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Locally rooted: Ideas and initiatives from the field
March 30th, 2014

All over the world we can find positive experiences where family farmers are working to maintain agricultural biodiversity, or are benefitting from it. Here are a four cases where farmers are making a conscious effort to conserve and market diverse crops. Nepal: Participatory analysis of agrobiodiversity While the government of Nepal is promoting improved and … Read more

Cultivating biodiversity: Peasant women in India
March 30th, 2014

In the Deccan region of India, over 60,000 women peasants are feeding their families, their culture and their pride with biodiverse farming practices. Their knowledge and successes have reached across national and institutional borders, and they have received recognition from around the world. It is the year 2003 in Andhra Pradesh, India. A group of … Read more

Globally connected: News from the AgriCultures Network
March 30th, 2014

With the International Year of Family Farming in full swing, members of the AgriCultures Network are actively involved in a number of initiatives that strengthen family farmers and agro-ecology. Here are a few updates. IED Afrique: Launch of IYFF and a new Observatory Civil society in Senegal and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have … Read more

From barren land to biodiverse home gardens
March 30th, 2014

Changing climate patterns and the associated ill-effects are inherently severe in the Federated States of Micronesia and are perhaps the most pressing challenge facing the nation as it seeks to nourish its people. Decreased rainfall and rising sea levels are disturbing the traditional taro patches, low-lying forestry systems and other ecosystems. In Yap, one of … Read more

Seeds or grains: Breaking the dichotomy
March 30th, 2014

Increasingly, seeds are the domain of professional seed breeders, agribusiness and policy makers. They decide what makes a good variety and they establish legislation that excludes other varieties. Despite this, farmer organisations and social movements in Paraíba, Brazil, have managed to strengthen decentralised farmer-driven seed selection and distribution systems and public seed policies. They may … Read more

“Link biodiversity with the pleasures of food”
March 30th, 2014

Phrang Roy – “If you look at a map of global agrobiodiversity hotspots you soon realise that they are identical with indigenous people’s habitats. There are 370 million indigenous people in the world and they have been custodians of agrobiodiversity for millennia,” says Phrang Roy, co-ordinator of the Indigenous Partnership for Agrobiodiversity and Food Sovereignty. … Read more

Reviving the Ankole Longhorns of Uganda
March 30th, 2014

Ankole Longhorn cattle can survive in extremely harsh, dry conditions such as those in sub-Saharan Africa – which is becoming drier and hotter. In a context where herders are strongly encouraged to keep exotic and hybrid cattle, the innovative LIFE approach led Ugandan herders to revalue the Longhorns for their economic and cultural value. Ankole … Read more

Youth and agriculture: What if we change?
March 30th, 2014

The current food system is exploiting the ignorance of consumers, while maintaining an old-fashioned image of the farmer. But this is changing, says young columnist Pavlos Georgiadis, as he explains how alternative systems for producing, distributing and appreciating food are advancing. The problem with today’s world is that most people are afraid of diversity, and … Read more

Farmers in focus: The Peasant Box
March 30th, 2014

With seven other farming families, Ildi and Levente Haidu produce the ‘Peasant Box’ for customers in the city. In this way, they can distribute their many different, fresh and high quality products. “Every week, we pack 70 boxes with cauliflower, spinach, pumpkin and many other vegetables for our customers in the city. With seven other … Read more