http://www.fao.org/about/meetings/agroecology-symposium-china/en/ Presentation of Caterina Batello, from FAOHQ, on the outcomes of the Regional Meetings on Agroecology held in 2015 in Brazil, Senegal and Thailand. The presentation was delivered in occasion of the International Symposium on Agroecology in China, held in Kunming, China on 29-31 August 2016. © FAO https://www.fao.org/

1. Summary on the Regional Meetings on
Agroecology held in 2015
Brazil, Senegal and Thailand
30 August 2016
International Symposium on Agroecology in China
Caterina Batello – Senior Officer FAO

2. • Growing need to shift towards more sustainable food systems,
producing with more social and economic benefits and less
environmental costs.
• In line with such a trend, agroecological practices, supported by
research and policies can contribute to enhance sustainability of
food and agriculture.
Background

3. Recognizing the role that Agroecology can play in food security and
nutrition, FAO organized the International Symposium in Rome -
September 2014
• Multi-stakeholder participation: 400 scientists, food producers, policy makers,
farmers’ organizations, private sector and NGO representatives
• Stock taken for evidence base on agroecology: great number of best practices,
scientific knowledge and policies
FAO International Symposium on Agroecology
for Food Security and Nutrition - 2014

4. Better understanding of agroecology’s role in:
 the transition towards more sustainable, inclusive and productive
food systems (conserving and enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem services)
 ensuring food security and nutrition on the ground (nutrition,
diversification of diets and right to healthy food)
 facilitating adaptation to climate change (building more resilient
livelihoods)
 combining farmer’s knowledge with science to promote local
innovation (context-specific solutions)
Main Outcomes: International Symposium - 2014

5. Effective work on agroecology needs to address regional, national and local
contexts
Regional multi-stakeholders Meetings on Agroecology for FSN
 Latin America (July 2015 – Brazil)
 Sub-Saharan Africa (November 2015 – Senegal)
 Asia and the Pacific (November 2015 – Thailand)
 Europe (November 2016)
Main Outcomes: International Symposium - 2014

6. 1. Mainstream agroecology into agricultural public policies, legal frameworks and
regulations
2. Promote local innovation, co-creation of knowledge and evidence base on agroecology
through multi-disciplinary research, learning and education systems Regional and national
inter-sectoral innovation platforms
3. Recognize and promote the role of agroecological family farmers, in particular rural
women and youth’s rights and equity in agricultural development guardians of
biodiversity, seeds , genetic and natural resources
4. Increase investment in agroecology
applied agroecological research and data collection
programs targeting agroecological producers, local products and food systems
5. Ensure smallholders access to natural resources through agroecology (land, water, seeds,
oceans, forests, commons, biodiversity and territory) within VGGT and VGSSF
Main Outcomes Regional Meetings - 2015
Common recommendations across regions

7. 6. Ensure smallholders’ access to markets and link producer with consumers
- create and strengthen local agroecological markets and cooperatives
- advocate on nutritional value of agroecological products
- public procurement policies oriented to agroecological local products
- empower women and youth through increased employment and income
7. Recognize the potential of agroecology to ensure adaptation and resilience to climate
change
- agroecology is integrated into climate policies
- increase applied research and data on impacts of agroecology in resilience
- ensure selection of varieties, species, livestock and trees is done at farm-level
8. Promote South-South Cooperation on agroecology
- involve academia and researchers, governments and CSOs
- foster participatory exchange of experiences and knowledge across countries and regions
Main Outcomes Regional Meetings - 2015
Common recommendations across regions

8. Main Outcomes Regional Meetings – by region
Africa Asia Latin America and the Caribbean
Mainstream agroecology into
regional economic communities
such as CAADP, including the
creation of innovation platforms on
agroecology.
Mainstream agroecology into sub-national
agricultural policies, prioritizing resource-
poor environments such as uplands, rain-
fed, arid and degraded areas.
Mainstream agroecology policies in regional
and sub-regional organizations such as:
- the Working Group on Family Farming and
Rural Development of CELAC
- the Specialized Meeting of Family Farming of
Mercorsul (REAF)
Securing smallholders’ tenure of
land – VGGT implementation
Ensure coherence among policies
favouring the transition to agroecology
and those hindering it.
Assure the social role of land and water through
agrarian reforms, guaranteeing land rights of
traditional communities.
Review and transform current
agricultural subsidy systems, trade,
investment and finance policies
Monitor environmental costs and risks
derived from existing practices and
policies.
Recognize and safeguard traditional knowledge
and cultural identities, through the promotion
of knowledge dialogue and participatory
research systems.
Promote agroecological innovations
in value chains and markets to
empower youth in agriculture
Support and revive traditional
management practices, local rice varieties
and drought-resistant crops
Promote the productive organization of family
farmers, women and youth supporting their
agroecological activities.
Integrate agroecology curricula in formal and non formal primary and higher
education, based on co-created knowledge among farmers and researchers
(including Farmer Field Schools)
Support rural agroecological schools,
strengthening education and professional
training for rural youth.
Create agroecological zones and territories at community levels, integrating
social, economic and environmental aspects.
Enable reciprocity of participatory guarantee
systems among countries

9. Agroecology in FAO 2016
 Following request of interested countries and regions, FAO continues to facilitate multi-
stakeholder Seminars and Symposia on Agroecology. Focus is given to national and regional
policies, frameworks and regulations.
• Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) with support of FAO will organize
the “ II Regional Meeting on Agroecology” to follow up on recommendations (September 2016,
Bolivia)
• Regional Seminar on Agroecology in Europe and Central Asia (November 2016, Hungary)
 Follow up activities on the symposium in sub-Saharan Africa
 52 profiles on agroecology - http://www.fao.org/family-farming/themes/agroecology/en/
 Website on agroecology – launched end of 2016
 Creation of an agroecology knowledge hub
 Activities on Climate Change and agroecology

10. THANK YOU!
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