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 International Meeting of Researchers on Agroecology is led by the “Alliance of Women in Agroecology (AMA-AWA)”, which was formed in 2013. The different academic and social sectors that belong to this group bet on: 1) promoting and making visible the participation of women in the science of Agroecology; 2)...
Colombia
Event
2020
The National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) of Argentina organize a cycle of webinars through instagram. Pablo Adrian Tittonell and Francisco Rodrigo Tizon will discuss on the 10 Elements of Agroecology of FAO in the first meeting that will take place on 23 April 2020 at 18:00-19:00 (GMT-3). 
Argentina
Event
2020
The National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) of Argentina organizes a cycle of 11 virtual meetings on agroecology through Instagram. The meetings are happening every Thursday from 18:00 to 19:30 (GMT-3). A special issue on "Agroecology at FAO" will be held on 30 June 2020 at 16:00 (GMT-3) with the participation of Anne...
Argentina
Event
2020
Markets are where food producers and consumers meet. They are a vital connection between our food and our planet. Markets are where food is traded and where ideas and cultures mix – but often markets do not work for producers and consumers. The climate emergency and the pandemic highlight that Africa...
Event
2020
Food systems are responsible for global greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and global terrestrial biodiversity loss. They are a significant driver of land conversion and deforestation.  Policies that operate across the food systems can contribute both to food security and environmental sustainability. One of these cross-cutting policy fields is Public Food Procurement...
Article
2020