Cymraeg LWA have just launched a campaign to advocate for more support for agrobiodiversity on farms.
What is agrobiodiversity?
Agrobiodiversity is the umbrella term given to all aspects of biodiversity that relate to agriculture and food.
It includes the genetic resources of: crops (e.g. vegetable, fruit and grain varieties) pastures and meadow, trees, wild plants and flowers, medicinal plants and herbs, domesticated animals (e.g. cows, pigs and sheep), wild animals (e.g. insects, birds and small mammals), fish and aquatic organisms, microbes and fungi.
But agrobiodiversity is more than just about genetic resources, it’s also about how they interact with the environment, and the systems and practices used by farmers and land workers to manage them.
What’s the aim of the campaign?
Our campaign will help to deepen people’s understanding of agrobiodiversity, what it means, what it looks like practice and why it’s so fundamental to agroecology and the survival of our food system.
We’ll also be working with policymakers to advocate for agrobiodiversity and to call for specific support packages which will enable farmers, growers and landworkers to revive diversity on their farms; from keeping native breed livestock, to growing diverse grain varieties and having the ability to save and share open-pollinated seed.
To launch the campaign we worked with The Right to Roam Films to produce a series of short videos which explore what agrobiodiversity means to different farmers, growers and landworkers. You can watch the videos by clicking on the below links:
- What is Agrobiodiversity?
- Agrobiodiversity is In Our Hands
- Agrobiodiversity is The Web of Life
- Agrobiodiversity is The Living Landscape
- Agrobiodiversity is They Key to Resilience
Want to get involved?
We’re looking to create a network of Agrobiodiversity Champions who can be advocates for agrobiodiversity by hosting farm tours, speaking to press and media, and sharing their stories and case studies of how agrobiodiversity is the key to creating thriving, resilient food and farming systems.
If you are interested in becoming an Agrobiodiversity Champion please email yali.bantonheath@staging.landworkersalliance.org.uk for more information on how to sign up and get involved.
