Agroecological and other innovative approaches

3 July 2019. Launch of the HLPE report: Agroecological and other innovative approaches for sustainable agriculture and food systems that enhance food security and nutrition

• A report by The High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition July 2019 
• The Summary and Recommendations are available in English to download here
• The event was webcast live at: http://www.fao.org/webcast/home/en/

Panel:

• Chaired by Ambassador Mario Arvelo, Chairperson of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS). 
• opening address by FAO’s Agriculture and Consumer Protection Department (AG) Assistant Director-General, Bukar Tijani.
• Introduction to the HLPE Report Patrick Caron, HLPE Steering Committee Chair 
• Presentation of the content and conclusions of the HLPE Report Main findings – Fergus Sinclair, HLPE Project Team Leader

Report:

HLPE. 2019. Agroecological and other innovative approaches for sustainable agriculture and food systems thatenhance food security and nutrition. A report by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security, Rome. 163 pages

• In this report, the HLPE explores the nature and potential contributions of agroecological and other innovative approaches to formulating transitions towards sustainable food systems (SFSs) that enhance FSN. 
• The HLPE adopts a dynamic, multiscale perspective, focusing on the concepts of transition and transformation. 
• Many transitions need to occur in particular production systems and across the food value chain to achieve major transformation of whole food systems. 
• Both incremental transitions at small scales and structural changes to institutions and norms at larger scales need to take place in a coordinated and integrated way in order to achieve the desired transformation of the global food system.

States and IGOs, in collaboration with academic institutions, civil society and the private sector should: 

1. increase investments in public and private research and development, and in national and international research systems to support programmes in agroecological and other innovative approaches, including to improve technologies; 
2. develop and support transdisciplinary research conducted through innovation platforms that foster co-learning between practitioners and researchers, and horizontal dissemination of experience among practitioners (e.g. farmer-to-farmer networks, communities of practice and agroecological lighthouses)

Related:

24 July 2019. Evaluating the Multidimensional Performance of Agroecology
A tool has been developed to support agroecological transitions, at different scales and in different locations, through informed policy-making processes. 

• It consolidates information on the impact of agroecological approaches, and aims to produce evidence on the performance of agroecological systems across the environmental, social and cultural, economic, health and nutrition, and governance dimensions of sustainability. 
• It is complemented by a guidance framework for reviewing policy options for agroecology and to assist policymakers in assessing the multi-dimensional impacts of agroecological production systems.