The main challenge for African food systems in the future will be to provide food for a rapidly growing population with changing diets and food preferences. Whilst the population of Europe is decreasing, with consumers demanding food that is produced in an environmentally and socially responsible way, Africa’s population will...

La notion de système socio-écologique d'Ostrom est utilisée ici pour caractériser les pratiques agricoles générant des bénéfices sociaux et environnementaux et identifier les facteurs facilitant ou limitant leur mise en oeuvre. Trois études de terrain sont menées en France, relatives aux pratiques agricoles durables en Pays de Langres, à la...

La comunicación trata de políticas y acciones públicas que promueven la agroecología en América Latina y el Caribe. En este contexto, la agroecología es considerada como un sistema productivo y alimentario alternativo para enfrentar los problemas sociales, de salud y ambientales provocados por el sistema agropecuario convencional. Instrumentos de políticas...

Amplifying the voices of women farmers is proving an effective way to help tackle gender inequality and promote agroecology, helping small-scale farmers take back power over their land.

Declining soil fertility, increasing weed infestations and a lack of income-generating opportunities are serious constraints to the establishment of sustainable cropping systems and livelihoods in the forest margins of Bolivia. Systems which allow farmers to progress: from unsustainable, migratory (shifting) slash, and burn agriculture to more sustainable and stable farming...

The preservation of fruit and vegetables by simply sun drying is practised widely throughout arid and semi-arid regions, for example in Uganda. The use of low-cost solar drying technologies can significantly improve product quality. This provides practical opportunities for developing small-scale enterprise, particularly in rural areas, and creates employment for...

FAO provided the framework for its civil society partners to gather virtually and discuss striking questions of food and agriculture in Europe and Central Asia. The Civil Society Consultation precedes the European Regional Conference and its main conclusions will enrich the Conference’s sessions. At the consultation, civil society representatives stressed the need to...

Emblématiques des zones arides, les oasis font vivre 150 millions de personnes. Elles véhiculent l'idée d'une nature conciliante dans un environnement inhospitalier. Fruits de l'ingéniosité des oasiens, elles sont pourtant le résultat d'un dur labeur pour survivre dans le désert. Leur fonctionnement fascine l'agro-écologie.

Amplifying the voices of women farmers is proving an effective way to help tackle gender inequality and promote agroecology, helping small-scale farmers take back power over their land. In the Adjumani and Amuria districts of Uganda, women are responsible for 75% of agricultural labour. Only 30% have rights over the land...

La région forestière de Babagulu concerne ici la Réserve forestière de Babagulu (RFB) et sa périphérie. En République Démocratique du Congo, la région forestière de Babagulu subit des pressions anthropiques suite notamment à sa proximité par rapport à la ville de Kisangani. Ces pressions anthropiques restent peu documentées et leurs...

Maize is the most important staple food in Eastern Africa. But yields on smallholder farms are often very low, typically just one quarter of what could be achieved. In a good year, using improved varieties with good management, recommended amounts of fertilizer and effective control of pests and diseases could...

Hides and skins are of very little economic and commercial value if they are not well preserved. Particularly in Uganda, Lango Farming System, most hides and skins which are produced, go to waste due to poor preservation practices. Improved methods and advice on how to preserve hides and skins of...

Los Ministros y Secretarios de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca, Alimentación y Desarrollo Rural de las Américas reafirmaron que tomarán medidas nacionales, regionales y hemisféricas para garantizar la seguridad alimentaria y nutricional en el hemisferio, la cual está en riesgo por la pandemia de COVID-19 y la crisis económica que la sucederá. Las...

This document is the conference proceedings of the meeting led by the Alliance for Agroecology in West Africa (3AO) on 27-29 January. Farmers and peasant organizations from across West Africa joined forces with international development agencies and research centres gathered to give impetus to a growing agroecological movement in the...

ASEAN is one of the most productive agricultural baskets in the world. In 2012, the region produced 129 million tons of rice, 40 million tons of corn, 171 million tons of sugarcane, 1.44 million tons of soybean, and 70.34 million tons of cassava. ASEAN is likely to increase exports to...

he Samoa Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), University of South Pacific (USP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) are partnering to develop weather advisories aimed at helping farmers better plan their crop production. A meeting to discuss moving...

In developing countries, horticultural production in low-altitude tropical climate conditions is often limited by biotic and abiotic factors. In these countries, the implementation of highly technical greenhouses is not feasible due to economic, social and cultural issues related to farmers. Therefore, one of the alternatives that has taken a great...

SALSA - Small Farms, Small Food Businesses and Sustainable Food Security, is an EU-funded research project of the Horizon2020 program which run from April 2016 to March 2020 with the aim to provide a better understanding of the role of small farms and small food businesses in meeting the sustainable food and nutrition...

The Covid-19 crisis is the biggest test in decades of our preparedness for a planetary disaster. As it turns out, it only took a few weeks to expose the vulnerability and deep-seated fragility of our economic and political systems. One of the areas in which we are least prepared for...

Hand-jab planters are popular amongst small-scale farmers. They are the primary means of sowing seeds under no-tillage for most farmers. The implement is also suitable for filling in gaps after crop germination. There are many different models of jab planters from different companies. The operational principles are however similar. The...