Better Cotton’s Post

25 top philanthropies are calling for a tenfold increase in funds to tackle urgent global agricultural and environmental issues. They emphasize the need to shift away from fossil fuels and agrochemicals in favor of agroecology to align with the Paris Agreement's 1.5ºC goal. The estimated cost of a global transition to agroecology and regenerative approaches is USD 250-430 billion per year, less than 5% of the hidden costs of at least USD 12 trillion per year — 10% of global GDP — that include #Hunger and #Malnutrition, #EnvironmentalDamage, lost worker productivity, and #Healthcare. Current philanthropic, public, and private investments in agroecology and regenerative approaches are estimated to be USD 44 billion per year leaving an estimated USD 206-386 billion gap. A tenfold increase is required to support this much-needed transformation. https://lnkd.in/dPT6sb2j

what we are reading 📚 Building inclusive and empowering A agrifood systems for resilience. This essay highlights the need to provide women with equal access to information and technology to boost resilient agrifood systems. Read more:https://lnkd.in/dEdkTwmc

Did you know? 70-80 per cent of agricultural production in Kenva is done by women. Evidence shows that despite women's substantial contribution to agri-food systems, there are perpetual barriers and challenges that need to be addressed. Key among the many issues women face is the limited access to resources such as land, secure tenure, productive assets, credit and regulatory rights, and fair wages. Preliminary findings show that where women have been supported to access climate-smart farming skills, access to credit, supported to formalise groups/cooperatives and received productive assets such as, solar-driven chicken incubators, solar pumps for micro-irrigation, improved poultry and dairy goat breeds…. ...📈 These interventions have led to a triple increase (read that again, TRIPLE INCREASE) in: ✅ Household food security 🥗 Improved family nutrition 💵 Income for women farmers Let's stand together and champion the cause of these remarkable women, breaking down barriers, and ensuring their contributions are recognized and supported. Together, we can unlock the true potential of women in agriculture, leading to lasting benefits for families, communities, and the entire nation. #WomenInAgriculture #FoodSecurity #UnlockingEve https://lnkd.in/eW6uSTyY

Women long been the leaders shaping our food systems. In the Mayan era. women would grow, gather and process Maize for food and fiber. As some of the first stewards of the land, women in many indigenous communities across North America were responsible for growing, harvesting, saving seeds, and cooking foods to feed their villages. Some of the first farmers and ranchers in the 19th century were women, passing down generational farmland to their daughters. And today, women continue to hold important roles in sustaining our food and fiber systems, such as policymakers, industry organizers, educators, advocates, and those in the field growing our foods and fibers. And yet! Did you know that on average, women-run farms produce 20 to 30 percent less than farms run by men? The reason for this “crop gap,” according to the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization, has nothing to do with their aptitude for farming and everything to do with the gender-specific obstacles. Barriers such as lack of access to education, land, financing, suitable working conditions, and equal treatment put female farmers at a significant disadvantage before they ever pull a weed or plant a seed. This is one of the many reasons why we cannot continue to leave farmworkers out of the conversation around regenerative agriculture. Far too many agricultural workers involved in gathering and packaging food supply operate in working conditions classified as slavery or labor exploitation. Both domestically and internationally, unfair labor practices in the agricultural system often go unseen and disproportionately affect women. We know that transformational methodologies are needed to shift how we interact with our working lands, but we simply cannot consider soil health without considering the health of the people who work the soil. The Regenerative Organic Certified® framework includes the Social Fairness Pillar because eliminating the exploitation of our labor force is equally as important as eliminating the exploitation of our lands and livestock. When we choose ROC™, we are part of the movement for a better world: 👩🌾 A world where all farmers and farmworkers can earn a living wage with dignity and respect while staying safe from harassment, dangerous conditions, and toxic agrochemicals. 🌻A world where farmers are an integral part of a resilient food system rather than simply a link in the broken food chain. #FarmLikeTheWorldDependsOnIn #FarmWorkerFairness “If you take away land from women in the rural areas, you take away their livelihoods; you take away the very thing that they identify with. We fight. Because we have nothing else to lose.” — Melania Chiponda, land defender in Zimbabwe working with the WoMin African Gender Extractives Alliance.

Why I support youth and women led agribusiness enterprises. It is clear that youth and women's involvement is critical to building a resilient future for our food systems as we address the issues of promoting sustainable agriculture and guaranteeing food security. Getting young people involved in agriculture not only protects our present food supplies but also builds the foundation for a sustainable future. Through the utilization of their inventiveness, vitality, and technological know-how, we can stimulate innovation throughout the whole agricultural value chain. With the use of precision farming technologies and the adoption of vertical farming solutions, young farmers are setting the standard for a revolution in the production, distribution, and consumption of food. Although they have long been the backbone of agriculture, women's efforts are frequently overlooked. It is not only a question of equity to empower women in agriculture; doing so is a strategic need for increasing resilience and productivity. Communities as a whole prosper when women farmers have access to land, capital, education, and decision-making authority. The key to enabling sustainable farming methods that can feed our expanding population and protect the planet's limited resources lies with women and young people working together. We can give them a bigger voice and move closer to a resilient, food-secure future by promoting inclusive policies, offering focused assistance, and setting up forums for cooperation. The priceless contributions made by women and young people to sustainable agriculture and food security should be honored. Let's also invest in their efforts. #foodsecurity #sustainableagriculture #youthengagement #womeninagriculture

