agroecology – a path to the future of food systems
TRANSCRIPT
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Agroecology – a path to the future of food systems
Million Belay (PhD) Director – MELCA – Ethiopia
Coordinator – AFSA Panel member - IPES FOOD
November 2015
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My view is shaped by • MELCA – Ethiopia – a local NGO working
with farmers. • Alliance for the food sovereignty of Africa
(AFSA). Network of networks, African voice, produced case studies and statement for this meeting.
• International Panel of Experts on the Sustainability of Food Systems (IPES-Food) – looking at food systems– systems wide approach, combination of different forms of knowledge and analysis of science + power relationships and political economy of food systems.
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Narrative of Industrial/ High input agriculture
• To feed the world
– Focusing on production • Using agrochemicals
• Bringing High Yielding Varieties
• Using irrigation
• Focusing on high end technology (Genetic engineering)
• Agribuisness – market led agriculture
– Training farmers new techniques – knowledge substitution
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What are the results so far
• Not sustainable at all – Environmental degradation – pollution and biodiversity
loss – Climate change – Social crisis – Impoverishment of people. – Land grabbing – Cultural erosion – knowledge erosion – Crisis in Non Communicable Diseases – non nutritious
food – Disempowering women
• Political and economic domination by the West and TNC
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Need for a new narrative
• Food sovereignty – food system socially empowering, culturally appropriate, environmentally responsible and economically under the control of the food producers.
• Agroecology – an umbrella for
– Practitioners
– Scientists
– Activists
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Change path ways
Mainstream agroecology in regional and national agriculture policies, plans and programmes;
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Change path ways • Support community-based seed
systems
• Give much greater recognition to indigenous knowledge and innovation
• Incorporate agroecology in extension service provision, and strengthen the practice of farmer-to-farmer learning
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Change path ways
Raise awareness among consumers of the nutritional benefits of agroecology.
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Change path ways
Bring agroecology into all levels of education, especially tertiary, in collaboration with universities and colleges
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Change path ways
Support the on-going development of labour-saving technologies;
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Change path ways
Stimulate and support small businesses throughout the food
system to be part of the transition towards agroecology.
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Change path ways
Bring more researchers on board to support a variety of research, collaborating with farmers to understand the potential of agroecology, its challenges and opportunities – IPES Food as an example
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Signs of change
• Business
• UN – FAO
• Research
• Universities
• Religious institutions
• Funders –AE
• CSOs – AFSA, LVC, EOI
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Dakar, 5 November 2015
Million Belay - IPES-Food
What are the obstacles farmers face in moving towards agroecology and
diversification?
What incentives are needed to support the transition to agroecology?
How can we empower local food and farming communities to value their own
knowledge, and use this knowledge to build local food systems?
How can farmers and their communities get more involved in decision
making about how they farm, and what support do they need to make their
voices heard?
Do you have any additional comments on issues that these reports should
address?
Agroecological transitions – call for contributions
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Thanks
Thanks