By putting farmers at the heart of the learning and innovation process, FAO’s Farmer Field Schools (FFS) empower people, households, and communities and help restore ecosystems. The discovery-learning process in FFS is ideal to support farmers’ learning and innovation on agroecology. Agroecology is a holistic approach that applies ecological and social principles to design and manage sustainable agriculture and food systems.

FFS, introduced by FAO in India in partnership with the Andhra Pradesh Community managed Natural Farming Programme of the Government of Andhra Pradesh, have adapted to focus on regenerating soil health, using intensive polycropping and agro-forestry, locally made biostimulants derived from animals, and botanical pesticides.

As FFS members increase their plant diversity throughout the year, nutrition and incomes also improve, and farms become more resilient to extreme climate events and outbreaks of pests such as the Fall Armyworm. These regenerative agricultural practices put into practice the concept of One Health – for ecosystems, animals, and people.