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In addition to news, interviews and media advisories, the FAO News and Media office is now distributing real-life stories of farmers, pastoralists, fisher folks, indigenous peoples, forest dwellers and others in the sector. These stories reflect how their livelihoods are being affected by the various global challenges and how their hope and resilience, together with the support of partners like FAO, have brought about changes in the global fight against hunger and poverty. These are the stories of real-life food heroes. This is agri-food systems transformation in action.
News agencies and media outlets are welcome to reproduce and reuse these stories and related photos with proper credit given. A link back to the original story is also appreciated.
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The contemporary role of agricultural heritage
Ten years on, here’s how Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems have transformed agri-food systems
This idea of ‘transforming’ our food systems for a modern world — one increasingly challenged by climate change and with an ever-growing population — is a hot topic. But what does it really mean? Well, at the
centre of this transformation, there needs to be a systemic change from largely unsustainable agri-food production systems which overexploit natural resources to a system that protects the environment, increases food security and nutrition and raises incomes
for farmers and others in the value chain.
A lot can be learned from tried and trusted farming methods like those used in Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). The GIAHS programme recognises agroecosystems where communities live
in an intricate relationship with their territories. These evolving agricultural systems are resilient and built on traditional knowledge and invaluable cultural values. Agrobiodiversity and landscapes at these sites are sustainably managed by farmers, herders,
fisherfolk and forest people in ways that also contribute to their livelihoods and food security.
In the ten years since its launch, here is how the GIAHS initiative has transformed agri-food systems in five countries:
Ifugao, Philippines
Ifugao is a 2 000-year-old system of irrigated rice terraces in the Philippines’ Cordillera mountains. Carved by hand by the ancestors of the Tuwali indigenous peoples, these terraces follow the contours
of the mountains and feature an elaborate irrigation system. Built without the aid of modern tools, Ifugao is considered an engineering marvel of the old world. The Tuwali indigenous peoples are the primary caretakers of these terraces, which beautifully demonstrate
how local communities adapt to their environments.
Noto Peninsula, Japan
The Noto peninsula is a microcosm of traditional rural Japan, where mountains, forests and coastal areas are all interlinked in one incredible agricultural system. The peninsula is characterised by a mosaic
of satoyama, terrestrial-aquatic ecosystems, and satoumi, marine-coastal ecosystems. Traditional methods of farming, fishing and managing forests and water have sustainably maintained the area’s landscapes for centuries.
Since its GIAHS designation 10 years ago, the Noto peninsula has reinforced its management and protection of the area. There is now an executive committee of local cities, prefectures, commerce, industry,
tourism organizations and cooperatives that work together to promote and preserve the area’s agricultural heritage.
The Ishikawa prefecture, in cooperation with financial institutions, has invested in promoting local food products and tourism. It helped create a certification system to assure the origin of local products
and promote agricultural products from the Noto region, increasing incomes for farmers.
Aohan, China
Located in northern China, the Aohan Dryland Farming System combines farming, forestry and animal husbandry. Some of the region’s wide variety of crops date back to over 8 000 years ago. As such, customs,
skills and experience in unique, dryland farming have been passed down over the years. Traditionally, different crops are interplanted, rotating between arable crops and soil-improving crops
Ever since the Aohan system was recognised as a GIAHS, it has built a brand for the area’s most popular crop, millet, through TV announcements, advertisements and promotion from large companies, increasing
sales significantly.
Andes Mountains, Peru
The 350-kilometre-long Cusco - Puno corridor in Peru’s Andean mountains is home to thousands of indigenous Quechua and Aymara farmers, who manage the land using traditional agricultural practices, knowledge
and cultural rites passed down from their ancestors. The families in the area have established and maintained terraces, local irrigation systems and agricultural systems adapted to different altitudes.
Souf, Algeria
The Ghout oasis system in the Souf region of southeast Algeria was originally designed in the 15th century. It involves the planting of date palms in craters or basins, called ghout. In a desert environment
where most life struggles to grow, the ghout help date palms thrive. In this system, the palms are also protected from climatic hazards thanks to the high walls of the ghout. There is no need for an irrigation system because roots go in search of water deep
under the earth.
Over the last 10 years, the GIAHS has programme has worked with partners to create income-generating activities for communities in this area and safeguard local biodiversity. For example, one community received
date palm cultivars that were close to dying out in the area and took on the task of replanting them. In addition, a particular local breed of pigeons has been introduced into the area to ensure they don’t go extinct.
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The original story and related photos can be found at: https://www.fao.org/fao-stories/article/en/c/1456120/ |
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Media outlets are welcome to reproduce the article and related photos provided that FAO and the photographers are given credit. A link back to the original story is also appreciated. Please contact [log in to unmask] for the original photos or other information.
(+39) 06 570 53625 This email was issued by the Media Office at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
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