UN promises to strengthen agroecology

There are already several organizations that have committed to join the effort to improve agro-ecological practices and achieve sustainable food systems. This is because the intensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides left a huge environmental damage, despite increased food production.

For this reason, various branches of the United Nations pledged this Thursday in Rome to support agroecology to achieve sustainable food. Hans Dreyer, director of Plant Production at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), presented the initiative with the aim of promoting an alliance between government, farmers and union partners.

"The objective is to reinforce this practice as a promising approach to carry out sustainable practices and policies with a view to improving food systems It is important to act as soon as possible and take as a reference the successful experiences that have been developed in many countries ", Dreyer explained.

This initiative seeks to promote knowledge and innovation in agriculture to make it sustainable. In addition, it intends to intervene in political processes in order to modify food systems. Other members of this project are the World Food Program (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), as per El Espectador.

The coordinator of the Agroecological Movement of Latin America and the Caribbean (Maela), Maria Noel Salgado, stressed that it is about "changing the paradigm and not just reordering the inputs to remain the same system that reproduces capital and not life. If we could stop supporting and encouraging agribusiness, we would have resources to multiply agro-ecology. "

This project, according to the different presidents and directors, invites all sectors to change so that biodiversity and interest in environmental sustainability are included in their goals, as per El Espectador.

What is agroecology?

It is a term that appeared more than 80 years ago, but with time has been gaining strength. It is termed as the application of ecology in agriculture.

The FAO, during the event, explained that it has 10 principles. In those that stand out better use resources, recycle them and diversify them.

The 10 principles according to FAO:

1. The diversity of production systems conserves and protects natural resources.

2. Co-creation and sharing of knowledge, through participatory processes.

3. Synergies between soils, forests, communities, to improve functions.

4. Efficiency in the use of resources.

5. Recycling and reusing natural resources.

6. Greater capacity for recovery.

7. Human and social values.

8. Culture and traditions.

9. Responsible governments.

10. Circular and social economy.

At present, it is estimated that only 28 countries in the world have laws that directly or indirectly support agroecology.