Agroecology Knowledge Hub

Human and social values: protecting and improving rural livelihoods, equity and social well-being is essential for sustainable food and agricultural systems

Agroecology places a strong emphasis on human and social values, such as dignity, equity, inclusion and justice all contributing to the improved livelihoods dimension of the SDGs. It puts the aspirations and needs of those who produce, distribute and consume food at the heart of food systems. By building autonomy and adaptive capacities to manage their agro-ecosystems, agroecological approaches empower people and communities to overcome poverty, hunger and malnutrition, while promoting human rights, such as the right to food, and stewardship of the environment so that future generations can also live in prosperity.

Agroecology seeks to address gender inequalities by creating opportunities for women. Globally, women make up almost half of the agricultural workforce. They also play a vital role in household food security, dietary diversity and health, as well as in the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. In spite of this, women remain economically marginalised and vulnerable to violations of their rights, while their contributions often remain unrecognized. Agroecology can help rural women in family farming agriculture to develop higher levels of autonomy by building knowledge, through collective action and creating opportunities for commercialization. Agroecology can open spaces for women to become more autonomous and empower them at household, community levels and beyond – for instance, through participation in producer groups. Women’s participation is essential for agroecology and women are frequently the leaders of agroecology projects.

In many places around the world, rural youth face a crisis of employment. Agroecology provides a promising solution as a source of decent jobs. Agroecology is based on a different way of agricultural production that is knowledge intensive, environmentally friendly, socially responsible, innovative, and which depends on skilled labour. Meanwhile, rural youth around the world possess energy, creativity and a desire to positively change their world. What they need is support and opportunities.

As a bottom-up, grassroots paradigm for sustainable rural development, agroecology empowers people to become their own agents of change.

Database

The Superior Agricultural School of Coimbra will hold this Conference organized by the Portuguese Association of Biological Agriculture (AGROBIO). Particularly, the conference will take place over two days. The first day will be focused on biological agriculture, legal framework, marketing and consumption of organic products. In the second day, both...
Portugal
Event
2019
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