News in 2012
Heritage For The Future: the GIAHS newsletter is out!
Rome, Italy, 3 December 2012
In our first issue, we’ll look into project activities in the East, where countries such as China, India and Japan continue to develop a whole new set of initiatives, placing agricultural heritage at the root of their sustainable future. Then, moving towards the Western hemisphere, we’ll focus on Latin America, where Chile and Peru connect with their culture and traditions for biodiversity conservation and food security. Read More>
GIAHS Saffron site at the heart of the International Saffron Symposium, Kashmir
Kashmir, India, 30 November 2012
The GIAHS Saffron Kashmir-India site was showcased at the International Saffron Symposium held 22 to 25 October 2012 in Kashmir (India). Hosted by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K), participants included researchers, policy-makers, traders and growers from saffron-producing nations, as well as local and other Indian and foreign delegates from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Belgium, France, Iran and Spain. Together, they emphasized the need to add value to the traditional saffron cultivation, production and processing chain. Read More>
Chiloé GIAHS site features the diversity of human culture at Slow Food
Turin, Italy, 21 November 2012
“This world is a diverse garden where knowledge can be harvested to feed the human spirit.” With these words the GIAHS delegation from Chiloé island (Chile) celebrated diversity at Slow Food’s Salone del Gusto and Terra Madre, an international fair held in Turin (Italy). The event, held from 25 to 29 October 2012, attracted 220 000 visitors from 140 countries. Read More>
GIAHS Scientific and Steering Committee Meeting to set next steps
Rome, Italy, 24 October 2012
The GIAHS Secretariat is holding a joint Scientific and Steering Committee Meeting from 29 to 30 October 2012, at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy. The meeting seeks to provide an opportunity for discussion between GIAHS pioneering countries and GIAHS new members and partners, to seek their advice and identify ways and means to further develop and sustain the interest of major agricultural heritage stakeholders as well as to take stock of the lessons learned and achievements of FAO in this endeavour. Read More>
Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems, conserving biodiversity and building a bridge to the future
Rome, Italy, 18 October 2012
“Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) are living proof that agriculture can be sustainable”. Mr Alexander Mueller, Assistant Director-General at the Natural Resources Department, FAO thus opened the GIAHS side event held at FAO on 17 October 2012, during the 39th session of the CFS. “With the GIAHS initiative, established by FAO in 2002, we have a strong link between two major international events: the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and the UN Convention on Biodiversity. Read More>
Invitation to GIAHS Side Event at CBD COP 11: Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS): A Legacy For The Future!
Hyderabad, India, 17 October 2012
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations will host a side event on "GLOBALLY IMPORTANT AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE SYSTEMS (GIAHS): A LEGACY FOR THE FUTURE!" The event will be held during the 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP11), unfolding this week in Hyderabad, India. Read More>
Chile’s Minister of Agriculture presented the GIAHS certificate of recognition to the ten municipalities of Chiloé
Chiloé, Chile, 16 October 2012
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has designated the Archipelago of Chiloé as "Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System". During the ceremony, held on 9 October 2012, Chile’s Minister of Agriculture Luis Mayol and FAO Representative in Chile, Alan Bojanic, presented the GIAHS certificate of recognition to the ten municipalities of Chiloé. Read More>
GIAHS side event at the Committee on World Food Security: Ensuring Food Security And Nutrition In A Changing Climate
Rome, Italy, 15 October 2012
On 17 October 2012, the GIAHS Secretariat will host a side event during the 39th session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), starting on 15 October 2012 until 20 October 2012. The Side Event will feature dynamics and ingenious nature of GIAHS in ensuring food security and nutrition in a changing climate. Read More>
Introducing the GIAHS recipe cards at a side event during the 39th session of the Committee on World Food Security
Rome, Italy, 15 October 2012
On 17 October 2012, the GIAHS Secretariat will host a side event during the 39th session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS). Whilst the side event will feature dynamics and ingenious nature of GIAHS in ensuring food security and nutrition in a changing climate, panelists will discuss issues confronting small farmers and will look at concrete steps to empower them. Read More>
Traditional foods and nutrition education, key to fighting hunger and malnutrition
New York, USA, 2 October 2012
"Recovering traditional foods such as cassava, quinoa, beans and other non-commodities is a valid strategy to face high and volatile international food prices," FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said at a high-level meeting on nutrition held on the margins of the UN General Assembly. "This provides a very important opportunity to promote small-scale farming and local production." Read More>
