A Community of Practice (CoP) is a group of people who share a common objective in something they do, and who interact regularly to support each other in learning how to do it better. Members learn from each other by sharing information and experiences with the group. CoPs can exist online, co-operating through web platforms, discussion boards and newsgroups, as the Community for Climate Change Mitigation in Agriculture does. However, CoPs can also exist in real life, for example in a lunchroom at work or in a field setting. One of the greatest advantages of a CoP is that it can exist across and outside of organizations, uniting professional expertise across formal, institutional structures.

Researchers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), farmers and any other professionals who practice or study climate change mitigation in agriculture are invited to register as members to the Community for Climate Change Mitigation in Agriculture.

The Community gives its members the opportunity to talk about the challenges they face in this new and innovative field of work. This global, professional dialogue on mitigation practices in agriculture allows information and solutions to be exchanged and new partnerships to form. As a member, you can share and discover new publications, research, relevant news and success stories with your colleagues.  The Community’s greatest asset are its members, though FAO’s technical expertise on the subject of agriculture will also provide you with valuable support and advice. Finally, working with others also allows you to unite to make your common interests heard at the policy-making level, hereby raising the profile of climate change mitigation in agriculture internationally.

You can register as a member by completing our membership form. Based on your involvement or interest in agricultural mitigation projects, our moderator will admit you as a member and invite you to participate in the Dgroup discussion forum. Membership is free of charge.

There are no obligations upon members; membership in the Community is merely an opportunity for you. If you participate in discussions actively, you can benefit most directly from the knowledge your fellow members can offer in response to your questions, and help them in return by sharing your own insights. It is also possible, however, to benefit from your membership by following the group’s activities passively.

The criteria for membership is limited to those working on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture to ensure that the discussions remain focused and useful to this common goal. It also means that our facilitators can provide high-quality, detailed attention to the needs of the Community’s members.

Our website is regularly updated with summaries of the discussions that develop in our discussion forum and a selection of the most recent, relevant resources on the mitigation in agriculture. For more direct involvement with the Community, you can share professional contacts with some of our members via our LinkedIn group, which is open to everyone.

The Community’s members! The Community was initiated in January 2012 by FAO’s Mitigation of Climate Change in Agriculture programme (MICCA), following a survey that identified the demand for such a global exchange group on the mitigation opportunities of farming practices. FAO provides a co-ordination officer, Maria Nuutinen, to facilitate discussions and make the expertise that FAO can offer available to the Community’s members. Aside from this infrastructure support, however, the Community’s activities are driven by the needs and interests of its members.

No, it does not. The Community provides a platform to share existing knowledge and experiences specifically related to climate change mitigation in agriculture. The Community has no budget to fund projects. However, by participating in the DGroup discussions or contacting other members of our LinkedIn group, you can get ideas of funding opportunities for your project.

No. The coordinators are unable to issue any official certificate for any participation in the learning event for several protocol reasons.

Additionally, the Community of practice is not to be considered or confused with a school or institution, but as a support network to exchange knowledge and work related to the climate change mitigation in agriculture.