In a significant step for sustainable agriculture, the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (PARLATINO) unanimously approved the Model Law for the Promotion of Agroecology during its General Assembly, held on 5 December 2024 at the PARLATINO headquarters in Panama. The Model Law aims to foster sustainable and resilient agricultural practices throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, with an innovative framework that is poised to drive meaningful strides towards achieving food security and sustainable development. FAO provided technical support in developing the Model Law, building on FAO’s 2021 publication, “Legislate to Promote Agroecology in the Latin America and Caribbean Region,” which was prepared...

Livingstone, Zambia – The SADC Parliamentary Alliance Pre-Launch Workshop concluded yesterday, Sunday, 8 December 2024, setting the stage for the official launch of the Alliance today. This pivotal gathering brought together parliamentary leaders, development partners, and stakeholders to discuss regional integration, legislative reforms, and policy frameworks aimed at addressing food security and nutrition challenges across the region. The workshop focused on two key objectives: Informing participants about the main challenges and opportunities for parliamentary action on food security, nutrition, and agrifood system transformation. Finalizing the charter and workplan for the SADC Parliamentary Alliance to ensure clear direction and...

At the Global Family Farming Forum, held in Rome from 15-17 October 2024, parliamentarians from diverse regions participated in discussions on the critical role of family farming in food security and sustainable development. Their contributions underscored the need for strong policy and legislative frameworks, along with cross-national cooperation to support family farming and address global food challenges. Spain’s collaborative model for family farming The Honourable María Elena Diego Castellanos, a Spanish senator and coordinator of the Spanish Parliamentary Alliance for the Right to Food, highlighted Spain’s focus on family farming within a European context. She noted that rural depopulation in Spain has...

The East African Legislative Assembly’s (EALA) Committee on Agriculture, Tourism, and Natural Resources (ATNR) has taken a significant step towards sustainable agricultural practices by officially recognizing agroecology as a strategic priority through a formal resolution. With the support of the Centre for Food and Adequate Living Rights (CEFROHT) and the AECID, FAO and the EALA-ATNR organized a capacity-building event on the topic in Kampala, Uganda last week (13-15 November), with insights and practical tools to effectively promote agroecology across the region at the top of the agenda. More than 20 parliamentarians from the EALA-ATNR, representing six member countries (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda,...

A Resolution tiled “Parliamentary Roles in Supporting the Implementation of the ASEAN Guidelines on Promoting Responsible Investment in Food Agriculture and Forestry” was adopted during the 45th General Assembly of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), held from 18-23 October 2024 in Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic.