Reception Dinner

­Session 2: How policies shape agroecology approaches that help to protect and manage agrobiodiversity for better or worse
Details
  • Moderator: Ms Katja Vouri, Agricord
  • Keynote Speaker: Oliver Oliveros, Executive Coordinator, Agroecology coalition: Principles and element of Agroecology
  • Keynote Speaker: Mario Marino, FAO Technical Officer, International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture – Agrobiodiversity, landraces, seed laws
  • Pannel Speaker: Normita Ignacio, Exec. Director, Southeast Asia Regional Initiatives for Community Empowerment (SEARICE), The Philippines
  • Pannel Speaker: Ms. Shabnam Shivakoti, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development
  • Pannel Speaker: Georgina Vargas Catagora, Prof. of Agroecology, Bolivian Catholic University, La Paz, Bolivia
  • Moderated discussion, Q&A, moderator’ wrap up
  • Group Exercise: Preliminary discussion of how FFPOs might advance agroecological approaches Seven working groups centered on the 3 pillars addressing experiences, lessons learned and recommendations
  • Key recommendations from working groups
  • Innovation share fair on agrobiodiverse products and approaches
Objectives
  • This session will tackle how policies shape agroecology approaches that help to protect and manage agrobiodiversity (for better or for worse) and for meeting people’s needs with sustainable use and benefit-sharing.
  • Agroecology as a systems approach is a potent lever in addressing the complex challenges food production systems pose for biodiversity at multiple scales. It offers a comprehensive approach for countries to fulfill their commitments under the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) which sets out an ambitious plan to implement broad-based action to bring about a transformation in our societies’ relationship with biodiversity. This is consistent with the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) which provides a framework for the conservation, access, and equitable sharing of benefits from plant genetic resources, and will therefore play a vital role in the implementation of the GBF, and vice versa.
Activities
Display of forest and farm products of producer groups and organisation

Lunch Break

Session 1: Agrobiodiversity – What it is and why it matters
Details:
  • Moderator: Dr. Ram Krishna Shrestha, Joint Secretary, MoALD
  • Kamal Kumar Rai and video welcome from IIFB: the importance of agrobiodiversity from an Indigenous perspective (15 minutes)
  • Duncan Macqueen, Director of Forests, IIED: report framing agrobiodiversity management
  • Ms Maria Josefina Guadalupe Manicad - Bioversity International: Priorities emerging from prior conversations on agrobiodiversity (15 minutes)
  • Dr. Bal Krishna Joshi, Chief, National Genebank, Nepal: Agrobiodiversity policies and practice innovations in Nepal
  • Damian Sulumo, CEO, Mviwaarusha, Tanzania: Key constraints to agrobiodiversity conservation from a smallholder perspective – and how to address them.
  • Plenary discussion and closing of the session
Objectives:
  • To reflect on the general importance of agrobiodiversity management led by forest and farm producers both in Nepal and globally, and to highlight emerging concerns such as the expansion of monoculture systems and the increasing fragility of those systems to climate change in ways that threaten global food security.
  • Agrobiodiversity is what feeds, fuels and furnishes humanity with natural products and ecosystem services (where agriculture is now the largest land use). The session will involve five speakers who will: present the importance of agrobiodiversity from an Indigenous perspective; introduce a framework for agrobiodiversity management; summarize prior conference outcomes from global programmes on agrobiodiversity; introduce agrobiodiversity policies and practice innovations in Nepal; Outline some key constraints to agrobiodiversity conservation from an FFPO perspective. The framework for considering agrobiodiversity will include policies, traditional knowledge, seed and agronomy, enterprise development strategies, and financing. That framework shapes the subsequent sessions of the conference – and each session is to be informed by FFPOs’ experiences - to set the scene for the focus and theme of this conference.
Activities
Speech and Video PowerPoint presentation

Group Photo and Coffee Break

Opening Session

Chair: Minister, Ministry of Forests and Environment, Nepal
Chief guest: Chief Minister, Gandaki Province
Special Guest: Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Government of Nepal 
Guest of Honor: Ken Shimizu, FAO Representative for Bhutan and Nepal
Guest of Honor: Luis Miguel Aparicio, FFF Manager, FAO
Forest and Farm Producer Organizations’ Representative: Mr. Thakur Bhandari, FECOFUN