CBD COP11: an invitation to a GIAHS Side Event
Hyderabad, India, 2 October 2012
MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), will hold a Side Event on “CONSERVATION AND ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT OF GLOBALLY IMPORTANT AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE SYSTEMS (GIAHS)” during the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP11). Read More>
Ethnic and social diversity at Imilchil's marriage festival
Imilchil, Morocco, 14 September 2012
The festival (or "moussem" in Arabic) of marriage and engagement at Imilchil is one of the finest marriage events in Morocco. The moussem is celebrated each year in mid-September, with this year’s event scheduled for 13-15 September. Read More>
GIAHS showcases Peru’s traditional crops at “Mistura 2012”
Lima, Peru, 13 September 2012
An "Andean grains window" will pay homage to Peru’s agricultural biodiversity of global significance, showcasing quinoas of different colors, amaranth (kiwicha in the local language) and cañihua at Latin America's major gastronomic fair "Mistura 2012" - a massive event expected to attract 600,000 visitors. Mistura 2012 will feature local and international actors such as producers, entrepreneurs, universities and APEGA (Peru’s Gastronomy Society). Read More>
New agricultural heritage systems in China receive GIAHS recognition
Beijing, China, 27 August 2012
FAO will recognize China's Aohan Dryland Farming System and Pu'er Tea Agroecosystem, located in Inner Mongolia and Yunnan Province, respectively, as new GIAHS sites. Read More>
Traditional agriculture “forward-looking” for post Rio+20 nutrition, says FAO publication
Rome, Italy, 8 August 2012
When it comes to sustainable consumption, one needs to look no further than traditional agriculture. In a groundbreaking publication on “Sustainable Diets and Biodiversity”, Global GIAHS Coordinator Parviz Koohafkan states why: “GIAHS tell a fascinating story of man’s ability and cultural ingenuity to adjust to a changing environment, practicing agriculture in harmony with nature”. Read More>
International Year of Quinoa to strengthen income opportunities and nutritional security
New York, USA, 18 July 2012
The United Nations declared the year 2013 "The International Year of the Quinoa" (IYQ), after it was proposed by the government of Bolivia, with support from Argentina, Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Georgia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay, and FAO. Read More>
GIAHS Side Events at Rio+20: GIAHS and the future we want
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 27 June 2012
The "Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems", or GIAHS, have a lot to tell on the future we need. An FAO-led event held at the Mountain Pavilion on 21 June 2012 presented some of the answers that heritage systems have to offer to key topics at the heart of Rio+20. Read More>
FAO Director-General highlights value of quinoa, South American heritage food
Rome, Italy, 15 June 2012
"As we face the challenge of feeding the world population in a context of climate change, quinoa offers an alternative for those countries suffering from food insecurity," FAO Director-General Graziano da Silva remarked at a ceremony appointing Evo Morales, President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Special Ambassador to FAO for the International Year of Quinoa, to be observed by the United Nations in 2013. Read More>
GIAHS Side Events at Rio+20 Conference Announcement
11 June 2012
The Food and Agriculture Organization recognizes the enormous contributions and important role of family farmers, indigenous peoples and local communities in managing and conserving our natural resources - past, present, future). Read More>
6th edition of the International Exhibition for Agriculture in Morocco (SIAM)
Meknes, Morocco, 29 May 2012
Mr. Parviz Koohafkan, Director of the Land and Water division at FAO visited Morocco last April to present GIAHS at the 6th edition of the International Exhibition for Agriculture in Morocco (SIAM). Read More>
Japanese nature’s bounty and people’s livelihood, to pass it to future
Rome, Italy, 23 May 2012
Land and Water (NRL) Division of FAO, In cooperation with the Japanese Permanent Representation in Rome organized the visit of Mr. Tanimoto, Governor of Ishikawa prefecture of Japan, at FAO Headquarters in Rome. Read More>
National Seminar in Gafsa to validate National Charter for Tunisia's Oases
Gafsa, Tunisia, 26 April 2012
A National Seminar was held in Gafsa on 13-14 April 2012 to validate the National Charter for the dynamic conservation and development of Tunisia's Oases. Read More>
Japan’ s Vice Minister Morimoto’ s speech at the 4th Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Summit 2012
Berlin, Germany, 21 Januaryl 2012
Japan’ s Vice Minister Morimoto’ s speech at the 4th Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Summit 2012 on sustainable agriculture and food security with reference to the recently designated GIAHS sites of Noto and Sado. Read more>
FAO recognizes Traditional Agricultural System of Koraput as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS)
Bhubaneswar, India, 3 January 2012
The official announcement was made by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the inauguration of the 99th Indian Science Congress in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. This is an extremely important recognition for India's Tribal Agriculture, which will also contribute to the fight against the serious environmental threats India is facing. Read more>