Revitalising traditional knowledge in food systems

The limits of our current, heavily-industrialised models of agriculture have become increasingly apparent, both in their widespread negative impacts on people and the environment, but also in their inability to adequately adapt to our changing climate. The need to shift, as a society, to more sustainable approaches to food production is becoming ever more urgent in order to overcome these challenges.

Indigenous peoples around the world have traditionally had local and sustainable food systems based on traditional knowledge. Many Indigenous peoples are now actively working to maintain, strengthen or – where they have declined due to impacts from industrial models – revitalize these. In a similar vein, while traditional agriculture in Europe has been significantly impacted by a system favouring industrial agriculture, there are an increasing number of farmers in Europe who have begun the transition to more local and sustainable food systems, often seeking to relearn traditional practices as well as developing new ones. The objectives and practices between Indigenous peoples and those in Europe adopting more regenerative or agroecological practices are often similar – and they face many common challenges.

The second webinar in our Cultivating Resilience series will focus on ways that farmers in Europe as well as Indigenous peoples are seeking to revitalise their traditional knowledge. It seeks to be a practical exchange between those directly engaged in agriculture or food systems on the ground, exploring approaches, innovations, successes and challenges.

Who is it for?

European farmers, Indigenous peoples and communities working on food systems, policymakers, and anyone engaged or interested in regenerative agriculture and the creation of just and sustainable food systems.

What will you learn?

This webinar will explore the connections between trends that negatively affect Indigenous peoples and local communities and those impacting European farmers, with particular emphasis on challenges related to access to land. 

Cultivating Resilience webinar series

Produced by the Forest Peoples Programme, with support from Climate Farmers, the Cultivating Resilience webinar series seeks to create new linkages for knowledge exchange and understanding between small and medium-scale farmers in Europe and Indigenous and forest peoples.

We explore their shared imperatives to adapt to a changing climate, but also the many similarities that exist in their approaches to sustainable food systems and their struggles, and in their relationships to their land and to their environment.

The sessions allow both groups to present their knowledge and practices around a common topic, including considering how different strategies may have potential in their own countries, cultures and agroecological contexts. Upcoming webinars in the series will look at revitalising traditional knowledge, the role of women in food systems, and other key topics.

• To watch the first webinar recording and read the follow-up article, please click this link: Feeling the squeeze: Land concentration and corporate capture in food systems - Forest Peoples Programme