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Forming the Future Foundation of Agroecology and Food Sovereignty in West Africa
What does it take for young people in West Africa to move from the margins of agriculture into its future leadership? Through initiatives such as the Agroecology Youth Caravan, a new generation is beginning to explore this question in practice, moving across rural communities and learning directly from farmers, organizations, and each other.
Agroecology vs Regenerative Agriculture, Permaculture & Organic Farming: A Comparative Guide
If you’ve read about sustainable food systems, you’ve likely seen the terms agroecology, regenerative agriculture, organic farming, and permaculture. These approaches often overlap, using practices like composting, intercropping, cover cropping, and limiting synthetic chemicals. They all emerged as alternatives to industrial agriculture, striving to grow food in ways that respect both people and nature. However, each one has its own focus, values, and limitations. Understanding those differences matters, especially as some of these terms are increasingly adopted by actors whose interests may n …
What Happens When a Farmer Stops Buying Seeds, Fertilizers and Pesticides?
Radhika Mahato is a smallholder farmer in Sarlahi, Nepal. For years, she farmed the way most people around her did: one crop at a time, with chemical pesticides from the local shop, and she would buy most vegetables at the market. Most farming decisions were made by male family members, and she used to travel a long way to her field to farm every day. That started to change when she joined hands-on training sessions run by our local partner RWUA (Rural Women’s Upliftment Association). The sessions introduced a different way of thinking about farming, built around what farmers already have acce …
Joining Forces to Support Resilient Food Systems in Haiti: Acceso, PDL & Groundswell International’s Partnership
With the support of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Groundswell International, Partenariat pour le Développement Local (PDL), and Acceso, have been working on a 3-year program (April 2024 – March 2027) to strengthen connections between smallholder agroecological farmers and local market access in Haiti. The program is one of the initiatives of the Haiti Food System Alliance (HFSA), a network of 15 organizations working to transform Haiti’s food systems. Together, we are producing results that neither of our organizations could have achieved alone. PDL and Acceso Technicians in the field in f …
Jóvenes Contadores de Historias vivieron espacios de reflexión y creación en el marco del Día de la Tierra 2026
Cada año, el Día de la Tierra impulsa actividades para discutir la relación entre las personas y el entorno. En Santa Ana Zegache, una comunidad rural del estado de Oaxaca, al sur de México, esa conversación se llevó, con el programa de Jóvenes Contadores de Historias, a un espacio concreto con jóvenes que viven en un territorio donde el acceso al agua, los cambios en el clima y las formas de cultivo hacen parte de la cotidiadinad. Oaxaca concentra una alta diversidad cultural y biológica, con presencia de comunidades indígenas y sistemas agrícolas locales. En ese contexto, el 24 de abril de 2 …
Youth Reflection Circles to Strengthen the Bond with Mother Earth – Earth Day 2026
This article is also available in Spanish. Read it here. Every year, Earth Day sparks conversations about the relationship between people and the environment. In Santa Ana Zegache, a rural community in the state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico, that conversation took shape through the Youth Storyteller Program, facilitated by our local partner Centéotl. “Oaxaca is home to rich cultural and biological diversity, with Indigenous communities closely tied to local agricultural systems. But water scarcity, shifting climate patterns, and changing farming conditions are pressing concern. The workshop ai …