*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 in French and English 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, APAD-Tunisia and AMAC.

The following conclusions and recommendations were made at the meeting:

*Conclusions:*

The participants are unanimous on the following conclusions:
- Conservation Agriculture (CA) is an agro-ecosystem management approach
that is agronomically sustainable, economically viable and is a provider of
ecosystem services.
- CA can play a vital role in Climate Change adaptability and mitigation.
- CA promotes biodiversity and biological resources and protects natural
processes by reducing soil erosion, improving soil fertility, increasing
soil organic matter, enhancing biological activity and conserving water.
- CA allows improved revenues and profit for farmers, through lower
expenses on production inputs, energy consumption, stabilization of yields,
and improving the crop calendar flexibility. It also allows the reduction
of greenhouse gases emissions.


*Recommendations:*
The participants offer the following recommendations:
• Conservation Agriculture (CA) should facilitate the implementation of the
Declaration of Malabo (African Union-NEPAD) and the AAA initiative
currently presented to COP22.
• CA should be integrated in agricultural development programs as a tool
against the effects of climate change, improving food security and the
fight against poverty and land degradation.
• Countries should develop their national action plans for the adoption of
CA.
• The above recommendations should be operationalized through:
- The mobilization of human, knowledge and material resources by the
Ministries of Agriculture and their extension services;
- Planning of different implementation phases of this plans;
- The development of a farm advisory and extension program dedicated to the
CA;
- Strengthening measures of government incentives oriented towards the
adoption and spread of Conservation Agriculture;
- Strengthening research, development and training capacities in the field
of CA

*Amir Kassam *

*Moderator*

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

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