*Global CA-CoP* *CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE*

*for sustainable production intensification and land management*

Dear Subscribers,

A side meeting was held on 7 November 2016 at COP 22  (Marrakech) on
Climate Change Mitigation and Sustainable Food Security with Conservation
Agriculture in Africa and the Mediterranean Region.

The details of the meeting are attached.

The meeting was organized by RCM (Reseau innovation Agro-systems
Mediterranean - A regional network of farmers and researchers in the
Mediterranean region/basin) in collaboration with several international and
national organizations including FERT, ACT, ECAF, APADTunisia and AMAC.

The following conclusions and recommendations were made at the meeting:

*Conclusions*:
The participants are unanimous on the following assessments:
- The Conservation Agriculture (CA) is an agro-system management approach,
that is agronomically sustainable, economically viable and that is provider
of ecosystem services.
- Conservation Agriculture plays a vital role in mitigation and adaptation
to Climate Change.
- CA promotes biodiversity and biological resources and preserves the
natural processes by reducing soil erosion, improving soil fertility and
organic matter, and conserving water.
- CA allows improved revenues and profits for farmers, through lower
expenses on energy consumption, stabilization of yields, improving the crop
calendar flexibility and also allows reducing greenhouse gases emission.

*Recommendations:*
• Conservation Agriculture should facilitate the implementation of the
Declaration of Malabo (African Union-NEPAD) and the AAA initiative
currently presented to COP22.
• Integrate CA in agricultural development programs as a tool against the
effects of climate change, improving food security and the fight against
poverty.
• Invite countries to develop their national action plan for the adoption
of CA.
• Operationalize this plan through:
- The mobilization of human and material resources of the Ministry of
Agriculture and its external services for its implementation;
- Planning of different implementation phases;
- The development of a farm advisory and extension program dedicated to the
CA;
- Strengthening measures of government incentives oriented to Conventional
Agriculture, with differentiated actions compared to Conventional
Agriculture;
- Strengthening research, development and training capacities in the field
of CA.
Some 70-80 people attended. The audience was very receptive and comprised a
mixed group - farmers, researchers, students, institutional leaders and
policy people, international organizations.

*Amir Kassam *

*Moderator*

e-mail: [log in to unmask]
URL: www.fao.org/ag/ca

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