The serious crises facing humanity, which simultaneously threaten the global economy, peace and the ecological integrity of the planet, pose a serious threat to agriculture and global food security.
Miguel Altieri, inventor of agroecology, together with various supporters of the cause, offers a profound reflection on healing the social and environmental fracture we are experiencing. A text that we share in every word. In line with the program which Dario Dongo, founder of GIFT – Great Italian Food Trade, aims to represent in Strasbourg by participating in the upcoming European elections.
Industrial agriculture, a dystopian future
Industrial agriculture and intensive farming, which occupy the majority of the global agricultural surface, are part of the problem as they represent one of the main factors altering the biosphere, emitting no less than 30% of greenhouse gases.
This agriculture it is expanding more and more, to the detriment of natural ecosystems, of the landscape that is our common home, expelling peasant and indigenous populations, not solving world hunger and leaving an enormous ecological footprint associated with deforestation and the intensive use of agrochemicals and transgenic products .
For ‘true’ food sovereignty
The dependence of food systems it was highlighted with the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict which caused the prices of fertilizers, fuel and food to skyrocket, demonstrating that true food sovereignty is necessary for all communities in the world.
It hurts us directly this War in Ukraine, as in Gaza, as in 31 other countries, with its shameful sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of innocent victims and young useless warriors, of waste of resources invested in weapons, of destruction of cities as well as of nature and land and animals.
Fortunately there is an alternative path: agroecological agriculture, capable of mending the social, human and environmental fracture created by the war against nature.
Agroecology, care
Agroecology is led in various corners of the world by movements of farmers and citizens in solidarity, with concrete actions towards a path of socioeconomic equality and ecological sustainability.
Spread all over the world there are thousands of groups in cities and rural areas engaged in initiatives for truly sustainable agriculture that conserves biodiversity, adapts to climate change and addresses issues of hunger, poverty and social justice.
Be part, not counterpart
Agroecology it can lead to peace and solve the ecological problems of the planet, but it also requires the development of a spiritual relationship between man and the environment and reaffirms the concept of harmonious coexistence with all living beings on earth.
It is increasingly necessary to see the ecological crisis, war and climate change as a spiritual as well as an ecological and political challenge.
Without healthy land, there are no healthy people and without them, there can be no peace between human beings and between them and nature.
We recognize each other in this agroecological practice, which means feeling part, never a counterpart.
From many parts of the world, we launch this appeal to gather and unite the commitment of many for the Earth and not war.
Miguel Altieri, University of California, Berkeley and Centro LatinoAmericano de Investigaciones Agroecologicas – CELIA
Clara Nicholss, University of California, Berkeley
Lucio Cavazzoni, Bolognese Apennines BioDistrict
Carlo Triarico, Italian Association of Biodynamic Agriculture
Maurizio Agostino, Humus Network
Michele Monetta, Organic Producers Union
Rada Zarcovik, Founder and president of the “Together” Frutti di pace” Srebrenica cooperative, co-founder of the women in black movement;
Gaio Cesare Pacini, Professor Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry Sciences and Technologies DAGRI
Fabio Caporali, former Full Professor of Agricultural Ecology at the University of Tuscia
Silvia Francescon, Head of Ecology Agenda of the Italian Buddhist Union
Jason Nardi, Italian Solidarity Economy Network
Rita Brugnara, landscape designer
Nicholas Bawtree, Terra Nuova Edizioni
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
