DeSIRA PROSILIENCE knowledge exchnage workshop in Benin

The Knowledge Exchange Workshop of the Global Programme “Soil Protection and Rehabilitation for Food Security” PREPARING SOIL FOR AN AGROECOLOGICAL TRANSITION will be held from 12 to 16 September 2022 in BENIN

to the Knowledge Exchange Workshop of the programme “Soil protection and rehabilitation for food security” (ProSoil) will take plance in Benin from 12 to 16 September 2022! The Knowledge Exchange Workshop (KEW) will take place in presence and hopefully will give a lot of opportunity to re-connect, inspire and learn from each other and the experiences we have made on the ground. ProSoil has been commissioned by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in 2014 and is implemented by GIZ. Since its existence, ProSoil has been organizing a knowledge exchange event usually once a year, for partners and staff of its country packages. In general, it is aimed at exchanging experiences, mutual learning and networking, since cross-country learning is an important pillar for the global programme.

Since June 2021, ProSoil has also been enriched by an EU co-financing with the focus on agroecological transition towards resilient agri-food systems, called ProSilience. The current agriculture and food systems are largely not sustainable and face several challenges due to climate change and non-climatic stresses, as we can currently see with the food crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine combined with rising mineral fertilizer costs. Non-sustainable agriculture exacerbates social and ecological problems and is both its cause and victim. There is a need to increase the resilience of food systems, (agro-)ecosystems and rural livelihoods.

Sustainable agriculture and food systems play a key role and can be one answer to these challenges. An agroecological transformation of food systems as part of an economy within ecological boundaries that offers prosperity to all is therefore a central task for the future. Securing food supplies for a growing population worldwide, ensuring healthy ecosystems as the basis for life and economic activity, reducing climate risks and lowering greenhouse gas emissions are the central building blocks of sustainable agriculture and food systems. In this regard, agroecology is considered important to strengthen both sustainability of industrial and productivity of subsistence farming systems. It is with this background in mind, that we chose to make agroecological transition the central topic of this year’s KEW. We are looking forward to a week of learning and exchanging about accomplished activities, planned initiatives, and lessons learned in our work to improve soil protection and contribute to advancing agroecological transition.

Co-funded by the European Union The programme is characterized by many co-creative elements and strongly related to ProSoil activities. The field trip to project regions of the country package in Benin will be an excellent source of inspiration and an opportunity to learn about the work of ProSoil Benin, discuss experiences made, reflect jointly about challenges as well as connect with partners and beneficiaries on the ground.