The Global Action Plan of the UN Decade of Family Farming (UNDFF 2019-28) recognizes the need to promote rural communication services (RCS) to advance sustainable food systems. RCS comprise demand-led communication processes, media applications and institutional arrangements to respond to the needs of family farmers and rural populations in a...

Given the ongoing environmental degradation from local to global scales, it is fundamental to develop more efficient means of gathering data on species and ecosystems. Local ecological knowledge, in which local communities can consistently provide information on the status of animal species over time, has been shown to be effective....

Strengthening agricultural producer organizations (POs) and cooperatives has been recognized as a key way forward to support farmers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip (WBGS) and, in turn, promote food security, income generation and private sector development. Agriculture in the WBGS is characterized by smallholdings; there are just over...

This report summarizes the results and takeaways of online consultations and a virtual Regional Forum on RCS for Family Farming in Africa, organized by Yenkasa Africa, a regional communication initiative, in collaboration with FAO, farmers’ organizations, rural institutions and communication networks. 

Gender Transformative Approaches address root causes of gender inequality by fostering lasting changes in decision-making and resource control, offering a strategic framework to enhance women’s empowerment in accessing and managing land and production means, as well as natural resources.

This study examines RCS trends in family farming and rural transformation in Asia and the Pacific through case studies emphasizing the need for participatory, farmercentered communication. The study concludes with recommendations for embedding RCS into family farming policies and programmes, fostering development opportunities for family farmers and rural communities in...

The world is not on the precipice of a global water crisis: it is decades into an escalating catastrophe.   Today, global water demand already outstrips availability, with at least half of the global population experiencing highly water-stressed conditions. That is, they live in a region of the world that is highly water stressed for at...

The story of female beekeepers in Ecuador shows that by giving women more equitable access to resources and markets, improving their technical skills and knowledge, and addressing deeply rooted social norms perpetuating gender inequalities, gender transformative programming has the potential to enhance food security, improve nutrition and transform agrifood systems....

This year's World Water Day theme, "Water for Peace," is particularly relevant given the global water, food, and humanitarian crises. These crises, exacerbated by conflicts, disproportionately affect women and girls, highlighting the urgent need to empower women in water management and crisis response. Investing in women not only enhances peace...

Rangelands and pastoralism must be valued and supported for their contribution to achieve local and global goals – particularly towards reaching Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) More than half of the world’s land mass is rangeland – and yet these landscapes and the people who inhabit and manage them have been...

More than half of the world’s land mass is rangeland – and yet these landscapes and the people who inhabit and manage them have been largely neglected. They are a main source of food and feed for humanity, and yet they are also the world economy’s dumping ground. It is...

This second volume of the country reports series enlarges the documentation, analysis, and development of agroecology in Europe, and provides examples of implementation in different countries. The 11 countries studied within this volume show somewhat similar results as found in with the first 13 countries mapped in volume 1. There...

The interplay between infectious diseases and wildlife, people and their livelihoods has always been an intrinsic part of human existence. Until recently, however, this nexus has been minimally considered in research and policy. The need for change is increasingly recognized following the emergence of zoonotic diseases such as severe acute...

The role of digital innovation in agri-food systems is growing exponentially—the potential of digital tools to revolutionize how we detect disease, plan for sustainable use of inputs, or create awareness of seasonal extreme weather  events is unchallenged. However, what has been challenged is the inclusivity of the benefits of this...

About this program Explore how gender equality, diversity, and inclusion drive sustainability and transformative change within forest-related sectors. What you’ll learn: Foster sustainability and facilitate transformative change In today’s evolving forest-related sectors, understanding and integrating gender equality, diversity, and inclusion (GEDI) is crucial for fostering sustainability and facilitating transformative change. This course delves into the...

There is a broad consensus that agri-food systems need to be transformed to address the mounting global challenges including food and nutrition security, environmental degradation, and socioeconomic inequities. However, agreement is lacking on what is needed to drive this transformation. This report builds on a sustainability analysis of different proposed...

Agroecology is a promising approach that is transforming agrifood systems across the Asia-Pacific Region. Indeed, there is increasing evidence of positive results with the transition to agroecology, and these include stable yields, crop resilience, higher incomes for farmers, fishers and producers, improved nutrition and food security and enhanced biodiversity (Global...

In 2023, the CGIAR Research Initiative on Transforming Agrifood Systems in South Asia (TAFSSA) addressed the nexus of poverty, social inequities, malnutrition, environmental degradation, and climate change through research and innovation. Collaborating with 10 CGIAR Research Initiatives, engaging with five bilateral projects aligned with Initiative goals, and partnering with two...

Youth networks and organizations of young farmers, producers and entrepreneurs play a central role as partners in development initiatives that target youth in rural and agrifood spaces. By understanding and applying gender‑transformative and socially inclusive approaches, youth organizations can become more equitable, accessible, impactful and pluralistic platforms that legitimately represent...

Yemaya No. 67, dated August 2023, a special issue on GAF8 features articles on the recently held 8th Global Conference on Gender in Aquaculture and Fisheries-Shaping the Future: Gender Justice for sustainable aquaculture and Fisheries. Held over three days, from 21-23 November 2022 in the city of Kochi in the...