Agroecology Knowledge Hub

Culture and food traditions: by supporting healthy, diversified and culturally appropriate diets, agroecology contributes to food security and nutrition while maintaining the health of ecosystems

Agriculture and food are core components of human heritage. Hence, culture and food traditions play a central role in society and in shaping human behaviour. However, in many instances, our current food systems have created a disconnection between food habits and culture. This disconnection has contributed to a situation where hunger and obesity exist side by side, in a world that produces enough food to feed its entire population.

Almost 800 million people worldwide are chronically hungry and 2 billion suffer micronutrient deficiencies. Meanwhile, there has been a rampant rise in obesity and diet-related diseases; 1.9 billion people are overweight or obese and non-communicable diseases (cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes) are the number one cause of global mortality. To address the imbalances in our food systems and move towards a zero hunger world, increasing production alone is not sufficient.

Agroecology plays an important role in re-balancing tradition and modern food habits, bringing them together in a harmonious way that promotes healthy food production and consumption, supporting the right to adequate food. In this way, agroecology seeks to cultivate a healthy relationship between people and food.

Cultural identity and sense of place are often closely tied to landscapes and food systems. As people and ecosystems have evolved together, cultural practices and indigenous and traditional knowledge offer a wealth of experience that can inspire agroecological solutions. For example, India is home to an estimated 50,000 indigenous varieties of rice – bred over centuries for their specific taste, nutrition and pest-resistance properties, and their adaptability to a range of conditions. Culinary traditions are built around these different varieties, making use of their different properties. Taking this accumulated body of traditional knowledge as a guide, agroecology can help realise the potential of territories to sustain their peoples.

Database

The workshop was hosted by MaeJo University in Chiang Mai (Thailand) on 26-27 June attended by representatives of 11 Universities from 8 different countries of ASEAN but also UNESCO and SEARCA. The workshop has to be seen as a stepping stone towards developing a regional project addressing Agroecology and Higher...
Thailand
Event
2019
The International Forum Relevant Territories for Sustainable Food Systems, will take place from 17 to 21 July 2019, in Portugal, in Idanha-a-Nova, is a political response capable of territorial level in the The Community of Portuguese Language Countries and in other regions. The Forum will be a plural space that will house...
Portugal
Event
2019
The objebtive of the event is to share information and practices on challenges and opportunities on Agroecology in Central Asia countries. Expected outputs:• Awareness raised on the multiples benefits agroecology can provide in Central Asia countries• Knowledge and practices on agroecology among the stakeholders shared• Priority for the agenda in the...
Event
2019
The first dialogue on Agroecology in Central Asian countries was held in Bishkek on August 28, 2019. Over the three days workshop, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), together with representatives from a number of agencies and experts from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey and others, discussed...
Kyrgyzstan
Event
2019
The objective is to introduce the global analytical framework on AE to FAO staff in decentralized offices in the region and to external partners engaged in agroecological approaches such as staff from CSOs, academia, research institutions and NGOs so that they can pilot the GKP in their various contexts.  The...
Thailand
Event
2019