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Farmer Field Schools take root in Egypt
December 22nd, 2010

Update from the field – Previous articles in this magazine have reported on the Fayoum Farmer Field School (FFS) project in Egypt. In March 2003, Jaap van der Pol showed how the Asian FFS-model needed adaptation in Egypt as local extensionists were used to working with individual farmers (not with groups) and to discussing rather … Read more

Learning to steer differently
December 22nd, 2010

What do we want to learn from each other? The Belgian organisation Vredeseilanden (referred to as VECO in its partner countries) has developed a new planning, learning and accountability system with its partners in Indonesia, with the aim of learning more from their field experiences and integrating these lessons into the steering of the organisation. … Read more

Opinion: Learning our way out
December 22nd, 2010

Learning plays an important role in the transition towards a more sustainable world, says Arjen Wals “people learn more from each other when they are different from one another than when they are likeminded” Almost 50 years ago a UN goal was formulated that still hasn’t been realised today: clean drinking water for all. By … Read more

Globally connected: Is the World Bank aware of what is happening in terms of “land grabs”?
December 22nd, 2010

Just before our previous issue was distributed, the World Bank published the results of its “multi-country study on large scale agricultural land acquisition and investment”. This study responded to a “lack of reliable information”, and to “the need for good empirical evidence to inform decision makers”. What is the evidence they provide? Is this report … Read more

“We’ll continue with our observations”
December 22nd, 2010

Agro-meteorological learning in Indonesia. Unusual wheather patterns helped farmers see the relationship between rainfall quantities, soil moisture and the growth of their crops. Photos: Yunita Winarto Local knowledge systems are always developing, especially in times of change. The meteorological effects of El Niño, and climate change in general, motivated farmers and researchers in Indonesia to … Read more

The GMO invasions: We’re losing our local breeds
December 22nd, 2010

Interview > Percy Schmeiser – Small groups of genetic engineers working for multinational companies, with little or no democratic control, determine the genetic composition of crops all over the world. Is this a science fiction movie scenario? No. Two Canadian farmers, Percy and Louise Schmeiser, have had a long fight in court to defend their … Read more

Enhancing learning within certification schemes
December 22nd, 2010

Certification is not a “silver bullet” that automatically guarantees sustainable agriculture, although it does bring many positive results. These benefits can be multiplied by paying more attention to the development of skills and knowledge, and to the learning processes in which farmers, extension agents and company representatives are involved. “Proof” vs “Improve” Many small-scale farmers … Read more

Teaching teachers: Agroecology in Argentina
December 22nd, 2010

A group of university researchers has been working on an agricultural education model designed to meet the many challenges facing Argentinean agriculture. Rather than just adding “green content” to the existing curriculum, working with the teachers in rural schools in the province of Buenos Aires is showing very promising results. Agriculture makes a significant contribution … Read more

Mutual support = A Lighter workload
December 22nd, 2010

Highland barley is the main crop grown in the village of Hongpo, in the Yunling township (part of the Deqin Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in the Chinese province of Yunan). Like most villagers, Mrs Ren Zang has been recently very busy with the harvest from her two-acre field. Growing high quality barley is her responsibility, as … Read more