Small farms as a planetary ecological asset: Five key reasons why we should support the revitalization of small farms in the Global South
by Miguel A. Altieri
President, Sociedad Cientifica LatinoAmericana de Agroecologia (SOCLA)
Graduation speech to ALBA farm training graduates
English translation of a graduation address to the ALBA Graduates of the Education Program for Small Farmers -- Salinas, California, April 5, 2008
By Eric Holt-Giménez, Executive Director, Food First
Agroecological Alternatives to the New Green Revolution for Africa
Outcome of a joint meeting on climate change, hunger, rural development and agroecological alternatives to the Green Revolution
held in Mali, Africa November 26th – December 2nd 2007

Food First collaborated with other organizations to bring more than 150 participants from 25 African countries and 10 non-African countries. Attendees including farmers, pastoralists, environmentalists, women, youth and development organizations, gathered at the Nyéléni Center in Selingue, Mali from November 26th to December 2nd. Field trips to area farms helped to inform the discussion on:
- Climate change and agriculture, fisheries and pastoralism in Africa
- The fight against hunger
- Development aid for agriculture and rural development in Africa
- African Agroecological Alternatives to the Green Revolution.
Documents from the meetings are available at www.moreandbetter.org
The Green Revolution: Alternatives for Agrarian Development in Mozambique
Conference held from August 17-18, 2007
UNAC Report by Ismael Ossemane
Translated by Naia Dourado
Rediscovering rural development--an opportunity or a reason for concern?
Farm workers’ organizations and, more generally, civil society, demand that rural development be a central focus in national policy. More than 80% of Mozambique’s poor population lives in rural areas. The majority of them are poor and marginalized rural workers without the ability or physical space to survive in the current context of development.

