THIRD WORLD NETWORK INFORMATION SERVICE ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Dear friends and colleagues,

Re: Sustainable agriculture needed to address multiple crises

A new paper published by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) and the Heinrich Boll Foundation concludes that the multiple crises - climate, food and water – facing the world today requires a global shift from the dominant industrial model of agriculture toward more sustainable practices.

“Integrated Solutions to the Water, Agriculture and Climate Crises,” traces the role of industrial agriculture in contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, water use and degradation and global hunger. Small-scale producers are most affected by these three crises, with women and children disproportionately bearing the burden.

The paper also offers a series of recommendations for governments, including: 1) an international rights-based approach that ensures water availability for ecosystems and people; 2) support for agro-ecological practices including investments in the climate change mitigating potential of agriculture; 3) harmonization of policy approaches to water, agriculture and climate; 4) recognition of women’s involvement in farming, food production and water management; and 5) inclusion of small-scale farmers in reforming policy.

We have reproduced below the Executive Summary of the report. The full report is available at: www.iatp.org.

With best wishes,

Lim Li Ching

Third World Network

131 Jalan Macalister,

10400 Penang,

Malaysia

Email: twnet@po.jaring.my

Websites: www.twnside.org.sg, www.biosafety-info.net

Executive summary

The dramatic convergence of multiple crises—global warming, hunger and depletion of natural resources such as water—compels us to shift from the dominant industrial agriculture model and consider a new way forward. Because agriculture is multifunctional (i.e., food, feed, fibers, biofuels, medicinal products, environmental services, landscape amenities, social and cultural values), it could play a critical role in addressing global challenges related to climate, water, social justice and food.[i] This year, three major international meetings seek to identify solutions to the water, food and climate crises: the World Water Forum (March), the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (May) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (December). The time is ripe to identify the interconnections between the three crises and develop complementary policy options and action steps.