Before COP22 in Marrakech, about thirty African countries had united to defend the adaptation of their agriculture to climate change and to place the African continent at the heart of the negotiations. This ambition is supported by the AAA (Adaptation of African Agriculture) initiative. A disturbing observation from the president of the African negotiators, Seyni Nafo, shocks us: "While it is responsible for only 4% of the global emissions of greenhouse gases, the continent is the main victim of global warming. Two-thirds of arable land will be lost by 2025, even if the rise in temperature is limited to 2 degrees ". Agriculture is a key sector of the African economy. It accounts for between 25% and 35% of direct employment, generates 70% of revenues and accounts for one quarter of the total GDP.

Read more … 1611 COP22: Africa could be the world’s food store…

For years, Pierre Rabhi has been recognised as a pioneer in agro-ecology. Currently, he is farming agro-ecologically in France and he shared his knowledge of farming practices at a conference last February.

Read more … 1304 - 1303 Agro-ecology: for life

February 2012 - The present Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) is currently being debated and is due for change in 2013. A broad range of organisations working towards a fairer, more inclusive and sustainable food system, calls for food sovereignty. AEFJN join them to call for European agricultural policy that is equitable for food and agriculture challenge in Africa too.

Read more … Imperative to stop damage from the CAP on developing countries

The number of undernourished people in Africa increased from 165 million in 1990 to 209 million in 2006. Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) risk to worsen the situation. The threats are related to the inability of domestic production in Africa to compete with EU agricultural imports, the potential restrictions on African governments to address import surges that could undermine local food production, and the limitations on the freedom of ACP countries to use tariff policy and market regulation more generally to promote the domestic supply of staple foods.

Read more … EPAs pose a threat to food sovereignty

 The IAASTD report is the result of 6 years of consultations of research issued by by a unique stakeholder group made of representatives from International Development Agencies, Governments, Civil Society, policy makers, scientists and the private sector from around the world.

The key questions that had been defined at eleven stakeholder meetings around the world, and which the reports were to address were “how can agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology (AKSTs) be improved to reduce hunger and poverty, improve health and nutrition, assure rural livelihoods and reduce inequities while protecting the  environment”.

For the executive summary and the links to documents :

Read more … The IAASTD Reports: A holistic approach to food and nutrition security

The current famine in the Horn of Africa is not only the result of drought, civil war and corrupt officials, but is also caused by prohibitively high food prices. This article explains how the deregulation of agricultural markets and the proliferation of investors led people by millions to hunger and below the poverty line.

Read more … Speculating with lives: How global investors make money out of hunger

 In January, the world food prices reached the highest record since 1990 and this difficult situation will be even more so in the future. Higher food prices affect poor households more. There must be a set of alternatives put into play for solution, but mostly, food products should remain outside the speculative markets.

Read more … Global food prices soar, attract speculators

The seeds are the basis of many food crops. The access to quality seeds, well adapted to local conditions, at affordable price and the protection of biodiversity are two crucial points for farmers. But they are largerly threatened ...

Read more … Seeds & Farmers' Rights

What to think about GMO (Genetically modified Organism) ?

Read more … GMO

Food sovereignty is a concept brought to public discussion by Via Campesina as an alternative proposal to neo-liberal policies. Since then, this concept has become a major topic in the debates of agricultural and commercial policy at international level, including in certain departments of the United Nations.
Wanting to underline the necessary background to fill the right to food,

Read more … Food Sovereignty & Rigth to Food

Mr O. DE SCHUTTER (UN  Special Rapporteur on the Rigth to Food) had edited a Briefing Note in May named: "Countries tackling hunger with a right to food approach"

This briefing note highlights the implementation of the right to food at national scale in Africa (Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa), Latin America and South Asia.

The right to food is the right, for all, to have legal frameworks and strategies in place that further the realization of the right to adequate food, as a human right recognized under international law.

Read more … Right to food in national law

AGRA (Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa) is an organisation which enables private multinationals to penetrate Africa so that they can expand their markets in seeds and other agricultural products focused on products for which donors to AGRA have the monopoly  right .

AGRA does not finance the improvement of local agricultural commerce nor the promulgation of African farming techniques that have proved effective.

Read more … AGRA What is it?