Food Policy Forum for Change
EVENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
PAST EVENTS
In this side event of the Bonn Climate Change conference (SB58) organized on 6 June 2023, a line-up of speakers and practitioners discussed how food system transformation and land restoration are key to harmonizing action between the Rio conventions to achieve climate, biodiversity and land targets. This session highlighted how agroecology, restoration and integrated planning can connect and deliver on these agendas.
- Martina Fleckenstein – Policy Manager at WWF International
- Sebastian Lesch –Head of the Agricultural Division of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
- Alisher Mirzabaev – Conducted a recent research project focused on the harmonization of land restoration targets of the Rio Conventions in Rwanda
- John Garcia Ulloa – Program Manager of the Policy and Advocacy team at Biovision Fundation
- Sophia Baumert – Advisor on agriculture and climate change at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
- Esther Penunia – Secretary General of the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA)
- Miriam Medel Garcia – Chief of External Relations, Policy, and Advocacy at the UNCCD Secretariat
- Sol Ortiz Garcia – UNFCCC negotiator Government of Mexico
- Kelly Witkowski – IICA
- Dirk Nemitz – Team Lead of the Agriculture, Forestry, and Land-use unit in the UNFCCC secretariat
- For some policy background read the brief Agroecology: A Transformative Opportunity for Biodiversity and the Rio Conventions
- Event summary: link
- Event recording: Here
- SB58: UNFCCC website
An insightful web event organized on 17 April by the European Commission and featuring Biovision Foundation’s policy brief on actionable recommendations to enhance synergies between agroecology and conservation. This event explored the critical question of balancing food needs with biodiversity conservation. Watch to recording to learn more about land sparing and sharing approaches, and their implications for sustainable agriculture, as well as real-world case studies, including agroecological biodiversity projects in Uganda and the impact of pesticides on biodiversity near Kibale National Park.
- Christophe Larose, Head of Sector – Sustainable Agriculture, INTPA F3- Sustainable Agri-Food systems and Fisheries
- François Grenade, Research and advocacy Officer on Sustainable food systems, Iles de Paix
- Robert Guloba, Program Officer Agroecology & Sustainable Natural Resource Management
- Erick Kizito, Programme Manager, Agroecology & Sustainable Natural Resources Management, Pelum – Uganda
- Sabrina Krief, Professor National Museum of Natural History France, director of the Sebitoli Chimpanzee Project, Uganda
- Charlotte Pavageau and John Garcia Ulloa, Programme managers, Biovision Foundation and Food Policy Forum for Change
Policies, legislations, and institutional arrangements are key enablers for an agroecological transformation of food systems. In the process of convening the involved policy actors and stakeholders across all relevant sectors from the benefits of an agroecological approach, multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) play a pivotal role.
This side event of the 1st Eastern Africa Agroecology Conference (March 21-24, 2023, Nairobi) started with an overview of the ongoing initiatives on establishing agroecological policies in East Africa. Strategies, challenges, and opportunities were synthesized from different case studies in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Then, the role of MSPs in shaping the policy landscape was discussed, and established MSPs, including ISFAA, shared their experiences. Finally, after a panel discussion and a Q&A session, individuals and organizations connected with collaborators during session-ending networking cocktails.
This side event is hosted by the Intersectoral Forum on Agrobiodiversity & Agroecology (ISFAA).
Speakers:
- Daniel Gitahi, Chief Officer Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Murang’a County
- Joseph Kisaka, Kakamega County Agribusiness Development Officer
- Lilian Aluso, Alliance Bioversity International – CIAT
- Mary Irungu, PELUM Kenya
- Mburu Gathuru, Kiambu County Assembly
- Martin Oulu, ISFAA Coordinator
- Alex Lwakuba, Commissioner Crop Production, Uganda Ministry of Agriculture
- Josephine Akia, PELUM Uganda
- Monica Kawanara, Tanzania Ministry of Agriculture (Policy and Planning)
- Matthias Geck, ICRAF/Agroecology Coalition and CGIAR
- There is still great need to gather compelling evidence to sensitize and make the agroecology case to policymakers. A challenge linked to the evidence gap is farmers’ lack of access to organic inputs.
