Traditional agriculture “forward-looking” for post Rio+20 nutrition, says FAO publication
Rome, Italy, 8 August 2012
When it comes to sustainable consumption, one needs to look no further than traditional agriculture. In a groundbreaking publication on “Sustainable Diets and Biodiversity”, Global GIAHS Coordinator Parviz Koohafkan states why: “GIAHS tell a fascinating story of man’s ability and cultural ingenuity to adjust to a changing environment, practicing agriculture in harmony with nature”.
Published right after Rio+20 and based on a Scientific Symposium on Biodiversity and Sustainable Diets, organized by FAO and Bioversity International in 2010, the book comprises a wealth of case studies on sustainable diets, representing a first tangible contribution to Rio+20 follow-up. In this context, Mr Koohafkan goes on to explain why GIAHS matter and need to be looked at: “The successes in agriculture production over the past decades are viewed as a major landmark. However, the inequitable benefits and negative impacts of conventional, energy-intensive, fuel-based agricultural practices on natural resources are becoming more evident.”
Throughout the publication, prominent scientists, policy makers and practitioners explore the linkages between agriculture, health, the environment and food industries. According to Barbara Burlingame, Principal Officer of the FAO Nutrition and Consumer Protection Division, the book directly positions “nutrition, biodiversity and sustainable diets as key elements in the post 2015 development agenda.”
Link for downloading “Sustainable Diets and Biodiversity”: http://www.fao.org/docrep/016/i3004e/i3004e00.htm
-News Article in FAO website (English)