Agroecology is an integrated approach that simultaneously applies ecological and social concepts and principles to the design and management of food and agricultural systems. It seeks to optimize the interactions between plants, animals, humans and the environment while taking into consideration the social aspects that need to be addressed for a sustainable and fair food system. It is part of the FAO’s Common Vision for Sustainable Food and Agriculture and it is a key part of the global response to this climate of instability, offering a unique approach to meeting significant increases in our food needs of the future while ensuring no one is left behind.

Agroecology also, as part of an integrated landscape management approach, offers a pathway to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in an integrated manner, contributing directly to at least 10 of the 17 goals. Consequently, during the 31st Regional Conference, countries requested FAO to support a food systems approach in rural and urban policies and planning and incorporate agroecological approaches and diversification into the regional work and bolster its work on agroecology in the context of the United Nations Decade of Family Farming (2019–2028) and the Scaling-up Agroecology Initiative.  Supportive policies and incentives for the development of alternative markets for agroecological products will be needed, and public procurement should be used to create and support markets for these products.

With this first Dialogue, FAO would like to strength agroecological systems, reinforce the dialogue among different stakeholders and define jointly actions and priorities for countries and territories in the region. 

Objective

Share information and practices on challenges and opportunities on Agroecology in Western Balkan and Caucasus;

Expected outputs

• Awareness raised on the multiples benefits agroecology can provide to sustainable agriculture and achieving the SDGs
• Knowledge and practices on agroecology among the stakeholders shared
• Jointly define the priority actions/activities for agroecology in the targeted counties and territory

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