While family farmers are particularly exposed to the impacts of climate change, family agriculture has witnessed thousands of years of transformations, boasting a heritage of ancestral knowledge and wisdom that positions them as key allies in designing climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. In this regard, it is crucial to recognize family farmers as significant holders of agroecological knowledge.

Agroecology aims to transform agrifood systems by addressing the root causes of problems and providing long-term holistic solutions based on the co-creation of knowledge, exchange, and innovation, including the combination of local, traditional, indigenous, and practical knowledge with multidisciplinary science.

Similarly, the agroecological transition has been linked to sustainable rural development processes, strengthening small farmers, protecting biodiversity and the environment, and combating climate change, giving priority to family farmers as key players in expanding the reach of agroecology and preserving traditional productive knowledge and the ancestral wisdom of indigenous peoples. Therefore, it is essential to advance public policies that incorporate the fundamentals of this approach into agricultural and rural development in the region.

Objectives

• Analyze successful experiences of family farming and agroecology from different regions of the world, focusing on their specific contribuitions to climate changes adaptation and mitigation.
• Examine the benefits and advantages of agroecology in terms of climate change adaptation and mitigation, highlighting its contributions to the resilience of agricultural systems and food security.
• Explore the pivotal role of family farmer organizations, women, and youth in promoting and implementing agroecological practices, emphasizing their contributions in terms of traditional knowledge, innovation, and community engagement.

Review the sessions here

External links