: women and youth at the centre of the change

A multi-stakeholder forum was held in Trinidad and Tobago in November 2018, organized by FAO and the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI).

During the Forum, an assessment of agroecological production in the region, based on case studies from Jamaica, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago, was presented together with recommendations for mainstreaming Agroecology within the food system with a focus of facilitating the opportunities for women and youth.

Photo credit: FAO / Giuseppe Bizzarri

UN-Agencies approved the Scaling up Agroecology Initiative work plan for 2019–2020

In a collaborative process UN-Agencies IFAD, WFP, UNDP, CBD, UN Environment, WHO and FAO approved the Scaling up Agroecology Initiative work plan for the next biennium on 30 January 2019.

The work plan is based on three key actions: knowledge and innovation, policy processes, and building connections. México, Senegal and India (specifically the region of Andhra Pradesh) were selected for the first phase of implementation.

Photo credit: FAO / Giuseppe Carotenuto

PUBLICATIONS

Strengthening FAO’s commitment to Agroecology

This brief examines FAO’s Agroecology process (starting from FAO’s First International Symposium on Agroecology in 2014) highlighting the opportunities, challenges and risks for civil society, donors, academics and other actors, working to strengthen FAO’s commitment to Agroecology.

Replacing chemicals with biology: phasing out highly hazardous pesticides with Agroecology

The Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP) presents a compilation of national experiences from different regions on how to safely replace hazardous pesticides with Agroecological practices, and proposes guidelines for policymakers on how to create a favorable enabling environment for these types of practices.

Stories from the field: Women working towards a non-toxic environment

Tells the stories of 25 women from five countries who struggle to eliminate the use of chemicals pesticide by promoting Agroecology in the Mekong Region. The work of ecological organizations encouraged them to take action in order to improve their communities’ livelihoods.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): Guidelines for agroforestry development

The Guidelines propose how to ensure effective agroforestry implementation at household, farm and landscape levels to achieve the SDGs. Its content focuses on connectivity, resilience and security of the people of ASEAN Member States.

On-farm biological control helps spare land and shields biodiversity

Biological control presents a safe and effective tool to permanently resolve pest problems. Particularly, the article focuses on how the biological control of mealybug Phenacoccus manihoti (Hemiptera) outbreaks, helped to recover the cassava production and slowed deforestation across South East Asia.

Photo credit: Thailand Department of Agriculture / Phanuwat Moonjuntha

10 February was World Pulses Day

Photo credit: FAO / Jane Hahn

The International Year of Pulses, 2016

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation.

Pulses and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Download

Nature's nutritious seeds

Watch video

Our Pulses: Small seeds, big solutions

Download
(in Spanish)

UPCOMING EVENTS

Beating Famine Conference 26-28 February 2019 in Bamako (Mali)

The Sahel needs a more impactful civil society movement to eliminate hunger. The Conference’s goal will be reachable by strengthening multi-stakeholder networks and by sharing successful strategies. Agroecological practices in the Sahel will be shown on 27 February.

Agroecology-changing lives in Cambodia

In this video vulnerable farmers of the province of Kampong Thom tell about the benefits Agroecology approaches can bring to the soil.Their daily life is based on sustainable agricultural principles.

Video by: The Louvain Cooperation and Royal University of Agriculture (Phonm Penh, Cambodia)

Agroecology courses registration

Agroecology transitions-transformations for a more just sustainable food system

This live-stream Seminar, organized by AgroecologyNow! at CAWR, will take place on 7 March, 11:00-13:00 (GTM).

MOOC AgroEcology course based on the scientific skills and pedagogical know-how

8 February – 11 April 2019. End of registration 28 February.