The meetings were an initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Agroecology was discussed in the context of its contributions to food and nutrition security and climate change. Civil society, policy makers, researchers and farmers shared their views on the relevance of agroecology to the needs of family farmers and discussed how to spread agroecology through practice, research and policy.
A series of recommendations resulted from each regional seminar. What emerged was the need to transform knowledge building and research, and for bold policy change, including the creation of appropriate markets to further agroecology in the regions. While the opportunity to discuss agroecology in the region was welcomed, bolder steps are needed to embed agroecology in future agricultural development, with farmers at the centre.