- MSPs have proven to be effective platforms for building broad support for agroecology. Through the inclusion and active participation of diverse stakeholders, opposition is reduced, and government comes on board.
- A key success factor for agroecology policy initiatives is the buy-in from the legislative and executive arms of government. At the implementation stage, success will depend on the capacity development of extension and support services.
- A policy is only one part of the equation. Translating a policy into action on the ground requires an implementation plan, a strategy and the involvement of extension services. In some cases, a strategy can come before a policy to speed up the process.
- Organic agriculture and improvement of soil fertility are prevalent entry points for agroecology.
In 2022, FAO, the Biovision Foundation and the Agroecology Coalition organized a series of three hybrid thematic dialogues, with a focus on identifying entry points, opportunities, building blocks, innovative approaches to policy, technology and institutional frameworks, that can support the upscale of agroecology. Through interactive group discussions and case studies, the dialogue explored the interface between agroecology and 1) territorial approaches, 2) biodiversity conservation between the farm level, 3) agri-input scarcity. An outcome brief was then developed for each dialogue, reflecting the key messages and recommendations of the discussions.
The event, took place on February 22, 2023, in Bern, and the key results of the agroecology dialogue series were discussed as well as how how to build on those messages. The event was organized around the visit of the FAO DDG Beth Bechdol in Switzerland.
Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General, FAO
Isabelle Fragnière, FAO Coordinator, Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG)
Frank Eyhorn, CEO, Biovision
Panellists:
- Beth Bechdol, DDG FAO
- Martijn Sonnevelt, President, Swiss National FAO Committee (CNS-FAO)
- Stéphanie Piers de Raveschoot, Policy Advisor, Food Systems Section, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
- Lukas Fesenfeld, Chair of the Expert Panel Future of Food Switzerland and Policy Researcher at the University of Berne
- Madeleine Kaufmann, Federal Office for Agriculture
- Link to outcome briefs of the Agroecology Dialogue Series
The invasion of Ukraine sparked a third food price crisis in 15 years. In a context of Covid, conflict, and climate change, world food prices reached record highs, hitting food insecure countries and populations the hardest. A spotlight was firmly placed on the fundamental weaknesses in global food systems, including high import dependency among low-income countries, high dependency on chemical inputs, over-specialised commodity production, and lack of transparency in global food systems. However, countries around the world are more and more adopting agroecology as the means to mitigate the effects of the current crises while building the resilience urgently needed to protect against future shocks. During this event, organized during the ORFC on January 4, some of the most pioneering responses to the crisis, and global efforts to measure the impacts of these changes were presente.
While agroecology has been much discussed at ORFC over the years, this event took stock of the evolving impacts of the food price crisis on food security and build understanding of the root causes of global food insecurity. It showcased innovative responses to the food price crisis that mitigated immediate impacts and kick-started longer-term transformation of food systems through agroecology. It also built awareness of the opportunities to cut reliance on energy and input costs in the face of rising costs – and the challenges in diversifying production systems.
Speakers
- Yodit Kebede (IRD)
- Anne Mottet (FAO)
- Esther Penunia (AFA)
- Emile Frison (IPES Food)
Chair
- ffinlo Constain (Farmwel, Food & Global Security Network)
- Watch recording here
The event organized on December 8 during COP15, highlighted the need to profoundly transform our current food systems, which continue to be the main driver of biodiversity loss. There is compelling evidence that agroecological approaches offer viable pathways for this much-needed transformation. They maintain a central focus on ecosystem diversity, and agricultural biodiversity, and are deeply rooted in traditional knowledge and the foodways of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. It is clear that without a strong focus on agroecology, our global targets for biodiversity conservation are bound to miss the mark.
This side event also aimed to shine a light on emerging coalitions and policy actions that are linking agroecology and agricultural biodiversity, as crucial pathways to transform food systems.
