A new global review has revealed a critical “gap between advocacy and evidence” when it comes to scaling traditional agriculture to fight climate change. This finding highlights the urgent need for a more evidence-based approach to tackling one of the biggest challenges of our time.
The review, conducted by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), analyzed over 200 studies on traditional agriculture and its potential to mitigate the effects of climate change. The results were alarming, showing that while there is a strong push for traditional agriculture as a solution to climate change, there is a lack of concrete evidence to support this claim.
Traditional agriculture, also known as agroecology, is a farming system that relies on traditional knowledge and practices to produce food while preserving the environment. It is based on the principles of biodiversity, soil health, and community participation. Proponents of traditional agriculture argue that it can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase resilience to climate change, and improve food security.
However, the CIAT review found that most of the studies on traditional agriculture were based on small-scale, localized projects, making it difficult to draw broad conclusions. There is a lack of large-scale, long-term studies that can provide solid evidence of the impact of traditional agriculture on climate change.
This “gap between advocacy and evidence” is a cause for concern, as it could lead to misguided policies and investments. Without a strong evidence base, it is difficult to convince policymakers and investors to support traditional agriculture as a viable solution to climate change.
But this does not mean that traditional agriculture should be dismissed as a potential solution. On the contrary, the review also highlighted the promising results of some studies, which showed that traditional agriculture can indeed reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resilience to climate change.
For example, a study in Kenya found that traditional farming practices, such as intercropping and agroforestry, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 50%. Another study in Honduras showed that traditional agriculture can increase crop yields by up to 128% while reducing soil erosion and improving soil health.
These are just a few examples of the potential of traditional agriculture to mitigate the effects of climate change. But to fully harness this potential, we need more evidence. We need large-scale, long-term studies that can provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of traditional agriculture on climate change.
The good news is that efforts are already underway to bridge this gap between advocacy and evidence. Organizations like CIAT are working to promote evidence-based approaches to traditional agriculture. They are conducting research and collaborating with local communities to gather data and evidence on the impact of traditional agriculture on climate change.
In addition, there is a growing recognition among policymakers and investors of the potential of traditional agriculture. The United Nations has declared 2021-2030 as the Decade of Family Farming, with a focus on promoting agroecology and sustainable agriculture. This presents a unique opportunity to gather more evidence and scale up traditional agriculture as a solution to climate change.
But we cannot rely solely on organizations and policymakers to bridge this gap. As individuals, we can also play a role in promoting evidence-based approaches to traditional agriculture. We can support local farmers who practice traditional agriculture, buy their products, and spread awareness about the benefits of this farming system.
In conclusion, the new global review has shed light on the critical “gap between advocacy and evidence” when it comes to scaling traditional agriculture to fight climate change. While there is a lack of concrete evidence, there is also promising research that shows the potential of traditional agriculture to mitigate the effects of climate change. It is now up to all of us to work together and bridge this gap, so we can harness the full potential of traditional agriculture and create a more sustainable future for our planet.
