CARI proposed that its partners and civil society organizations involved in sustainable land management and the promotion of agroecology consult and develop common positions in the run-up to the UNCCD COP15 that took place from 9 to 20 May 2022 in Abidjan.
The national workshops have been held between February and April 2022.
Feedback on the national workshops
From February to April 2022, between 20 and 60 people in each of the 17 participating countries (Algeria, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, France, India, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Peru, Senegal, Tanzania, Tunisia…) gathered to conduct workshops allowing them to produce evidence and advocacy messages on agroecology as a solution to several issues. 8 framing topics that are under discussion in the UNCCD and other international bodies were discussed:
- Droughts
- Biodiversity
- Food security
- Climate change
- Ecosystem restoration
- The One Health approach
- Land Degradation Neutrality
- The Great Green Wall Initiative
The results of the workshops were presented and deepened during an international webinar held on the 21st of April, 2022.
Concerning the drought, agroecology promotes:
- The diversification of production
| – Diversification reduces the impact of a bad harvest – Crop associations and the complementarity between agriculture and livestock farming make it possible to reduce dependence on agricultural inputs (water, fertilisers, treatments, etc.) |
- Multiple techniques to maintain soils and favour their water retention capacity
| – Maintaining soil cover (mulching, crop layers) limits evaporation and keeps the soil moist. – Erosion control measures (bunds, contour lines, etc.) improve the water retention capacity of the soil and increase its fertility. |
- Responsible and adapted management of water resources (irrigated crops)
| – Rainwater storage and micro-irrigation techniques allow for less impact on the ecosystem (water withdrawals) |
Concerning food and nutrition security, agroecology promotes:
- Short circuits & self-sufficiency
| – It follows a participatory process that involves rigorous control of production, guaranteeing the sanitary quality of the products and thus preserving the health of consumers – Agroecology facilitates the connection between producers and consumers and thus contributes to respecting the right to food – The establishment of agricultural land reserves in urban areas makes it possible to create short supply circuits which have an impact on the price of products – Agroecology contributes to guaranteeing farmers’ independence in terms of seeds; |
- Quality, nutrition, health
| – Agroecological techniques allow for a longer shelf life of products compared to conventional products and provide a better nutritional quality contributing to the fight against malnutrition – The combination of crops improves the dietary diversity of communities – The cultivation of legumes (soya, beans, moringa, pigeon peas, etc.) with a high nutritional value helps to reduce malnutrition, particularly among children |
- Continuous production
| – The planting of indigenous fruit trees with different phenologies ensures a supply even in the low season |
Concerning the land degradation neutrality, agroecology:
| – Produce more by improving yields and quality – Improve food and nutrition security and economic income – Developed in peri-urban areas to supply local markets – Limit the need to expand agricultural land into natural areas |
These were the first results to emerge from the workshops and were further developed during the webinar. They have fuelled the civil society advocacy for the UNCCD COP15.