This side event was hosted by
African Biodiversity Network, African Centre for Biodiversity, Biovision Foundation, Agropolis Foundation, Coventry University Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience (CAWR), Cultivate!, EcoNexus, Friends of the Earth International, Global Alliance for the Future of Food, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP), IPES-Food, Latin American Scientific Society for Agroecology (SOCLA), Laurier Centre for Sustainable Food Systems (Canada), UNESCO Chair on Food, Biodiversity, and Sustainability Studies, and the University of Vermont
This event looks at the future mandate of the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA) that is discussed at COP27. Integrating elements of agroecology will be critical for transforming food systems, supporting the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss, and enhancing food security.
Around the world, research and practical experience show that agroecological approaches offer a promising way to protect nature, address climate change, maintain biodiversity, and restore ecosystem functions to degraded systems.
Applying agroecological approaches also contributes to food security by strengthening the production of healthy and diverse food. In the last years, agroecology has received increasing support from various stakeholders, as evidenced, for example, by the EU’s Farm to Fork strategy, countries’ national development goals, increased research interest in the topic, support from civil society organizations and private sector for implementation in this area.
- Nancy Rapando, Country Project Manager, Biovision and Lead Africa Food Future Initiative, WWF
- Alex Awiti, Senior Agroecology Policy and Advocacy Advisor, CIFOR-ICRAF, Agroecology Coalition
- Rafik Aini, Coordinator of the MARHP Climate Change Committee, Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, Tunisia
- Manei Naanyu, Head of Programmes, PELUM Kenya
- Valérie Dermaux, Agriculture and Climate Change Officer, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, France
- Oluwatosin Ogunsola, Contact Point of YOUNGO Agriculture Working Group
- Watch recording here
Over the past few years, conflict, COVID, and climate change have exposed the vulnerabilities of our food systems in the face of shocks. Many of these fragilities are a direct result of our current dependency on costly chemical inputs, lengthy commodity chains, as well as over-reliance on the import of staple foods. This has contributed to generations living in poverty and millions on the brink of starvation, particularly on the African continent. The livelihoods of small-scale farmers and consumers around the world will be greatly impacted unless we upscale practices that work with nature and deliver on the sustainable development goals, such as agroecological, organic, and regenerative farming. However, in light of heightened food insecurity, there are different perspectives on how we should move forward. Standing at this crossroads, what urgent steps should be taken to transition to sustainable food and farming systems?
- Mamadou Goita, IPES-Food
- Veronica Ndetu, Coordinator of the Climate Change Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives, Kenya
- Dr. Susan Chomba, Director of Vital Landscapes for Africa, World Resources Institute (WRI)
- H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Board member and Chairperson of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
- Karen Mapusua, President of IFOAM Organics International
- Dr. Alex Awiti, CIFOR-ICRAF and Agroecology Coalition
The invasion of Ukraine has sparked a third food price crisis in 15 years. World food prices reached record highs in March 2022 and remain at critical levels, hitting food insecure countries and populations hard. Food systems around the world have proven highly vulnerable to these shocks, through their dependency on costly chemical inputs and highly-specialized commodity production, over-reliance on imports of staple foods, and the ongoing cycles of poverty, climate change and conflict that leave millions of people on the brink of hunger.
Countries around the world are now taking steps to mitigate the crisis and build the resilience that is urgently needed to protect against future shocks – from farmer-managed seed systems to the replacement of chemical inputs with agroecological practices. This side event of the CFS50 will hear about the pioneering responses governments are developing and deploying, and how we can ensure coordinated, comprehensive action at the global level. We are joined by representatives of the governments of Mali, Mexico & Tanzania.
