Global contest for the world’s best agroecology policies

FAO Future Policy Award 2018. From left Peggy Miars, IFOAM, Maria Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General and Alexandra Wandel, Director of the World Future Council. Photo © World Future Council

At the 2nd International Symposium on Agroecology, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Future Council (WFC) and IFOAM – Organics International kicked off a global contest for the world’s best agroecology policies.

Every year, the most visionary policies tackling humankind’s most pressing challenges are commended with the Future Policy Award (FPA), the only global award that recognises policies rather than people. The World Future Council has awarded this annual prize since 2010 in partnership with UN agencies. Recognising that scaling up agroecology is a key element to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the World Future Council, the FAO and IFOAM – Organics International will identify and honour policies that create enabling environments for agroecology in 2018. Now FAO and the World Future Council joined forces, signing a Memorandum of Understanding to work together in support of this year’s Future Policy Award.

Agroecology: key to achieving food security and sustainable agriculture

In 2015, world leaders committed to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG 2, “Zero Hunger”, seeks to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. However, according to FAO, 815 million people go hungry even though there is more than enough food produced in the world to feed everyone. Agroecology can help transition to sustainable food and agriculture systems that ensure food security and nutrition for all, provide social and economic equity and conserve biodiversity and the ecosystem services on which agriculture depends.  The award highlights proven policies that effectively scale up agroecology at local, national and international levels

Our food system is at a crossroads

Maria Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General, explains: “Agroecology can help transform the way we currently produce and consume food to build healthier and more sustainable food systems. But this calls for the full engagement of governments and policy makers. Only with significant commitment at the policy level, will we see the scaling-up of agro-ecological approaches take root and realise its potential.”

Peggy Miars, World Board President of IFOAM – Organics International says: “World Leaders and the UN General Assembly recognise the potential of agroecology to achieve healthy nutrition for all and to address social injustice, climate change and biodiversity loss. We see it happen in numerous countries where the policy framework gets it right. Let’s showcase and reward these innovative policies!”

“This year’s Future Policy Award will reveal proven solutions that make sustainable agriculture possible. The World Future Council is determined to further cooperate with FAO in order to identify and share the best policies for advancing agroecology in the interest of future generations. It is critical that we learn from the policies that are already making an impact,’’ says Alexandra Wandel, Director of the World Future Council.
The winners of the 2018 Future Policy Award will be recognised in a ceremony at FAO in Rome around World Food week. The Future Policy Award 2018 is supported by the FAO, the World Future Council, IFOAM-Organics International with the assistance of Green Cross International, DO-IT – Dutch Organic International Trade and Sekem Group (Egypt).