Africa: Agroecology Giving Farmers an Edge in the Face of Climate Change
Harare — Africa has long suffered the devastating impacts of climate change, despite contributing little to the climate crisis, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
With an emphasis on sharing training and experiences, Environmental Monitoring Group (EMG) hosted a workshop that provided resources on agroecology as well as sharing strategies to set up viable and sustainable agroecological practices.
Agroecology supports the soil, and biodiversity which is important for resilience. It allows farmers to adapt to climate change, and sustainably use and conserve natural resources, and is a holistic and integrated approach that simultaneously applies ecological and social concepts and principles to the design and management of sustainable agriculture and food systems.
FAO describes agroecology as an initiative that “seeks to optimize the interactions between plants, animals, humans and the environment while also addressing the need for socially equitable food systems within which people can exercise choice over what they eat and how and where it is produced”.