A new blog, published by Claire Rousell with the African Centre for Biodiversity reflects on the role of art in activism. During the National Seed Dialogue and Celebration, hosted by ACB at Constitution Hill, Johannesburg in December 2017, performers shared their stories of farming and food sovereignty through dance and music. The reflections … Continue reading “Art and Activism at the National Seed Dialogue and Celebration”
Status report from the African Centre for Biodiversity asesses impact of harmonized seed regulations on small farmers
A new status report, researched and written by Linzi Lewis and Sabrina Masinjila of the African Centre for Biodiversity, reviews the seed harmonization efforts of the South African Development Community (SADC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community (EAC). Seed harmonization efforts focus on the regulation of seed laws … Continue reading “Status report from the African Centre for Biodiversity asesses impact of harmonized seed regulations on small farmers”
Will climate-smart agriculture (CSA) actually improve our climate? A new policy brief from Food First
International institutions like the World Bank, Food, and Agriculture Organization(FAO) are increasingly turning to the guidelines of “climate-smart agriculture” to shape their policies. But what does climate-smart agriculture (CSA) actually entail? A new policy brief by Marcus Taylor from Food First outlines the three main components of CSA which include: increasing productivity, strengthening resilience, … Continue reading “Will climate-smart agriculture (CSA) actually improve our climate? A new policy brief from Food First”
New video from the Zimbabwe Seed Sovereignty Programme
In 2014, 7 NGO’s and farmer organizations came together to form the Zimbabwe Seed Sovereignty Programme (ZSSP). ZSSP raises awareness around seed-related laws that undermine food sovereignty while strengthening seed production and conservation practices across Zimbabwe. By facilitating seed fairs, it allows farmers to exchange seeds, learn about different local varieties, and have control over … Continue reading “New video from the Zimbabwe Seed Soveriegnty Programme”
Revisiting the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa’s comprehensive report on Agroecology
Last year, the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) published a full 88-page report on agroecology. The report provides a clear definition of agroecology and its effective application in various contexts across Africa. It features 15 case studies from farmers in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Togo, and Tanzania. Each provides … Continue reading “Revisiting the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa’s comprehensive report on Agroecology”
En La Lucha No Hay Fronteras (In the Struggle There Are No Borders)
By Kathia Ramirez, Organizer, CATA (Comite de Apoyo a Los Trabajadores Agricolas/ The Farmworkers’ Support Committee) Fifth in the South Africa-US Agroecology Exchange Article Series In October of 2017, I had the opportunity to travel with 7 other comrades on an Agroecology Exchange to South Africa. This Exchange was a continuation of a process that had … Continue reading “En La Lucha No Hay Fronteras (In the Struggle There Are No Borders)”
En La Lucha No Hay Fronteras (In the Struggle There Are No Borders)
By Kathia Ramirez, Organizer, CATA (Comite de Apoyo a los Trabajadores Agricolas/ The Farmworkers’ Support Committee) Fifth in the South Africa-US Agroecology Exchange Article Series In October of 2017, I had the opportunity to travel with 7 other comrades on an Agroecology Exchange to South Africa. This Exchange was a continuation of a process that […]
Restoring my Indigeneity: Reflections on South Africa Agroecology Exchange by a Queer Black Urban Farmer, Dean Jackson
First in the South Africa-US Agroecology Exchange Article Series Dean Jackson is Executive Director of Hilltop Urban Gardens in Tacoma, Washington In October I was honored to join seven other delegates on a US-South Africa Agroecology and Food Sovereignty Learning Exchange. As a Black queer and non-binary person who is working to remember and restore my … Continue reading “Restoring my Indigeneity: Reflections on South Africa Agroecology Exchange by a Queer Black Urban Farmer, Dean Jackson”
Justina’s Reflections on the US-South Africa Agroecology Exchange
By Justina Ramirez, Farmworker Association of Florida community leader in Homestead, Florida Fourth in the South Africa-US Agroecology Exchange Article Series In October 2017, I represented the Farmworker Association of Florida in a delegation of seven African American, Latinx, and Mexican farmers and farmworkers from the US arrive in Johannesburg, South Africa to participate in the … Continue reading “Justina’s Reflections on the US-South Africa Agroecology Exchange”
Thoughts on Intimacy with Food, Land, and Women from South Africa: “Where there are women you can never go wrong.”
By Alsie Parks, Field Organizer for Southeastern African American Farmers Organic Network (SAAFON) Third in the South Africa-US Agroecology Exchange Article Series Black women possess knowledge that comes from a deep place of knowing and nurturing. “Innate agrarian artistry is the womanist praxis of using deep-rooted knowledge as a creatively healing, ancestrally honoring, and community self-determination … Continue reading “Thoughts on Intimacy with Food, Land, and Women from South Africa: “Where there are women you can never go wrong.””
