166 | Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Report

Key Messages

1. Interaction of systems. While the great diversity of AKST systems is a major strength in Latin America and the Caribbean, these systems need to interact with each other. The interaction can be achieved through the generation, sharing and dissemination of experiences and by combining and developing the knowledge inherent in the three production systems (conventional, agroecological and traditional) in order to overcome weaknesses and share strengths.

2. Systemic vision. Develop a systemic vision of production
systems by combining the strengths of the agroecological, conventional and traditional approaches in assessing (in the short, medium and long term) the results of all three in terms of cost-benefits and in light of the goals of IAASTD, in other words, to ensure environmental, social and economic sustainability
. This approach considers the social, economic and environmental impact of the application of technologies to agricultural, forestry and livestock production, regulatory and support environmental services and farming extension services.

3. Prevention and environmental restoration. Poor management of water, soils and forests is a serious problem throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The AKST systems should therefore focus urgently on prevention, conservation and environmental restoration and seek to reverse the degradation caused by intensive agriculture. One option may be to adopt technologies that help to restore the natural capital (soil, water, etc.) while at the same time achieving the goal of production of environmental goods and services.

4. Recovery and conservation of traditional knowledge. Promote and intensify efforts to rescue, develop and preserve ancestral knowledge by and for local and indigenous communities by empowering local communities and combining their know-how with agricultural knowledge. Promote training and the generation and ownership of fresh knowledge by local producers and consumers. Develop mechanisms for more effective organization (developed by AKST) of small- and medium-sized producers.

5. Biodiversity. AKST systems should focus their strategies
on the conservation and proper management of biodiversity.
Biodiversity, at different levels (genes, species, ecosystems and landscapes) performs ecological functions, which are the functions that produce environmental goods and services. Biodiversity is an important source of opportunities for the development of new products and new economic activities. Through proper management, it is able to respond to the growing demand for food and other products in a context of economic and climatic changes. Environmental services (such as carbon sequestration, ecotourism, landscaping, or the storage and purification of water) need incentives for conserving biodiversity, beginning

 

with the preservation of natural habitats and the diversity of landscape ecosystems.

6. Participatory approach. Promote a participatory approach in processes for the generation and socialization of knowledge and in the various development strategies. This approach will help to reconcile the different expectations of the various actors, producers, researchers, officials and others.

7. Research for small-scale producers. AKST systems should prioritize research (basic, applied, adaptive and strategic) to meet the demands of small producers: to improve the quality of life of local populations and to promote social and gender equality and a healthy environment and not only to improve productivity.
Without an understanding of the underlying environmental and social mechanisms that result in inequality, hunger and environmental degradation, it is difficult to address the root causes. Basic research is therefore also necessary. One option is to promote interdisciplinary research to identify the relationships that were never established between the socioeconomic environment, productive landscapes, the biodiversity that is present in these landscapes and the ecological functions that it performs.

8. New institutional mechanisms for knowledge sharing. Create institutional mechanisms to promote knowledge sharing between AKST stakeholders. The synthesis of knowledge and its socialization/dissemination within the three production systems (conventional, traditional and agroecological) requires the use of new institutional tools tailored to each situation. It would be particularly useful to institutionalize the knowledge sharing systems used by private organizations (NGOs, foundations, etc.) and various research and development programs. This would allow for the continuous training of all sectors of society geared to the needs and technologies for the sustainable
management of resources.

9. Strengthening of networks. Promote cooperation among AKST systems in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in the sharing of knowledge and skills. Given the limited human, financial and infrastructural resources available at the national level, research programs (platforms) among AKST stakeholders must be integrated by strengthening existing regional networks and cooperation programs. Regional networks and programs should also extend their activities to other AKST stakeholders, since they are currently mainly restricted to public actors, particularly Nacional Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs).

10. International cooperation. Expand and strengthen cooperation activities and promote joint research by AKST systems in Latin America and international centers (for example, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE)), national research institutes and universities,