BENEFITS OF AGROECOLOGY
Since its inception, the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) has focused on raising consumer awareness. However, the turn of the century marked a new exploration for CAP. We took the timely step of introducing agroecology as another fundamental means of raising consumers’ awareness of their food consumption.
Though terms like “organic”, “natural”, and “chemical-free” have been used intermittently to impart agroecological messages, the goal has remained the same, namely to protect the environment and raise awareness of food safety and sovereignty.
The Long-term Changes We Hope to Achieve
The increase in food prices, inaccessibility, and unavailability of food during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and the changing climate necessitate communities and urban dwellers to shift away from the modern industrialised agriculture systems. We need to reclaim the roots of our food and seed systems by putting small farmers and indigenous peoples at the centre.
Agroecology, which offers numerous advantages, will be our approach to advance food sovereignty, ensure stable chemical free nutritious food supplies, promote greater agrobiodiversity and build solidarity among farmers and growers in their move towards seed independence and freedom from agrochemical corporations.
Agroecology for All
Our latest publication, “Agroecology for All: Initiatives in Malaysia” explores agroecology best practices through the personal experiences of smallholder farmers, urban gardeners, communities, social and educational institutions and individuals. The publication highlights agroecology as a way to work toward food sovereignty, where the control of seeds remains in the hands of farmers and the land is used in ecologically sustainable ways.
The implementation on the ground demonstrating the viability of agroecology in different localities and conditions, as exemplified in this publication, will be used as evidence-based successes to advocate for policy change to scale up agroecology in Malaysia and strive for the transformative change needed in agriculture.
We need to shift from policies that support industrial agriculture and instead ensure that agroecologically sound seed and food systems, based on the knowledge of small farmers and indigenous peoples, are mainstreamed and supported. Agroecology and sustainable urban agriculture are the way forward to fulfil our future food needs.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
To all our readers: Beginning today we will be posting a series of extracts from our book, “Agroecology For All” on the experiences of smallholder farmers, urban gardeners, communities, social and educational institutions and individuals to raise awareness on agroecology. Look out for the posts.