- Oliver Oliveros, Global Alliance for the Future of Food
- Amadou Cheick Traoré, Conseiller Technique au ministère du développement rural, Mali
- Hon. Hussein Mohamed Bashe Minister (MP), Ministry of Agriculture, United Republic of Tanzania
- Santiago Arguello, Ministry of Agriculture, Mexico
- Esther Penunia, Asian Farmers’ Organization & Agroecology Coalition
- Mamadou Goita, IPES-Food
- Carlo Fadda, Bioversity-CIAT
- Simon Degelo, SWISSAID
This third dialogue of the Agroecology Series on September 29 will reflect on the current global food crisis and the looming scarcity of agricultural inputs. Record prices in fertilizers, supply chain interruption, increasing dependence on synthetic agricultural inputs and on a handful of suppliers have underlined the urgency of food system transformation. As a result, a number of countries are committing to reducing their dependence on synthetic inputs. The current crisis creates opportunities to advance food system transformation through agroecology. The dialogue will focus on a better understanding of concrete implementation steps and pathways to increase the resilience of food systems to agricultural inputs scarcity through agroecological approaches, in the areas of policy reform, knowledge creation and investments.
- Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General, FAO
- Johanna Jacobi, Assistant Professor for Agroecological Transitions, ETH Zürich
- Marianna Guareschi, UNI Parma
- Jean-Christophe Castella, IRD
- Haintsoa Nirina, Ministry of Agriculture, Madagascar
- Laércio Meirelles, Coordinator of Centro Ecologico, Brazil
- Emile Frison, Interim Coordinator, Agroecology Coalition
This second dialogue of the Agroecology Series on September 15 intends to connect the conservation and agroecology communities to explore opportunities and limitations of agroecology to address conservation needs beyond the farm. Thus, it will look beyond classical on-farm conservation angles (e.g. conservation of local crop varieties and crop wild relatives). Instead, it will discuss the contributions of agroecology to mitigate species decline and ecosystem degradation in the landscape, which are less explicitly recognised within existing narratives of the agroecology or conservation communities. The dialogue will identify concrete pathways to increase synergies between the agroecology and conservation communities in food system transformation through policy reform, knowledge creation and investment.
- Dr. Jingyuan Xia, Director of Plant Production and Protection Division, FAO
- Dr. Tim Benton, Director Research Center, Chatham House
- Dr. Noah Adamtey, Senior Scientist FiBL
- Aymara Llanque Zonta, Leuphana University, Germany
- Abaya Alemu, Plant Health and Product Quality Control Directorate, Ministry of Agriculture, Ethiopia
- Dr. Steven Arquitt, Senior Analyst Millenium Institute
- Dr. Frank Eyhorn, CEO Biovision
- Dominique Burgeon, Director FAO in Geneva
- Dr. Emile Frison, Interim Coordinator, Agroecology Coalition
This first event of the Agroecology Dialogue Series by FAO and Biovision Foundation, in support of the Coalition for food systems transformation through Agroecology (Agroecology Coalition), will explore the interface between territorial approaches and agroecology, and how this interface contributes to the sustainable transformation of food systems. It will analyse the relation between both approaches and the pathways needed for public policies, research initiatives, investment mechanisms, and advocacy to support agroecological transitions at territorial scales.
- Li Lifeng, Director Land and Water Division, FAO
- Basile van Havre, CBD Co-Chair
- Ludovic Larbodiere, Senior Agricultural and Environment Specialist at IUCN
- Thomas Wanger, Agroecologist and Interdisciplinary Scientist leading the Sustainable Agricultural Systems & Engineering Lab at Westlake University, China
- Juan Jose Molina, Veterinary and Researcher at CIPAV
- Marion Hammerl, Managing Director of the Lake Constance Foundation
- Dominique Burgeon, Director FAO in Geneva
- Martina Fleckenstein, WWF Global Policy Manager, Food
ABOUT US
These activities are part of the initiative “Coherent policies for transforming food and agricultural systems – a peer to peer exchange among policy makers” led by a consortium of prominent organizations in the fields of sustainable food systems and support to agricultural policy processes: Biovision Foundation, IFOAM – Organics International and the Millennium Institute, with support from FAO. The initiative is financed by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
