In the Churia region of Nepal, a watershed area with severe land degradation exacerbated by the effects of climate change, Gita Adikhari and her fellow community members are learning more effective and environmentally friendly agricultural techniques through an FAO Farmer Field School, financed by the Green Climate Fund

This paper assesses the value of agroecological farm schools by analyzing 4 Senegalese cases. Pedagogical quality is measured by: (1) feedback from former learners, (2) acquisition of fundamental knowledge, and (3) professionalization. Beyond globally positive opinions about training, our results show that farm schools display distinct performances. Developing a systemic...

This first video of the series, "Women’s Organizations – Cultivating Collaboration”, witness the transformative impact of women-led initiatives on local communities in India which are of great importance when promoting agroecological practices. Through farming projects, cooperatives, and agroecological training programs, women are fostering resilience and solidarity, strengthening the fabric of...

Nouveau numéro de Grain de sel consacré aux transitions agroécologique en Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre : quels chemins parcourus depuis 10 ans ? Les sillons du changement, des obstacles toujours complexes, les voix qui comptent. En partenariat avec l'Iram. Il y a 10 ans, Inter-réseaux consacrait un numéro de...

The final declaration of the VIII Global Conference on Family Farming underscores the crucial role of family farmers in sustainable development and urges greater collective efforts to address the challenges they face. Highlighting the significance of family farming in climate discussions and negotiations, the conference emphasizes the need for inclusive...

Despite a plethora of emerging alternatives under the broad rubric of agroecology, sustainable transitions in Indian agriculture are caught between institutional inertia and lock-ins of its vast agricultural establishment on the one hand and a pro-active state promoting a natural farming. This push for Zero-Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), while welcome...

This first video of the series, "Women’s Organizations – Cultivating Collaboration”, witness the transformative impact of women-led initiatives on local communities in India which are of great importance when promoting agroecological practices. Through farming projects, cooperatives, and agroecological training programs, women are fostering resilience and solidarity, strengthening the fabric of...

This study aimed to examine the correlations between the agroecological status of farms and their viability in agro-sylvo-pastoral systems located in the savannah areas of West Africa. The methodology is based on farm surveys (to assess agroecological farm status) and on farmers’ focus group discussions (to assess viability at the...

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) provides statistics in FAOSTAT at the country, regional and global level on the production and consumption of bioenergy by type of biofuel: solid biofuels, liquid biofuels and gaseous biofuels. This brief discusses statistics of bioenergy from 1990 to 2022, both...

Nowadays and historically, women are protagonists of conflicts in rural areas, and they help build a biodiverse present and future, with climate justice and food sovereignty. This document depicts the stories of three women, Rachel Carson, Vandana Shiva, and Ana Primavesi, at the forefront of the agroecological fight and how despite...

Since the launch of UNDFF in 2019, FAO and IFAD have been developing and disseminating various global products to provide practical technical support, enhance national and local capacities, and facilitate the design and implementation of tailored policies, actions and strategies in support of family farmers. These tools offer adaptable learning...

The 2008 global financial crisis unleashed a huge wave of land grabbing. But the pressures on farmland never went away. 15 years on, global land prices have doubled and farmers are being squeezed from all sides.  Huge swathes of farmland are now being snapped up for carbon offsets and other forms...

Multiple crises have disrupted food systems around the world. The shocks induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with increased energy prices and shortages of fertilizers and agricultural inputs, have affected farmers everywhere. By applying inductive, qualitative, and comparative research approaches, we investigate the impact of shocks and crises on diverse...

Overcoming structural gender inequalities and barriers is fundamental for climate-resilient development. Inclusive and gender-responsive social protection and agrifood systems can provide access to resources, services, and economic opportunities for women and girls to build their resilience in the face of climate change.  This article advocates and proposes long term investment in social...

Agribusiness startups are reshaping India’s agricultural sector, fostering a strong entrepreneurial mindset. This growing interest, alongside advancements in digital technology, has spurred rapid expansion in the sector’s technology and digital solutions ecosystem. Technologies like big data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and various digital platforms play a crucial...

The forestry, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture sectors are critical for sustaining rural livelihoods and achieving food and nutrition security around the world. Yet, these sectors are marred by significant gender and social inequalities. This review examines gender gaps in these sectors and what has worked to reduce inequalities. We show...

In Benin, vegetable production contributes significantly to food security and poverty reduction. However, vegetable farming is confronted with declining soil fertility, poor pest and disease management, and climate change. Agroecological farming offers a new paradigm of sustainable agri-food systems that counters these challenges. From August to December 2015, farmer training...

The objective of this impact report is to gain consolidated impact insights and lessons learned from the International Climate Initiative (IKI) financed SEED project: Financing and capacity building for micro and small climate-smart enterprises: Filling the gap of the missing middle. The 5-year global SEED project was operating in Ghana, India,...

Social norms and institutions play a critical role in the production and adoption of improved seeds by shaping the behaviors and expectations of individuals and communities involved in agriculture. Gender inequity, prevailing myths, and misinformation about improved rice seeds dissuade farmers from adopting them and limit women's access to seeds....

The effects of climate change on agriculture and food production are evident in regions around the world. Effective climate change adaptation and mitigation in the agricultural sector calls for multiple context specific, and at times complex, strategies. Promoting these strategies effectively involves changing the behavior, strategies and agricultural practices of...