Description:

Rooted in Diversity: Partnerships for Food Security and Livelihoods, co-designed by farmer associations, civil society organizations (CSOs), and agricultural research organizations, will enhance local knowledge, skills, and capacities of small-scale food producers to improve food production and consumption in highly variable and poorly predictable agroecologies. Based on the premise that agrobiodiversity is the best way to promote food and nutrition security and adapt to unpredictable weather, it will:

(i) build on and contribute to increased availability and use of locally adapted crops and varieties (including neglected and underutilized food plants).

(ii) improve access to market and income opportunities for small-scale food producers farmers to enable the commercialization of this enhanced crop and varietal diversity, extending its benefits to additional rural communities through markets and exchange networks.

The project will build and enhance functional networks of exchange and opportunities for joint learning among a wide range of actors – farmers, CSOs, researchers – bringing together diverse cultural backgrounds, context and knowledge on seed and food system issues; this ‘social diversity’ is key to improve food and nutrition security and more just, inclusive, gender transformative and sustainable income-generating activities.

Partners: