Comment from the Ambassador
Yann Gérain

Agroecology is a key solution to problems of production and food self sufficiency, even in poor-quality soil. It is also recognized by scientists as a major solution to mitigate the effects of climate change and to achieve ecological transition. This project from Terre & Humanisme is particularly well aligned with several of the philanthropic goals of The Comgest Foundation since it is an educational programme designed to teach environmentally friendly agricultural techniques to farmers in 6 Northern African countries. This will ensure the food autonomy of their families and their communities, and therefore their good health, while also giving them the opportunity to make a living from this activity. As the project also aims at raising awareness of the importance of sustainable agriculture and healthy food, it creates a virtuous circle by ensuring the direct distribution of farmers’ products to the end consumers locally through cooperatives and shops.

Description

The purpose of this project is to contribute to the food sovereignty of countries in the Mediterranean basin by promoting a sustainable peasant and family agriculture which preserves the environment, values the farming profession, contributes to climate-change resilience and responds to the consumption needs of the local population.

The three specific objectives are:

- Supporting trainers and local associations in their activities of raising awareness and providing agroecology transition training to local communities - Reinforcing the technical and educational capacities of the trainers

- Stimulating an exchange and experience-sharing network

Terre & Humanisme was created in 1994 and contributes to the dissemination of the scientific knowledge of agroecology techniques in France as well as abroad.

The project beneficiaries will be 12 rural trainers, 7 local partner structures and their members, 600 farmers and 1,500 people such as other farmers, students, associations, and consumers, as well as various national promoters of agroecology (associations, universities, institutions)

Impact / Main indicators

A first impact assessment will be made in September 2021. Expected results include:

• Appropriation of agroecology techniques by local farmers

• Sharing agroecology experience among farmers and raising awareness of civil society

• Improvement of the trainers’ skill

Project sponsors

Terre & Humanisme
www.terre-humanisme.org