Centre for learning on sustainable agriculture
ILEIA finds, documents, and publishes experiences on small-scale, sustainable agriculture. We believe experiences of this kind are important for enhancing knowledge about family farming. After all, many people, especially in developing countries, depend on agriculture for their living. Sharing their combined knowledge can help improve productivity, generate income, and empower farmers. Through Farming Matters magazine, which has more than 18,000 subscribers, ILEIA reaches people in 150 countries. ILEIA is part of the global
AgriCultures Network, whose member organisations all gather and share knowledge on sustainable small-scale farming.
LEISA Magazine Jubilee
Small-scale family farming offers an alternative approach to the world. Over the past 25 years, many stories have been published in which small farmers show us that they have a crucial role to play in sustainable development. Our jubilee year has been the perfect occasion to spread this message.
We have renewed our magazine, put readers in the spotlight and tried to show there is a lot to be learned from family farming. We will of course continue to do so. Read more on
our jubilee pages.
ILEIA Jubilee Conference
As part of our
25th birthday celebrations, we hosted a challenging debate on the Future of Family Farming on 15 December 2009 in The Hague, the Netherlands. Together with professionals from science, government, business, NGOs and partners from the South we explored what the world can expect from family farming and how it addresses global problems like climate change and food security. During this one-day event, international (field) experts shared their cutting edge perspectives on what small farmers have to offer to the world.
volume 25 - Farming Matters / LEISA Magazine: 4 - Scaling up and sustaining the gains |
| 2009-12-14 - This issue looks at how sustainable agriculture practices have developed and spread over time. We show initiatives that have been taken to scale up successful methods and approaches. Equally, the articles in this issue look at the factors that have hindered the spreading of sustainable agricultural practices. And they present lessons on what it is that has helped some sustainable practices to continue while others have not. We are paying attention to the different dimensions of upscaling. What characteristics does a good practice need for it to be disseminated and picked up by others? What institutional arrangements are important? And what are the policies that encourage or inhibit scaling up processes? How do they come about? How does relevant information reach those in charge of drafting them? Have successful advocacy campaigns influenced local policies? Read the articles. |  | |
call for articles: Issue 26-2 |
 Finance and transition to sustainable farming
Vol. 26-2, June 2010
Farmers need money to finance their farm inputs and labour. For many small farmers it continues to be difficult to access credit facilities through the formal banking system. They depend on informal forms of credit, for instance provided by local money lenders. Interest rates can be very high; on the other hand, money lenders are accessible and flexible, therefore often the only option for small farmers. Read more. |
OPEN FORUM |
On our Forum readers discuss topics such as:
- 'What is the future of family farming?'
- 'How sustainable is organic farming?' and
- 'Livestock and climate change'.
If you would like to participate in the discussions, click here to go to our Forum. |
Global economic crisis: responses from AgriCultures Network partners |
AgriCultures Network partners in Senegal, Cameroon, Indonesia, China, India and Peru give their reactions and opinions on the global economic crisis. It seems clear that there is a shared need to make sense out of what is happening. Also there are several parallels and larger issues emerging from the responses.
To encourage further debate and reflection, the discussion is being continued on our Open Forum. Click the link and share your thoughts!
For a summary of the responses received so far: Read more. |
Learning AgriCultures |
 Introducing a new educational series from ILEIA: Seven modules that aim to increase understanding of the principles and processes involved in sustainable small-scale farming.
The series uses a systems-thinking approach, with examples from practical experiences in the field and ample pedagogical support material.
Module 2 - Soil and Water Systems is now available for downloading. Read more. |
THEME INFO PACKS |
 Welcome to our renewed set of dossiers, now called Theme Info Packs! On these pages you can find additional sources of information relating to the themes:
- diverse farming systems,
- rural entrepreneurship,
- woman and food sovereignty,
- scaling up and sustaining the gains.
Some informations was used when preparing the magazine; some additional information comes from our partners. Please help us improve this section by leaving your suggestions for further interesting material. You can post your comments on every page. Read more |
FROM OUR READERS! |
 "My first sight of your June ’09 issue fascinated me. I was especially taken by your editorial which was very educative. I have found the magazine suitable for many of our village settings: empowering village farmers with know-how, working together and sharing information to focus more on their production.”
This is just one of the many letters and e-mails we receive. Interested? Read more. |
See our latest photos on Flickr |
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Latest E-NEWS |
| News from ILEIA - December 2009 Read more. |
Upcoming events |
| 2010-02-11 - 2010-02-12 -
7th international Biofuels Conference Read more. |
| 2010-02-16 -
3rd IFOAM Trade Symposium - 'Finding the Competitive Advantage, A Challenge in these Uncertain Times' Read more. |
| 2010-02-17 - 2010-02-20 -
BioFach 2010 Read more. |
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