Key Messages
1. Interaction of systems. While the great diversity of
AKST systems is a major strength in Latin America
and the Caribbean, these systems need to interact
with each other. The interaction can be achieved through
the generation, sharing and dissemination of experiences
and by combining and developing the knowledge inherent
in the three production systems (conventional, agroecological
and traditional) in order to overcome weaknesses and
share strengths.
2. Systemic vision. Develop a systemic vision of production
systems by combining the strengths of the
agroecological, conventional and traditional approaches
in assessing (in the short, medium and long
term) the results of all three in terms of cost-benefits
and in light of the goals of IAASTD, in other words, to
ensure environmental, social and economic sustainability.
This approach considers the social, economic and
environmental impact of the application of technologies to
agricultural, forestry and livestock production, regulatory
and support environmental services and farming extension
services.
3. Prevention and environmental restoration. Poor
management of water, soils and forests is a serious
problem throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The AKST systems should therefore focus urgently on prevention,
conservation and environmental restoration and
seek to reverse the degradation caused by intensive agriculture.
One option may be to adopt technologies that help
to restore the natural capital (soil, water, etc.) while at the
same time achieving the goal of production of environmental
goods and services.
4. Recovery and conservation of traditional knowledge.
Promote and intensify efforts to rescue, develop
and preserve ancestral knowledge by and for local
and indigenous communities by empowering local
communities and combining their know-how with agricultural
knowledge. Promote training and the generation
and ownership of fresh knowledge by local producers and
consumers. Develop mechanisms for more effective organization
(developed by AKST) of small- and medium-sized
producers.
5. Biodiversity. AKST systems should focus their strategies
on the conservation and proper management
of biodiversity. Biodiversity, at different levels (genes, species,
ecosystems and landscapes) performs ecological functions,
which are the functions that produce environmental
goods and services. Biodiversity is an important source of
opportunities for the development of new products and
new economic activities. Through proper management, it is
able to respond to the growing demand for food and other
products in a context of economic and climatic changes.
Environmental services (such as carbon sequestration, ecotourism,
landscaping, or the storage and purification of water)
need incentives for conserving biodiversity, beginning
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with the preservation of natural habitats and the diversity
of landscape ecosystems.
6. Participatory approach. Promote a participatory
approach in processes for the generation and socialization
of knowledge and in the various development
strategies. This approach will help to reconcile the different
expectations of the various actors, producers, researchers,
officials and others.
7. Research for small-scale producers. AKST systems
should prioritize research (basic, applied, adaptive and
strategic) to meet the demands of small producers: to
improve the quality of life of local populations and to
promote social and gender equality and a healthy environment
and not only to improve productivity. Without
an understanding of the underlying environmental and
social mechanisms that result in inequality, hunger and environmental
degradation, it is difficult to address the root
causes. Basic research is therefore also necessary. One option
is to promote interdisciplinary research to identify the
relationships that were never established between the socioeconomic
environment, productive landscapes, the biodiversity
that is present in these landscapes and the ecological
functions that it performs.
8. New institutional mechanisms for knowledge sharing.
Create institutional mechanisms to promote
knowledge sharing between AKST stakeholders. The
synthesis of knowledge and its socialization/dissemination
within the three production systems (conventional, traditional
and agroecological) requires the use of new institutional
tools tailored to each situation. It would be particularly
useful to institutionalize the knowledge sharing
systems used by private organizations (NGOs, foundations,
etc.) and various research and development programs. This
would allow for the continuous training of all sectors of
society geared to the needs and technologies for the sustainable
management of resources.
9. Strengthening of networks. Promote cooperation
among AKST systems in the countries of Latin America
and the Caribbean in the sharing of knowledge
and skills. Given the limited human, financial and infrastructural
resources available at the national level, research
programs (platforms) among AKST stakeholders must be
integrated by strengthening existing regional networks and
cooperation programs. Regional networks and programs
should also extend their activities to other AKST stakeholders,
since they are currently mainly restricted to public actors,
particularly Nacional Agricultural Research Institutes
(NARIs).
10. International cooperation. Expand and strengthen
cooperation activities and promote joint research by
AKST systems in Latin America and international centers
(for example, the Consultative Group on International
Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and the Tropical
Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center
(CATIE)), national research institutes and universities,
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