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

Community-supported agriculture (CSA) has played a critical role in feeding local communities during the COVID-19 crisis. The pandemic has highlighted the weaknesses and gaps in our global food production and distribution systems. In contrast, smaller more local farms and direct sales models are being celebrated as more resilient and veg box...
Event
2021
It is widely recognized that a radical transformation of food and agriculture systems is urgently needed in order to address converging social, economic, health and ecological crises. The potential of agroecology to transform food systems and render them more resilient, sustainable and inclusive is increasingly recognized and backed by a...
Event
2021
What is the role of policymakers in empowering the long-term, resilient transformation of the food and agricultural systems? The digital event “Scaling up Agroecology in the Himalayas Together” aims to inspire and guide key decision-makers on policies supporting agroecology and organic agriculture. High-level experts will provide in-depth analyses of approaches and tools to help...
Bhutan - India - Nepal
Event
2021
On Friday, 30 April 2021, at 09:00 AM (Guatemala), 10:00 AM (Panama), 11:00 AM (Chile) and 12:00 PM (Argentina) the webinar "Innovator Handbook" will be held where the ''Handbook for Innovators: facilitating sustainable food systems'' will be launched in Spanish. The document aims to help stakeholders in the revaluation of agriculture...
Event
2021
On June 23, Wednesday, at 11:00 GMT, will be held the second session of the webinar ‘’Agroecology in Community of Portuguese Language Countries: State of Art and Perspectives’’. The webinar will ensure a space for knowledge building to portray the current situation of agroecology in the Community of Portuguese Language...
Guinea-Bissau - Mozambique - Portugal - Sao Tome and Principe
Event
2021