Agroecology & Sustainable Natural Resource Management

Food security, food safety and sustainability of agricultural production are still critical challenges for the growing global population. Major crops that are important for food security and income generation in developing countries suffer from frequent and severe production constraints due to poor crop management and, increasingly, the impacts of climate change. Increasing worldwide concern about the environmental costs and food safety issues of conventional agricultural practices calls for the implementation of agroecological farming approaches to avoid these negative environmental impacts, while supplying more and safe food.

Agroecology is an integrated approach that simultaneously applies ecological and social concepts and principles to the design and management of food and agricultural systems. It seeks to optimize the interactions between plants, animals, humans and the environment while taking into consideration the social aspects that need to be addressed for a sustainable and fair food system. Agroecology is based on bottom-up and territorial processes, helping to deliver contextualized solutions to local problems, and agroecology innovations are based on the co-creation of knowledge, combining science with the local knowledge of farmers. By enhancing their autonomy and adaptive capacity, agroecology empowers farmers and communities as key agents of change. Rather than tweaking the practices of unsustainable agricultural systems, agroecology seeks to transform food and agricultural systems, addressing the root causes of problems in an integrated way and providing holistic and long-term solutions. Agroecology places a strong focus on the rights of women, youth and indigenous peoples.

PELUM and its partners will contribute to the production of more and safer food by focusing on three key aspects:  Promotion of agroecology-based and safer production practices; building community resilience to climate change; and promotion of renewable energy and water shed management.  In terms of our approach, we shall work with and through member organizations, engage more with community structures and build stronger ties with local authorities, and work in partnerships where there is a strong added value.

Specific Objectives 2022 – 2026

1. Agroecology and Sustainable Natural Resources Management

• • To promote farmer managed seed systems
  • To promote agroecological practices among smallholder farmers.
  • To promote indigenous knowledge on food and agriculture                                                                                                                   2. Climate Change and Community Resilience
• To promote community based natural resource management and renewable energy,
• To strengthen Disaster Risk Reduction in farming communities and respond to humanitarian needs of communities affected by disaster.

What is new

• Scaling up Climate Change programming
• Community Based Natural Resource. Management
• Renewable Energy
• DRR and Humanitarian Response.