The Small Farmer Atlas, a comprehensive satisfaction survey covering nearly 10,000 small-scale farmers in 18 countries on three continents, reveals a heightened level of concern about #sustainableproduction among the farmers interviewed. 👩🌾 👨🌾 🌿 — The farmers we have surveyed clearly see how their work, in many ways, is becoming more complex and unpredictable. On the one side they face worsening #scarcity of resources they need for their #livelihoods; on the other, they face failing markets and governments that offer only limited assistance in conserving these resources or otherwise supporting access to #sustainable markets. — Half of the farmers express confidence in meeting their basic needs. Yet, they all struggle to handle price shocks or invest in measures to improve their farms’ #resilience to #climatechange. —In many agricultural #valuechains there are #genderspecific roles and responsibilities. As such, there may be differences in how men and women assess the prospects of being in #agriculture. — Compared to their male counterparts, women farmers seem to be increasingly concerned with achieving a fair #income, receiving support in the market, and pursuing agriculture in harmony with the natural environment, all of which are critical to sustainable production and livelihoods.This disparity could be attributed to the unequal distribution of power and control over #assets in the  value chain, with women typically having less say in decision-making. 👉 Head over here to know more about the Atlas’ varied findings: https://lnkd.in/gXcyRsJN #sustainability #supplychain #agriculture #sustainableagriculture #smallholders Solidaridad Network Shatadru Chattopadhayay Nitin Rao Monika Khanna Selim Reza Hasan Yeni Fitriyanti Law Chu Chien Dr.Suresh Motwani Prashant Pastore Ramanand Tiwari Anukool Nagi

On this year’s UN International Day for the Eradication of Poverty that draws attention to what it means to live with dignity, we’re pleased to share a number of milestones achieved with our partners towards our 2030 cashew and hazelnut sustainability goals to improve farmer profitability, protect the rights of children and workers, and empower women in farming communities. Progress, published today in our first ‘Nut Trails’ impact report, includes training 100% of female seasonal hazelnut workers in our programs on health and nutrition and labor rights, distributing over US$1million in premiums to help cashew farmers get the best possible value from their crop, and investing in education training and infrastructure to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of over 4,600 children in sourcing communities. With nuts set to be at the heart of the growth in plant-based consumption over the next few years, today is an important reminder of the continued and greater collective action needed to alleviate poverty for the marginalized communities that produce the nuts in our favorite snacks, spreads, bakes, and beverages. https://lnkd.in/gxp5dF9d #EndPoverty #PovertyEradication #GlobalSolidarity #SocialJustice #EradicatePoverty #AntiPovertyEfforts #NoOneLeftBehind #SDG1 #plantbased #nuts

Developing Growth and Feeding Nations through Agriculture's Empowerment of Women  Women are the backbone of #agriculture in #Africa, tending to fields, caring for livestock, and making sure food gets to our tables. They are champions of resilience and sustainability, not just farmers. Women in agriculture foster innovation, support crop #diversity, and defend ethical farming practices in everything from rural communities to urban gardens. They are crucial to protecting our ecosystem and achieving food security. Women are agricultural leaders, business owners, and #educators outside of the fields. They dispel hurdles, challenge preconceived notions, and motivate the following generation of agriculturalists. Let's honour and support the women who cultivate our world as we move toward a #sustainable food future. Their commitment, expertise, and unyielding spirit are reshaping the face of agriculture and assuring a sustainable future Tomorrow is brighter and healthier. Join us @ https://lnkd.in/e97pc7zW in honouring the exceptional women in agriculture who have a significant positive influence on their #communities and the world. #WomenInAgriculture #EmpowerHerAg #SustainableFarming #FoodSecurity

Another approach to sustainability in Africa Opening Bukomolo Clinic in 2007 was one of the best dreams come true for the community. They celebrated because hope to get treatment for their diseases had come. At GWI, this was an achievement to contribute to health development in the country. But there was one thing that GWI had to consider too. And this was how to sustain the daily running of the clinic. GWI hoped to sustain the clinic on Fees levied on patients for the services they receive but it is so difficult to raise even 15% on the total clinic monthly expenditure (salaries, stock medicines, buy medical equipments, PPEs, lab supplies, fuel, & utilities among others). Bukomolo is a peasant community located in eastern Uganda, Africa. A community with low economic standard, no electricity, poor housing, no shop, no school & families depend on digging to get food & other basic needs. So, five years ago, GWI started a sustainability plan. One of them was to get agriculture equipment and this included a hand tractor, groundnut sheller and groundnut grinder.  The target was to improve on how much the families in the community could cultivate to get more food as well as introducing economic mind. The grinder & sheller were to help on food processing & to get into better market. To-date, the clinic receives about 30% monthly financial support from the agriculture equipment. “We are glad because this approach is enabling us to cover some of the deficits at the clinic” says GWI CEO Grace Nakajje. But still, Nakajje is calling for any individual or organization willing to support the clinic to join.