Climate-smart agriculture and a sustainable food system for a sustainable-engendered peace

Abstract

In addition to increasing extreme events due to climate change, losses of ecosystem services, soil depletion, water scarcity, and air pollution, in most emerging countries the importation of basic food items, especially corn, soya beans, and wheat, has increased. These countries often purchase genetic modified grains which might affect their biodiversity. The present chapter proposes a climate-sustainable agriculture with food sovereignty (CSAFS) that combines the climate-smart agriculture promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations with the recovery of local food cultures, environmental diversity, and healthy food intake from a gendered perspective. This approach deepens the concept of food sovereignty from Via Campesina, the international movement which coordinates small and medium scale agricultural producers and workers across the globe. This case study of Mexico illustrates the nutritional impact on poor people of industrialised and imported food. In 2018, half of all Mexicans live in conditions of poverty, with informal jobs and insufficient income.