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Membership of the ZNU in the Family Farming Knowledge Platform
Extending international scientific cooperation between the University of Zanjan and the FAO on Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems, Agricultural Sustainable Development



Extending international scientific cooperation between the University of Zanjan and the FAO on Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems, Agricultural Sustainable Development and Natural Resources Management, and the Membership of the ZNU in the Family Farming Knowledge Platform

Following the visit of Dr. Esmail Karamidehkordi, the Director of International Scientific Cooperation in the University of Zanjan (ZNU), to the FAO in Rome in June 2019, it was emphasized to collaborate on agricultural extension, Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems, family farming, Agricultural Sustainable Development, soil and water management, biodiversity management and Natural Resources Management. As the focal person responsible for the Hub of the SDG 15 of the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) (https://academicimpact.un.org/content/sdgsinacademia-sdg-hub-goal-15), he also had a meeting with Dr. Mohammad Hossein Emadi, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Representative in the FAO and showed the intention of the ZNU to work with the FAO on these subjects and the SDG 15. Dr. Emadi also showed his intention to facilitate this cooperation.

The Family Farming Knowledge Platform of the FAO also approved to add the ZNU as one of the members of Family Farming Knowledge Platform

http://www.fao.org/family-farming/network/detail/en/c/177589

http://www.fao.org/family-farming/background/en/

In December 2017, Resolution A/RES/72/239 (https://undocs.org/A/RES/72/239) adopted by the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2019-2028 the United Nations Decade of Family Farming. The UN Resolution calls upon the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to lead the implementation of the Decade in collaboration with other relevant organizations of the United Nations system and invites governments and other relevant stakeholders, including international and regional organizations, civil society, the private sector and academia, to actively support the implementation of the Decade.

 The Family Farming Knowledge Platform gathers digitized quality information on family farming from all over the world; including national laws and regulations, public policies, best practices, relevant data and statistics, researches, articles and publications.  

It provides a single access point for international, regional and national information related to family farming issues; integrating and systematizing existing information to better inform and provide knowledge-based assistance to policy-makers, family farmers’ organizations, development experts, as well as to stakeholders in the field and at the grassroots level.

Why family farming?

Family farming is the predominant form of agriculture both in developed and developing countries. There are over 500 million family farms in the world.  Family farmers range from smallholder to medium-scale farmers, and include peasants, indigenous peoples, traditional communities, fisher folks, mountain farmers, pastoralists and many other groups representing every region and biome of the world.  They run diversified agricultural systems and preserve traditional food products, contributing both to a balanced diet and the safeguarding of the world’s agro-biodiversity.  Family farmers are embedded in territorial networks and local cultures, and spend their incomes mostly within local and regional markets, generating many agricultural and non-agricultural jobs.  All the characteristics above mean that family farmers hold the unique potential to move towards more productive and sustainable food systems if policy environments support them in this path. 

Who are the Family Farming Knowledge Platform Contributors? 

Hosted by FAO, the Platform benefits from the active collaboration of its contributors including Governments, United Nations Agencies, Farmers’ Organizations, Research centres and Academia with the common goal of identifying opportunities and gaps to promote a shift towards more equal and balanced development.

How to collaborate with the Platform?

The Platform welcomes contributions of all interested entities (such as Research Organizations, Universities, Non-Governmental Organizations, Development Agencies and Farmers’ Organizations) willing to participate in the project by sending factual, notable, verifiable (with cited sources) and  neutrally presented content.

Who are the intended users?

The Platform is intended for a wide range of users, from Government Officers to Farmers’ Organizations, from Academia to Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organizations, all of which need access to qualified knowledge on family farming and related topics.

What are the potential benefits of using the Platform?

Using the Platform as a worldwide knowledge reference on family farming can assist policy makers and other stakeholders by facilitating policy discussion, policy design and decision making on family farming. Easy online access to programmes, legislation, updated statistics, publications, lessons learned, and initiatives fosters knowledge and information dissemination for concrete actions and policy making in support of family farming


Date: 2019-07-13 13:50:35