Guest:
  • Secretary, MoFE;
  • Secretary, MoALD, Agriculture
  • Secretary, MoALD (Livestock)
  • Director General, DoA, MoALD;
  • Secretary, MoALM, Gandaki Province.
  • Forests and Environment, Secretary, MoEFSC, Gandaki Province.
  • Dr Pratap Shrestha, Chairperson, LI-BIRD
Objectives:
  • Introduction of the structure, focus and participants of the conference (including hybrid aspects) and set the scene for the opening session.
  • Welcome speeches covering FFF program and conference theme.
Activities
Chairing of the inaugural session National Anthem of Nepal and Lighting the Lamp
Registration of the participants
Field visit and excursion
Field Visit Option 1
  • Site 1: Agro-ecological model village, Arba, Pokhara Metropolitan City -13, Kaski
  • Site 2: Bhumipujne Tisdhunga Community Forest and Bhumipujne Agriculture Co-operative limited.
  • Facilitators: Parbat Gautam, FECOFUN and Indra Paudel
Field Visit Option 2
  • Site 1: Maramche Agro-ecological Village and Annapurna Community Seed Banks
  • Site 2: Furketari Community Forest User Group and Furketari Aquafers
  • Facilitators: Rita Gurung and Bishnu Bhusal, LI-BIRD
Field Visit Option 3
  • Site 1: Agroforestry based forage production system integrating livestock in abandoned agriculture land Initiative in Kayerbari, Pokhara-23, Kaski
  • Site 2: Shree Machhapuchhre Uttam Coffee Cooperation Society Limited, Dhukurpokhari-1, Kaski
  • Site 3: Bhakarjun community Forest User Group
  • Facilitators: Racchya Shah, FAO and Kali Subedi, FECOFUN
Field Visit Option 4
  • Site 1: Biodiversity Conservation Information Center, Sundari Danda
  • Site 2: Maina Thapa - Agro-entrepreneur, and Jay B Thapa, NTFP Entrepreneur; Chaur, Begnas, Pokhara Metropolitan City
  • Site 3: The Rupa Lake Restoration and Fisheries Cooperative
  • Facilitators: Santosh Shrestha and Sambat Ranabhat, LI-BIRD
Objectives:
  • Acquire field-based insights on innovative examples of agrobiodiversity management.
  • Gather success stories and lessons applicable in many FFPOs’ contexts and can initiate post-conference discussions and proposals for upscaling of useful actions among the global network of FFPOs facilitated by FFF.
  • Details of site visit options are attached with the introductory agenda documents.

Breakfast

Innovation Share Fair – Take 2 

Session 6: Nature finance – improving flows to FFPOs and IPLCs
Details:
  • Moderator: Pascale Bonzom, Head, Agriculture Team, IUCN Introduction to the speaker and presenter
  • Duncan Macqueen, Director of Forests IIED ‘Nature and agrobiodiversity finance: An overview
  • Elena Aguayo, World Rural Forum (10 minutes)
  • Dr.Devendra Gauchan, Honorary Research Fellow at Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT: Nature based financing options, challenges, and evidence for agroecological farming and agrobiodiversity conservation in Nepal (15 minutes)
  • Dr. Bijendra Basnyat , UNDP (10 minutes)
  • Ms. Shamika Mone is the President of INOFO (Inter-continental Network of Organic Farmers Organisations) ‘Presenting examples of successful nature finance channelled to FFPOs and their challenges’
  • Moderator asks panellists each a question (20 minutes)
  • Q&A from the audience  (15 minutes)
  • Innovation Share Fair – Take 2
Objectives:
  • To explore the extent to which nature finance supports agrobiodiversity and then make the case for more finance for agrobiodiversity and its smallholder/IPLC guardians, explore different finance mechanisms that exist for agrobiodiversity conservation, and showcase some Nepali case studies of financing for agrobiodiversity conservation (either those receiving such funds or those managing such schemes).
  • Smallholder forest and farm producers are the custodians of agrobiodiversity, but partly due to poverty and reliance on subsistence farming. 
  • Eliminating poverty through engaging with market mechanisms and instruments to finance the conservation of agrobiodiversity is key. This can be through the marketing of diverse baskets of products, but also through developing markets for agrobiodiversity as a public good or an ecosystem service (such as through biodiversity credits, offsets, or payments for ecosystem services).
Activities
Introduction to the speaker and presenter

Coffee Break

Session 5: Enterprise innovations that encourage diversification in what is planted
Details:
  • Moderator - Dr Popular Gentle Bhusal, Environment Advisor to Rt. Hon. PMO]
  • Clifford Amoah Adagenera KANBAOCU. financial cooperative to support investments in diversification - (20 minutes)
  • Mr. Thakur Bhandari, Chairperson, FECOFUN: Forest based collective enterprise models: Learnings from Forest Farm Facility
  • David Cahuana, General Manager - Central de Cooperativas el Ceibo RL., Bolivia: ‘Business strategies used by El Ceibo to ensure the protection of agrobiodiversity in cocoa plantations’ (20 minutes)
  • Ms. Sita Pandey, Munaa krishi limited, Nepal: Agrobiodiversity based Market and opportunities for investment and innovation by private sector in Nepal (20 minutes)
  • Summary of the session
Objectives:
  • To showcase innovations in how FFPOs and IPLC groups diversify commercial production to maintain and incentivize agrobiodiversity.
  • Income generation is an important concern for smallholder FFPOs and IPLC groups – but linking any single crop to value added processing and commercial markets can drive an expansion of that one crop at the expense of agrobiodiversity and longer-term resilience. 
  • This session will explore innovative models through which local organizations diversify commercial production, aggregating, processing and selling on multiple products from multiple diverse smallholdings or communal territories.

It will look at business unusual examples of how FFPO and IPLC’s develop and mobilize finances for enterprises that overcome challenges of social, environmental, and economic complexity – paying particular attention to how to deliver required market quantities and qualities across diverse markets from a broad and varied membership.

