In the context of the upcoming Committee on World Food Security (CFS) 48 plenary session, IFOAM - Organics International will lead a side event on 'How can diversification in agriculture based on agroecology ensure resilience and dietary diversity for family farmers at times of pandemic or crisis?'' on 3 June 2021 at 16:00 CEST organized by  Ecuador, Nepal, Ethiopia, Heifer International, Helvetas Nepal, Wageningen University, Shazday Fruits Pvt. Ltd, Pakistan, Tarpuq SA, Ecuador.

The event seeks to analyse the potential of crop diversification (inspired by agroecological practices) and its positive effects on farming families, not only during the pandemic but in any context of crisis. 

The side event will showcase nutrition-sensitive agriculture approaches based on agroecological practices and the improvement of dietary diversity. Government representatives (from Nepal, Ecuador, Ethiopia, and Pakistan) will speak about how peasant production systems responded to the pandemic and government actions to sustain and strengthen practices that hold the potential to transform into nutrition-sensitive agriculture practices. Experts will analyse and assess their experiences with solutions and practices from various aspects (economic, ecological, nutritional, gender equality), outlining the advantages of an approach based on nutrition-sensitive agriculture in giving comprehensive, systemic responses to combat hunger, poverty, malnutrition and the ecological crisis.

Session Objectives:

1. Learn about initiatives based on agroecological techniques, sustainable production of peasant family farming, and women and youth enterprises.
2. Understand how these experiences contribute to improving resilience and autonomy, even in times of crisis and in the fight against hunger, malnutrition, and poverty.
3. Show the strategic value of the markets that are built from agro-diversity, social awareness, participation, geographic and organizational proximity, and their role in promoting sustainable food systems.
4. The importance of the articulations and synergies between the actions of national governments with the work and approaches of other key actors to face multidimensional crisis scenarios.