Local Knowledge & Women in Agriculture
Local Knowledge & Women in Agriculture
Sustainability involves a comprehensive and integrated approach to economic, social and environmental processes. Discourses on sustainable development, however, have focused primarily on the environmental and economic dimensions. The role of social, political, and cultural factors is only now receiving more recognition and multidisciplinary research is directed toward seeking ways of development according to the specific requirements and potentials of particular regions. Natural and social sciences emerge as significant inputs for drawing policies and decision-making with respect to poverty and hunger alleviation, improvement of livelihoods and environmental sustainability.
The IAASTD identifies the risks threatening poor rural households.
Such risks are related to natural disasters, environmental changes, health and safety. At the same time, growing competition and conflicts over access to natural resources are fueling the demand for cheap labor. The main victims of this are women, who largely continue to struggle with low income, job insecurity, deteriorating work conditions and limited access to credit, land, education and health provision. This situation puts at stake a major socio-cultural capital, since the women of rural areas are keepers of a substantial part of the indigenous knowledge related to agricultural and wildlife resources.
This workshop brings together agricultural sociology, eco-psychology and civil society in order to discuss the significance of local communities as stakeholders in the process of food biodiversity conservation, knowledge preservation and livelihood improvement.
This workshop will be held in English.
With the aid of contributions by internal and external participants, this workshop aims to define how academia, and specifically the Universität Hohenheim, can respond to the findings of the IAASTD.
The panel consists of the following 10 minute long presentations:
1. Dipl. Biol. Sabine Brückmann: Senior Expert Sustainability, Women of Europe for a Common Future
2. MA, Ed. lic. Riitta Walmström: Director, Taiga Institute; University of Applied Sciences of Helsinki
3. Ms. Anna Gyorgy: Co-ordinator, Women & Life on Earth e.V.
Moderator: Prof. Dr. Anne C. Bellows, Competence Centre for Gender & Nutrition, Universität Hohenheim