Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

Social farming (also called care farming) is an innovative approach for promoting women’s economic empowerment, rural employment and the social inclusion of vulnerable people. The aim of the discussion is to gather examples of the use of care farming in developing countries. 

Investing responsibly in agriculture is essential for reducing poverty, creating decent employment opportunities, enhancing food security and nutrition, and ensuring environmental sustainability. However, to achieve this, investments need to be responsible and specifically directed towards the achievement of benefits, while aiming at avoiding negative consequences. To address these needs, the CFS has launched a consultative process to develop principles for responsible agricultural investments (CFS-RAI). We welcome your feedback on the proposed set of principles.

Sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s fastest growing population and also the youngest. This is a huge opportunity for West Africa as young people bring energy, vivacity, and innovation into the work force and can consequently have a transformative impact on economic growth and social development. The agricultural sector plays a key role in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and represents up to 35% of the region’s Gross Domestic Product.  It is currently the employer of most of West Africans with 60% of the active population engaged in this sector.

Communities use knowledge that is passed from generation to generation to prepare their food. Each technique and has its very peculiar implications on the socio-economic dynamics of a typical rural household. Can we consider indigenous methods of food preparation as a viable means for achieving food security and nutrition in rural poor communities?