Inter-sectoral Forum on Agrobiodiversity and Agroecology launched
AMBERO Consulting looks back on an important milestone within the project “Biodiversity and ecosystem services in agrarian landscapes” implemented by AMBERO on behalf of GIZ in Kenya (implementation period: 04/2018 – 11/2020). The project aims to strengthen individual and institutional capacities to mainstream biodiversity and manage ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes sustainably and is supported by the Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative (MoAFLC).
In August 2020, the team of AMBERO Consulting, under the lead of Beate Quilitzsch-Schuchmann, successfully launched the “Inter Sectoral Forum on agrobiodiversity and agroecology” Forum (ISFAA) which now provides a platform through which stakeholders on agro-biodiversity and agroecology can interact to share their knowledge and information with each other and can develop policy recommendations towards more sustainable food systems.
This forum for national and inter sectoral issues is the first of its kind in Kenya and will support the agrobiodiversity and agroecology with measures developed by various Thematic Working Groups (TWGs) with regards to the following topics:
- Policy & Law
- National & International Engagement
- Biosafety, GMO’s & Seed Sovereignty
- Principles, Practices, Knowledge Management & Climate Change
- Access & Benefit Sharing
The launch event comprised a multitude of relevant and interesting presentations and discussions, including an overview of recent farmer’s experiences in agrobiodiversity and agroecology by PELUM (Participatory Ecological Land Use Management Association) and a presentation on its current portfolio of agro-ecology work by Biovision.
We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to our implementation partners and all attendees of the ISFAA launch, especially Dr. Jörg Lohmann, Director of the Global Project GIZ Bonn, and Dr. Matthias Braun, Agricultural Cluster Coordinator GIZ Nairobi.
Special thanks to the Principle Secretaries Prof. Hamadi Iddi Boga, CBS, from the State Department for Crops Development & Agricultural Research from the Ministry of Agriculture and to Dr. Chris Kiptoo PhD., CBS, from the ministry of Environment and Forestry for enriching the forum with their contributions.