ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED. LIMITED SPACES: 500

Join this exciting workshop to discuss and explore the barriers and opportunities to scaling-up supply chains and infrastructure for agroecological farming. We want to delve into the problems with the current centralised system and look at ways the sector can open up better opportunities for farmers: how could we expand the network of local abattoirs, millers, food hubs and more? How can we ensure that farmers get fair access…

The Shashe block of farms, in the Maszinvgo province of central Zimbabwe, is home to 500 farming families. Together with the Zimbabwe Smallholder Organic Farmers Forum (ZIMSOFF)’s and Shashe Agroecology School, they have worked to revive arid cattle-ranching land into rich, abundant food forests.

The school trains farmers in agroecological farming techniques such as inter-cropping, water-harvesting and farmer-to-farmers exchanges but at the heart of their practice is a special emphasis on seed and food…

Global corporations claim their new technologies will benefit us all, but they could threaten us, particularly small-scale food producers and consumers. Even before COVID-19, the arrival of big data, synthetic biology, robotics and other tech were being hailed as the answers to hunger, climate change and even infectious disease. In the summer of 2020, ETC Group began convening conversations with, and among, civil society organisations, social movement allies and communities with whom we work. “Which…

Las corporaciones globales declaran que sus nuevas tecnologías nos beneficiarán a todxs, pero pueden estar amenazándonos, particularmente a lxs pequeñxs productorxs de comida y a lxs consumidorxs. Incluso antes del COVID-19, la llegada del big data, la biología sintética, la robótica y otras tecnologías fueron aclamadas como la respuesta al hambre, al cambio climático e incluso a enfermedades infecciosas. En el verano del 2020, el grupo ETC comenzó a convocar conversaciones con, y entre, organizaciones…

Co-hosted by MVArc (Portugal) and the Woodland Trust (UK)

Already we are seeing the difference in our weather patterns from climate change. Integrating trees within the farming system can buffer extremes by providing shade for crops and livestock. In this session, we will hear from speakers from the UK, Spain and the USA about the role of trees in a hotter climate, including practical management considerations and benefits for both livestock and crops. Can you…

ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED. LIMITED SPACES: 500

The rise of gene editing techniques, Brexit and other factors have turbo-charged the promotion of genetic modification (GM) in food and farming. At the same time, many of the words, images and metaphors used to oppose GM inadvertently reinforce beliefs and narratives that undermine the cause they are intended to serve. This workshop will help ORFC global delegates to understand the problem and become part of the solution.

GM…

Conventional structures of business ownership have been shown to be completely incompatible with the needs of the planet and society. Short term profit motivated thinking has cost us dearly and the implications of veracious capitalism and the consumerist society that it has created are now coming home to roost. Urgent action is required and business needs to be a big part of this – they can’t just wait for customers to demand action from them.…

Las estructuras convencionales de la propiedad del negocio se han revelado completamente incompatibles con las necesidades del planeta y la sociedad. La búsqueda del beneficio a corto plazo nos ha afectado terriblemente, y las implicaciones del capitalismo veraz y la sociedad del consumismo resultante se está volviendo a nuestra contra. Es necesario hacer algo urgentemente y las empresas tienen que contribuir en gran medida, no pueden quedarse esperando a que los clientes les exijan actuar.…

This session will focus on the US Food Sovereignty Movement (USFSA) and the process of organizing for food sovereignty in the “Belly of the Beast”. We will think together about how we can work across boundaries, amongst different constituencies to mobilize for food sovereignty in contexts, like the US and the UK, from where industrial and corporate agriculture is consolidated and projected onto the world. This session is organized in the spirit of mutual learning…