Agroecology as a systems approach is a potent lever in addressing the complex challenges that food production systems pose for biodiversity and human wellbeing at multiple scales. It offers a comprehensive approach for countries to fulfil their commitments under the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) which sets out an ambitious plan to implement broad-based action to bring about a transformation in our societies’ relationship with biodiversity.
Ongoing loss of agrobiodiversity is alarming. Of 7,000 plant species cultivated historically for food, just nine now contribute 66% of global production and only three - maize, rice and wheat - account for half of all plant-based calories. Maintaining diversity in what is grown on farms as well as wild foods and wild crop relatives, and the links between them, is vital not only to maintain and increase biodiversity but to enhance agricultural productivity, food security, nutrition and health, climate and livelihood resilience, as well as to provide biomass energy.
Family farming and farmers applying agroecology and sustainable practices are central actors for the sustainable use, conservation and enhancement of agrobiodiversity. With over 2.5 billion people across the world depending on Family Farming and approximately 600 million family-run farms worldwide, family farmers are critical to food security and nutrition in their own countries and around the globe. They produce over 80 % of the world’s food in value terms, and in regions such as Africa and Asia, farms of less than five hectares produce 90% of food calories consumed and in Sub-Saharan Africa farms of this size produce around half of food calories.
Family farmers, Indigenous Peoples and local communities are the custodians of thousands of indigenous and traditional crops, adapted to the local context and climate, and of rich associated traditional knowledge. Family Farmers’ organisations and Indigenous Peoples can play a key role in managing seedbanks of key locally adapted varieties. But the formalisation and scaling up of farmer seed production systems requires significant investment of traditional knowledge and local finance. These crops are oftentimes underutilized or neglected and as such, need support from government and international community to scale up their adoption, conservation, and sustainable use.
If supported by conducive policies, finance and capacity strengthening, family farmers and Indigenous Peoples and local communities can ensure sustainable use and conservation of agroecosystems through biodiverse farming, fishing, forest and livestock management to continue producing safe and nutritious food for all.
However, their participation in biodiversity, food systems and climate negotiations has been largely overlooked, and financing mechanisms reaching family farmers’, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities and/or their organisations are vastly underrepresented in international climate and biodiversity funding. Commitment and action do not match the magnitude of the damage caused by the climate crisis and biodiversity loss on family farmers. This flagrant disparity underlines the urgency of action.
Objectives of the proposed side event:
This session will explore policies and financing to promote agrobiodiversity through agroecology and family farming, crucial for achieving GBF Targets, NBSAPs, and integrating agrobiodiversity into Rio Conventions. It will highlight local and national practices in both the North (e.g. Switzerland) and South (e.g., Tanzania) that protect agrobiodiversity and ensure sustainable use and benefit-sharing. The event will gather international organizations, governments, family farmers, and Indigenous Peoples to discuss next steps for implementing the GBF and Rio Conventions.
Oliver Oliveros has taken on the role as the Coordinator of the Agroecology Coalition and head of the Coalition Secretariat as from 01 February 2023. Prior to this role, he was the interim Executive Director of the Global Alliance for the Future of Food, a coalition of foundations committed to leveraging their resources to help shift food and agriculture systems towards greater sustainability, security, and equity.
Elena Aguayo Rico leads strategies for and with family farmers on the climate and biodiversity agenda within the World Rural Forum. With over a decade of experience in the United Nations, mainly at UNDP and FAO, her expertise lies in project management, advocacy strategies, and the fostering of networks and partnerships, mainly on biodiversity, climate action and sustainable development challenges.
Jonathan Mockshell is a research scientist (Senior Agricultural Economist) - leading a team focusing on agrifood systems economics and policy environment, and a project leader in the agroecological transitions programme. He also co-leads Work Package 3 of the CGIAR initiative on National Policies and Strategies (NPS) and contributes to the CGIAR initiative on Agroecology (AE-I) in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Born in Nova Palma, Rio Grande do Sul, is the son of a family farmer, and currently resides in the Federal District of Brasília. With a background as an Agricultural Technician and Economist, he has dedicated 32 years to working with family farmer organizations in Brazil. He has notably served as an agricultural policy advisor for: 8 years with the Federation of Rural Workers of Rio Grande do Sul, 4 years as a Parliamentary Advisor in the Federal Chamber of Deputies, 24 years with the National Confederation of Agricultural Workers (CONTAG) in Brasília.
Yiching Song, is a member of the IPES-Food panel, a senior researcher in the Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and since 2016 is program leader of the United Nations Environment Programme – International Ecosystem Management Partnership in the Chinese Academy of Science. She is also founder and adviser of the China’s Farmers’ Seed Network. She has been a board member of numerous organizations and has lectured at several national academies and universities.
She is a Senior Agriculture Officer and Agroecology Focal Person at the Ministry of Agriculture Tanzania under Environment Management Unit. She was born and raised in Kilimanjaro Tanzania in a farming community. She completed my university with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management at Sokoine University of Agriculture. She began my career in the Ministry of Agriculture as a junior Agriculture Officer and her role has been advancing initiatives such as climate-smart farming practices.
Mr. Alejandro Argumedo is Director of the Association ANDES, a Cusco-based indigenous people’s non-governmental organization working to protect and develop Andean biological and cultural diversity and the rights of indigenous peoples of Peru. He is also the international coordinator of the Indigenous People’s Biodiversity Network (IPBN), and Senior Research Officer for Peru of the ‘Sustaining Local Food Systems, Agricultural Biodiversity and Livelihoods’ Programme of the International Institute for Environment and Development for England.
Vincent is a young Swiss student who joined the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture as an academic trainee in March 2023. He works on international issues related to sustainable development of agriculture and food systems, including the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and genetic resources.
