Researchers at the AgroecologyNow initiative at the Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience (CAWR) and Cultivate! partnered to produce this new publication.

The guide highlights the challenges and emerging opportunities that might arise when designing mapping processes. It aims to support mapping efforts to be powerful tools for food system change. The guide recommends thinking carefully about the criteria and processes used to decide what goes on the map and what doesn’t (Control) and who is involved in decision-making about the map (Participation).

The guide is based on a study carried out in 2018-2019. We looked at 30 on-line mapping initiatives: interactive platforms that aim to list, communicate and/or share ‘what is going on where’ with respect to agroecology or food sovereignty.  We carried out interviews with their organisers and held three focus group discussions with mappers from all over the world. The project set out to ask: Who is mapping? What are they mapping?And, how are they doing it?