Groundswell International

Hurricane Mitch tore through Honduras in 1998 and still ranks as the second-strongest October hurricane on record today. After the hurricane, a study was carried out to measure the resistance and resilience of regenerative agriculture to natural disasters compared to conventional practices. Forty local and international organizations, working closely with farming communities in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Guatemala, formed 96 local research teams. They created side-by-side comparisons of 902 agroecological plots against the same number of conventional plots. The outcomes showed that agroecological farmed plots fared better than conventionally farmed plots on key ecological agriculture indicators. 🔎 Let's explore the key findings from this study.

UNDP's Conscious Food Systems Alliance (CoFSA) has published its second series of case studies under the theme "Conscious Local Communities and Cultures for Regeneration." One highlighted case features Groundswell International’s work in Mali, demonstrating how farmer-led initiatives are revitalizing landscapes and livelihoods. By restoring traditional farming practices and ancestral knowledge, and strengthening village organization, smallholder farmers are effectively combating soil degradation and enhancing food security. 🌿 These eight case studies reveal how transformational learning, spirituality, and community efforts can cultivate conscious and regenerative mindsets, values, and cultures and lead the way for agroecological practices. 📖 Explore the collection and find our case study on page 37 – download it to your desktop from here: https://lnkd.in/eE2YuUG8

🌍 Groundswell International’s Global Conference recently brought together our global staff, NGO partners, and allies from four continents in Berlin. Held every two years, this event is a unique opportunity to learn directly from farmers leading agroecological change across 11 countries in the Global South. Through workshops, focus groups, and a Learning Exchange event, we explored stories, case studies, and questions to unlock the transformative power of agroecology and farmer-led innovation. Our key takeaway? Smallholder farmers possess invaluable knowledge of the land. We must listen to their voices and follow their lead in safeguarding our planet’s future. 🌱 💡 Explore key insights from the conference and learn how we can amplify farmer-led innovation: https://lnkd.in/eVwCPPY4 👐This event was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Woka Foundation, The Goldin Group and the Mortenson Family Foundation. We also express our sincere gratitude to the Robert Bosch Stiftung Foundation, who hosted the conference at their headquarters in Berlin.

With 733 million people facing hunger and 2.3 billion (29% of the world's population) facing food insecurity, global food systems account for around 30% of the world’s total energy consumption. These food systems generate a third of greenhouse gas emissions and cause up to 80% of biodiversity loss. This International Day of Climate Action, we celebrate the farmers leading the fight against climate change through agroecology. By adopting regenerative practices like organic farming, water conservation, and crop diversification, these farmers are protecting the environment and building more resilient communities.

This is a beautiful blog post that traces how amaranth can serve as a bridge between cultures. As Chandana Guntupalli of Groundswell International writes, "despite geographical distances and cultural differences, our communities are interconnected through shared practices and values." Learn more about amaranth and the Mayan Achi and Telugu communities: https://lnkd.in/e9jxyTtq

🌱Meet Emmanuel Wango: A champion of agroecology in Burkina Faso After facing notable challenges, including soil degradation, scarcity of rain, and heavy dependence on chemical products, Emmanuel was introduced to agroecology through The Association Nourrir Sans Détruire (ANSD). He quickly mastered regenerative techniques such as Zaï pits, stone contour barriers, and crop diversification, transforming his farm and improving yields. By collecting rainwater, growing local vegetables, and protecting biodiversity, Emmanuel’s innovative methods doubled his barley yield and earned him second place in ANSD’s 2023 Best Producers competition. He has noticed a significant improvement in the health of his soil and has become a fervent advocate of agroecology. Now, his field is a model farm for others, inspiring his community to embrace regenerative farming.

Today we celebrate #WorldFoodDay! 🌱 👩🌾 The future of food systems is #agroecology: an approach that can tackle climate, biodiversity and hunger crises together. This new interactive infographic, courtesy of Agroecology Coalition, invites you to discover its theory and practice. 🔗 Take a look here: https://buff.ly/3BAydl3 🔗 Español: https://lnkd.in/e5UbeuUa 🔗 Français: https://lnkd.in/eFqzd92U 👉 Share and tag other agroecology enthusiasts!

In today's agricultural landscape, large corporations dominate the supply of farming inputs such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and patented seeds. These short-term gains for their own policy interests have resulted in a disastrous cycle of degraded and unproductive land, rising debt, food insecurity, erosion of local cultures, and displacement of traditional farming knowledge and practices. 🥜Agroecology offers a way to restore and build upon Indigenous knowledge, connecting us back to our roots and mitigating the effects of climate change by innovating and transforming food systems from the ground up. https://lnkd.in/e__gShJs

As the field of agroecology grows, important work has been done to harmonize key elements of this practice. In 2019, 197 countries endorsed the 10 Elements of Agroecology. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) led the development of these elements, aiming to create a global consensus on what agroecology entails. These elements serve as a foundational framework for shaping a shared agroecology vision that integrates ecological, economic, and social justice. 🖊️A word from our Executive Director, Steve Brescia: "An essential starting point is ensuring that smallholder farmers have a central role in experimenting with, developing, and spreading agroecological alternatives, from farms to landscapes to policies. Democratizing power and strengthening the agency of smallholder farmers in the co-creation of knowledge is also key to unlocking the transformative power of agroecology."

In Bihar, India, farmers are adopting regenerative biological seed treatment techniques like Bijamrit and Trichoderma to achieve higher yields without reliance on harmful chemicals. They offer a regenerative and effective way to build crop resilience and productivity. Biological seed treatment involves coating seeds with beneficial microorganisms before planting. These microbes form a symbiotic relationship with the plants, improving germination rates and seed growth, increasing disease resistance, and improving soil health. Bijamrit is a popular bio-inoculant in India, often made with cow dung, urine, and local soil. It contains a diverse community of beneficial microbes that can enhance plant growth and health. Trichoderma is a fungus, a powerful biocontrol agent that can help suppress soil-borne diseases in various crops, including rice. This approach offers a promising path forward for regenerative rice cultivation in India and beyond, offering farmers an opportunity to increase their income and enhance their well-being while protecting the environment.