Sustaining local food systems, agricultural biodiversity and livelihoods

Update: Read the Open Letter of the Peoples of Cusco (PDF) to the FAO Director General, Feb. 10.

On 26 February 2010, Peruvian indigenous organizations, local government bodies and civil society organizations in Cusco, Peru, held a meeting to formulate a strategic response to a FAO ABCD10 starting on 1 March that will push for greater use of genetically modified organisms. A demonstration through the ancient Inca streets followed up this multi-stakeholder gathering. The meeting produced a Declaration which underlines that the FAO agenda does not represent the best approach for tackling agricultural challenges, including those brought by climate change.

About this project

Background 

This research aims to analyse how and under what conditions decentralised governance, capacity building and participation by farmers can promote the adaptive management of agricultural biodiversity in the context of local food systems and livelihoods.

Aims 

This research aims to analyse how and under what conditions decentralised governance, capacity building and participation by farmers can promote the adaptive management of agricultural biodiversity in the context of local food systems and livelihoods. This will be achieved by:

  • identifying forms of decentralised governance, co-management agreements, and markets and property right institutions that can sustain agricultural biodiversity and livelihoods
  • strengthening the capacity of farmers and other actors, including producer organisations, and in doing so increase their benefits, and promote awareness and responsible action
  • developing indicators to analyse the links between livelihoods and agricultural biodiversity, with a special emphasis on local definitions of well being, equity and culture
  • applying participatory assessment methodology for valuations of agricultural biodiversity and the various systems (e.g. livelihoods, food and rural development) in which local biodiversity is embedded
  • making recommendations on effective policies and processes that will help build capacity and institutionalise the adaptive management of agricultural biodiversity in the context of localised food systems and rural economies.

 


 

Impacts 

Through participatory research and dialogue in India, Iran, Peru and Indonesia a range of impacts have been achieved:

  • International Farmers Exchange for Mutual Learning on Privatisation of Knowledge and Seeds
  • a citizens’ jury was initiated in Andhra Pradesh (India) to include small farmers and indigenous people in participatory assessments of different visions of food, farming and rural development futures
  • a cultural and technical exchange was organised between Indian farmers and indigenous communities in the Andes of Peru. The farmer to farmer exchange focused on capacity building for the local level management of agricultural biodiversity, the documentation of indigenous knowledge in the form of Community Biodiversity Registers and training in digital video technology
  • support and conceptual inputs were provided to the Growing Diversity Initiative and an international workshop in Brazil, in which participants reviewed emerging issues and challenges for the decentralised management of agricultural biodiversity in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Partners 

India Deccan Development Society

Indonesia Farmer Initiatives in Ecological Literacy and Democracy Foundation

Iran The Centre for Sustainable Development and Environment

Peru Association for Nature and Sustainable Development

Contact 

Michel Pimbert michel.pimbert@iied.org

Funded by 

Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Irish Aid and the Christensen Fund