Agroecology

We aim to accelerate the transition to agroecology as a core solution to the future of food.

Through our work on agroecology, we aim to see:

Strengthened practice and voice of agroecology through the collective efforts of civil society movements, farmers, scientists/researchers, governments, and the private sector, upholding the integrity of natural systems and the human right to food.
Stronger linkages developed between agroecology and climate change, sustainable economies, trade, and health, through multidisciplinary and strategic local, national and global collaborations amongst those working across these issues.
Protection and support of agricultural biodiversity and seed systems, as cornerstones of agroecology in order to advance ecological resilience.

The Future of Food: Seeds of Resilience Agricultural biodiversity and robust seed systems are foundational elements of renewable, resilient, equitable, diverse, healthy, and interconnected food systems. In the current context of climate change and global food insecurity, there is an urgent need for resilient seed systems that protect seed diversity and enhance nutrition and food security.

Recognizing this, the Global Alliance for the Future of Food commissioned experts from around the world to weigh in on a future that protects and improves resilient seed systems and strengthens agricultural biodiversity. The Future of Food: Seeds of Resilience: A compendium of perspectives on agricultural biodiversity from around the world includes an Opportunities Report and twelve commentaries from a diverse range of experts, including farmers, community activists, business representatives, researchers, and scientists, to better understand where we can collectively focus our efforts to address this issue.

Agricultural Biodiversity and Seeds Convening Since the compendium’s publication, the Global Alliance has been reaching out to key stakeholders to understand how best to work with others to strengthen support for resilient seed systems. After extensive consultation and engagement, the Global Alliance is supporting the development of a shared action framework for agricultural biodiversity and resilient seed systems, and is planning a strategic convening on these issues for fall of 2018 as part of its overall strategy to foster a transition to sustainable food systems.

Beacons of Hope Around the world, efforts to support sustainable food systems are proliferating. Global Alliance members are supporting some of these initiatives, but the work on the ground extends far beyond any one network or organization. The Global Alliance is undertaking a systematic review of this work to better understand the initiatives that are facilitating and documenting transitions to sustainable food systems. This research project is called Beacons of Hope: Understanding Transitions to Sustainable Food Systems, and will be completed in 2018.

Global Alliance supported publications and activities:

TEEB for Agriculture & Food Scientific and Economic Foundations Report

The TEEBAgriFood ‘Scientific and Economic Foundations’ report, supported by the Global Alliance for the Future of Food, addresses the core theoretical issues and controversies underpinning the evaluation of the nexus between the agri-food sector, biodiversity and ecosystem services and externalities including human health impacts from agriculture on a global scale. It argues the need for a ‘systems thinking‘ approach, draws out issues related to health, nutrition, equity and livelihoods, presents a Framework for evaluation and describes how it can be applied, and identifies theories and pathways for transformational change.Read More

Donor Events at FAO's 2nd International Agroecology Symposium

The FAO will host its 2nd International Agroecology Symposium in Rome, 3-5 April 2018. To support an effective and efficient transition towards agroecology, the AgroEcology Fund, McKnight Foundation, and the Global Alliance for the Future of Food are convening donors at two complementary events, where we will explore opportunities to coordinate efforts, to identify shared principles, and to collaborate.Read More

Ecosystems and agro-biodiversity across small and large-scale maize production systems

This report by the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO) in Mexico is one of six “exploratory studies” commissioned by the UN Environment TEEB Office and funded by the Global Alliance for the Future of Food, with the purpose of feeding the evidence base to feed into the wider initiative on TEEB for Agriculture & Food (TEEBAgriFood). These studies are meant to assess the impacts and dependencies arising from particular agricultural sectors and systems.Read More

Climate Change & Food Systems: Assessing Impacts and Opportunities

In this Global Alliance commissioned report led by Meridian Institute, expert authors synthesize peer-reviewed literature that examines the mutual impacts of food system activities (ranging from pre-production to production, post-production, consumption, and waste) and climate change, develop 10 key messages, and document mitigation opportunities and their adaptation potential.

The Future of Food in a Climate Changing World: 2nd International Dialogue Summary Report

In May 2017, the Global Alliance hosted its 2nd International Dialogue: The Future of Food in a Climate Changing World. This summary report is an overview of the dialogue, opportunities explored, and potential actions the Global Alliance and participating experts and leaders identified as potential pathways towards a more sustainable, secure and equitable future of food.Read More

Sequestering Carbon in Soil: Addressing The Climate Threat

In Spring 2017, the Global Alliance supported the Sequestering Carbon in Soil: Addressing The Climate Threat conference where soil carbon experts, farmers, NGO leaders, government officials, private sector leaders, philanthropists, and advocates from thirty-four countries met to explore how to advance soil carbon sequestration (SCS) through agriculture and ecosystem restoration.Read More

The Future of Food: Seeds of Resilience, A Compendium of Perspectives from Around the World

The Global Alliance for the Future of Food reached out to experts from across sectors and around the world to weigh in on a future that protects and improves local seed systems. The result is The Future of Food: Seeds of Resilience, A Compendium of Perspectives from Around the World. The report includes: an overview of global efforts to protect and preserve seed systems prepared by Emile Frison and Toby Hodgkin; commentaries from a diverse range of experts, including organic farmers, community activists, business representatives, researchers, and scientists; and, a synthesis of findings and recommendations for pathways towards more sustainable seeds systems.

Beacons of Hope

In the summer of 2016, the Global Alliance initiated a project that aims to develop a framework that brings together evidence and stories of transitions towards more sustainable food and agriculture systems so that funders, advocates and policy-makers can better understand what pathways to sustainable systems might look like across different contexts and scales, and how these models might be replicated across regions and at the global level. Initial findings are charted to be release in Spring, 2017.

FAO Regional Meetings

In November 2015, the Global Alliance facilitated participation of 36 local food movement leaders in the FAO Regional Meetings on Agroecology for Food Security and Nutrition in Africa and Asia. These FAO events were the first-ever transnational meetings on agroecology in these regions and represented an important step within FAO to elevate regional and national dialogue about the viability of agroecology as a solution for the future of food.