Building Resilience in Tropical Agro-Ecosystems: 5th International Workshop on Building Resilience in Tropical Agro-Ecosystems: Book of Abstracts

Dilanthi Amaratunga (Editor), Richard Haigh (Editor), Kinkini Hemachandra (Editor), Sidda Marakkala Asitha Thushara De Silva Nandaseela (Editor)

Research output: Book/ReportAnthologypeer-review

Abstract

Among agro-ecosystems, tropical agro-ecosystems significantly contribute in delivering development agendas in several ways. Despite its significant at the global and national level, tropical agro-ecosystems are frequently challenged by climate change, globalisation, industrialisation, population growth and market interventions.
Resilient agro-ecosystems hence receives considerable attention within the global policy context. However, the applicability and support for tropical agro-ecosystems resilience have been lagged. Hence, the study was conducted as a part of an initial research to identify the applicable global policy agendas
supporting tropical-agroecosystems resilience. The study conducted a documentary review based on relevant global policies covering the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development, the Paris Agreement, and the New Urban Agenda. The thematic extraction method was used to identify key thematic areas across policies.
The study revealed that the term agro-ecosystem is not directly used in the content of the SFDRR yet provision is given through several other sectors to make resilience agro-ecosystems. Within the scope of agro-ecosystems, agricultural lands and practices can be converted as disaster risk reduction measures which has multiple benefits towards agriculture and risk reduction. On the other hand disaster loss consider the losses of agro-ecosystems. Moreover, under the SFDRR has highlighted the importance of Eco-DRR applications and ecosystem based
adaptation measures. Therefore, aspects of building agro-ecosystem resilience can be directly considered under the SFDRR. In comparison, the Agenda for the SDGs focusses on key thematic areas sustainable agriculture, agricultural productivity, resilient agriculture and agricultural research. The Paris Agreement does not explicitly outline the role of agriculture. Nevertheless, it makes clear that the global community must address climate change’s effects on agriculture to build resilience and enhance food security globally. Though there is no direct mention of the term agro-ecosystems in the Paris agreement, a strong
background to adopt such measures were provided. Recognizing the fundamental priority of safeguarding food security and ending hunger, and the particular vulnerabilities of food production systems to the adverse impacts of climate change. Finally, the New Urban Agenda highlights the pivotal importance towards bridging urban and rural communities in the planning and development of food systems. Under the concepts of sustainable urban management New Urban Agenda has provided opportunities to enhance agro-ecosystem resilience in urban settlements. However, there are limited use of direct terminologies in the New Urban Agenda, yet integrating with 2030 agenda for sustainable development it has provided wide range of opportunities for the agro-ecosystem resilience in urban contexts.
The key message delivered across these global policies is the importance of food security to end hunger and making sustainable food supply through increasing agricultural productivity in a sustainable manner. These findings will provide essential inputs for guiding regional and national policies for agro-ecosystems resilience for a sustainable future. Nevertheless, little attention was given specifically on the importance of tropical agro-ecosystems, and their resilience mechanisms. This can be highlighted as a challenge for countries which mainly depend on tropical agro-ecosystems and for the global food supply. Hence, further research can be conducted to highlight the need of updating such global policy frameworks to levelling up their gaps.
Original languageEnglish
PublisherUniversity of Huddersfield
Number of pages24
Publication statusPublished - 6 Sep 2022
Event5th International Workshop on Building Resilience in Tropical Agro-Ecosystems - University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, United Kingdom
Duration: 6 Sep 202218 Sep 2022
Conference number: 5

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