Activities
Introduction of the speaker and presenter

Launch Break

Session 4: Seed and Farm Management Techniques and Innovations to Sustain Agrobiodiversity
Details:
  • Moderator –Dr. Pratap Shrestha, Program Specialist, Seed Systems and Plant Genetic Resources, Seeds Change, Canada (Formerly USC Canada)
  • Keynote speaker – Mr Bharat Bhandari, LI-BIRD; Farmers managed Seed System in Nepal and its contribution to agrobiodiversity management
  • AgriCord African case study: Learnings from improving farmers' vegetable seed production and management in Mali by farmer organisation led action-research and innovation on agroecological practices: Hamidou Traore, UNCPM (FFPO representative)
  • Yiching Song - Farmer Seed Network in China
  • Panel speaker: Ms. Parbati Bhandari, Chairperson, Community Seed Bank Association of Nepal [Representative from Farmers]
  • Shamika Mone, Inter-continental Network of Organic Farmers Organisations (INOFO) PRESIDENT: Seed keepers Innovative across India connecting it to the global seed keepers.
  • Summary Note: Joint Secretary, MoALD
Objectives
  • To disseminate farmer-led conservation of planting material, including genetic resources, management systems and best practices in seed production, showcase market approaches for farm seed enterprises and document and share information on best practices from local to global.
Activities
Introduction of the speaker and panelist Presentation
Session 3: Traditional knowledge of agroforestry systems and knowledge exchange practices that maintain agrobiodiversity
Details:
  • Recap and review of Day 2 field visit
  • Moderator: Krystyna Swiderska, Principal researcher and team leader (biocultural heritage), IIED
  • Keynote - Alejandro Argumedo, Asociación ANDES (Peru). Revitalising traditional knowledge for agrobiodiversity conservation in the Potato Park biocultural territory in Peru. (15 minutes + 5 min Q & A)
  • Keynote – Dr. Balaram Thapa, Senior Advisor, LI-BIRD: Integration of indigenous agroforestry knowledge systems and practices in research and development for scaling out/up sustainable management of agrobiodiversity/agro-ecosystem in Nepal [10 min + 5 min Q & A]
  • Pannel Speaker 1: Mr. Ongdi Dorje, Member, Nekota Farmer Group, Helambu: “Traditional and local knowledge in agrobiodiversity and production practices”. (10 min + 5 min Q & A)
  • Pannel Speaker 2: IIFB - Ali Aii Shatu, Gender and Women Coordinator Mboscuda Cameroon – Traditional knowledge of agrobiodiversity & agroforestry and knowledge exchange practices in Cameroon/Africa. (10 mins + 5 mins Q &A)
  • Plenary discussion and closing of the session
Objectives:
  • To learn from Indigenous Peoples and local communities about the role of traditional knowledge in sustaining agrobiodiversity-rich farming and agroforestry systems; and how traditional knowledge exchange and transmission can be strengthened. 
  • Indigenous Peoples and local communities have domesticated, improved and conserved agrobiodiversity for millennia based on their traditional knowledge and cultural and spiritual values

This session will explore the vital role of traditional knowledge in maintaining and improving agrobiodiversity and agroforestry systems; and the practices, values and principles that underpin vibrant traditional knowledge systems, including exchange and transmission. It will also explore the threats and drivers of change facing traditional knowledge and how traditional knowledge for agrobiodiversity can be revitalized, including the role of biocultural heritage, markets and enabling policies.

Activities
Introduction of the Keynote speaker and panellist along speech and video PowerPoint presentation

Travel home

Closing Session
Closing Remarks

Coffee/Tea

Moderated Discussion
Details:
  • How are existing alliances addressing the challenges identified? Are they sufficient to deliver the agreed actions?
  • Do they need strengthening or is a new alliance needed?  Pokhara Declaration – Key agreement and way forward by the FFPOs and Key stakeholders
Round Table Discussion: The Way Forward: Exploring the need for a new global alliance on agrobiodiversity
Details:
  • Moderator: Oliver Oliveros & Krystyna Swiderska
  • Uddhav Adhikari, Alliance of Agriculture for Food Nepal
  • Panchakaji Shrestha, National Farmer Group Federation
  • Rita Bastakoti, National Farmer Group Federation
  • Bharat Bhandari, ED, LI-BIRD
  • Agroecology Coalition, Oliver Oliveiros
  • FFF Representative. Luis Miguel Aparicio
  • Thakur Bhandari, Chairperson, FECOFUN
  • Kamal Rai, NIWF
  • Kandra, Yanira Ehrman, MEMBER OF THE GATC YOUTH MOVEMENT, Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC)
  • Chemuku Wekesa, International Network of Mountain Indigenous Peoples.
  • Pius Ranee, The Indigenous Partnership for Agrobiodiversity
  • IIFB (Nepal or Cameroon representative)
Recap of the conference findings so far
Details:
  • Summary of key challenges, lessons & actions agreed from each session: Session leads (5 mins x 4 themes) Discussion (10 mins)
Activities
To identify key challenges and lessons learnt emerging from across the sessions and key actions for each theme