Huzhou/Xianju, China – The 2024 High-Level Training and Experience Sharing on Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) concluded on November 10, following a week of in-depth knowledge exchange in Huzhou and Xianju, Zhejiang Province.

Hosted by China through the Center for International Cooperation Services (CICOS), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), and organized under the FAO-China South-South Cooperation collaboration, the event brought together representatives from 20 countries to explore innovative ways to strengthen agricultural heritage systems.

The gathering echoed a key message from FAO’s discussions at the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), in Azerbaijan —that agrifood systems, including agricultural heritage, offer transformative solutions to the planet’s complex challenges. By exchanging knowledge, technologies, and policy insights, participants aimed to unlock the potential of GIAHS systems to bolster community resilience, drive sustainable development, and address critical issues such as climate change, biodiversity conservation and food insecurity.

Workshops and discussions delved into sustainability and dynamic conservation, highlighting local communities as guardians of traditional knowledge and agricultural heritage systems. China, leading with 22 of the 89 GIAHS designations globally, showcased its commitment to advancing collaboration and fostering innovation.

In his closing remarks, Xu Ming, Deputy Director General of CICOS, described the gathering as “a milestone for cooperation, enhancing heritage conservation and supporting resilient rural development worldwide”.

Highlighting the importance of partnerships, Yahui Zhang, Senior Coordinator at FAO's South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division, emphasized that “tailored approaches and enhanced collaboration” would drive the long-term success of the GIAHS programme. “Our collective work must ensure that these systems thrive globally,” he added.

Clelia Puzzo from the FAO GIAHS Secretariat pointed out the transformative power of community engagement. “Agricultural heritage is a living treasure,” she noted, “and by empowering communities, we allow these traditions to evolve and address present challenges, such as food insecurity and climate change impacts.”

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