Agro-forestry is a collective name for land-use systems and technologies where woody perennials (trees, shrubs, palms, bamboos, etc.) are deliberately used on the same land-management units as agricultural crops and/or animals, in some form of spatial arrangement or temporal sequence. Agro-forestry is a dynamic, ecologically-based, natural resource management practice that,…
Conservation Agriculture (CA) is an agro-ecosystems management approach aimed at improving and sustaining agricultural productivity, increasing profits and food security while preserving and enhancing the resource base and the environment. CA is characterised by three interrelated principles.
Integrated agriculture provides high quality food and other products by using natural resources and regulating mechanisms rather than polluting chemical inputs to secure sustainable farming. The agronomic techniques and biological / physical / chemical methods are carefully selected and balanced taking into account the health of people (i.e. farmers and…
This section addresses integrated farming approaches that have been promoted as alternatives to Green Revolution agriculture since the 1990s for self-sufficient farming. The New Theory farming system in Thailand and the VAC system in Vietnam (VAC in Vietnamese is Vuon, Ao, Chuong which means “garden/pond/ livestock pen”) consist in highly…
Organic agriculture aims at sustaining the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and natural cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of chemical inputs with potentially adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote…
The System of Rice Intensification, known as SRI is an agro-ecological approach for increasing rice productivity (and more recently other crops) by changing the management of plants, soil, water and nutrients.
ALiSEA Online Library contains a wide range of agro-ecology’s documents: backgrounds, case Studies and initiatives fact sheets, presentations, policy documents, toolkits and IEC Materials. All documents are searchable via their Agro-ecological School(s), country, or type. Access now.
By Nguyễn Thị Trang – PHANO The ALiSEA network and ASSET project participated and shared their experiences at the DeSIRA Connect Days Asia & Pacific 2025 held in Hanoi from 14-15-16 January 2025. The workshop was co-organized by the DeSIRA LIFT Community, the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), and the Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD), with financial support from the European Union (EU). This event brought together over 70 participants from 17 countries including research organizations, farmer organizations, NGOs, private sector entities, and policymakers, to promote Agroecology, Climate Smart Agriculture transitions and sustainable food systems. Objectives of all the workshop Share experiences & good practices from DeSIRA projects Support & scale up innovations with a focus on agroecological approaches. Strengthen collaboration between operational partners, research, and extension services. Contribute to the new EU/IFAD program through insights gained from the event. The workshop emphasized the importance of the collaboration between research, extension services, education, and policies to support food system transitions. Key Highlights of the workshop Agricultural Ecosystem Innovation: Mr. Dao The Anh (VAAS, PHANO) stated the need to create a comprehensive innovation environment to encourage local creativity and adapt solutions to specific contexts. […]
Agrisud International For 30 years, Agrisud International, a non-profit association under French law, has been supporting the most vulnerable populations to rise from a state of precariousness to economic and social autonomy. Agrisud International promotes economic growth through the creation of very small family businesses, especially in the agricultural sector. These businesses are viable and sustainable, because they are economic and agro-ecological, because they are well anchored in the local market, and because families are accompanied throughout a professionalization process. Agrisud pursues its objective in 15 countries in Africa, Asia, and South America. The Organic value chains development Project The project is implemented in the scope of the decentralized cooperation program between the Nouvelle Aquitaine Region (France) and the Province of Lao Cai (Vietnam), which has existed for 20 years. It is aligned with the national policy, regarding the development of organic farming. In its plan for the development of organic production for the period 2021-2025, the People’s Committee of Lao Cai provides for the capacity building of DARD staff, technicians, communal staff and farms. The province has also targeted two priority crops for the development of organic farming (tea and cinnamon), as well as the production areas to be […]
By Nguyễn Thị Trang – PHANO The Agroecology Learning Alliance in Southeast Asia (ALiSEA) in Vietnam organized a field trip from November 24 to 26, 2024, as part of the ASSET Project. The event brought together 13 local journalists (9 women from Son La, Dien Bien, and Ha Noi) in Son La and Dien Bien provinces. This activity aimed to equip participants with knowledge, practical experience, and communication skills related to Agroecology. Highlights of the Field Trip During two days of workshops and field visits in Son La and Dien Bien provinces, the journalists had the opportunity to: Sharing the concepts, principles, and advantages of agroecology through meeting facilitated by ALiSEA Vietnam, and ASSET staffs. Visit and collect databases from practical agroecological models in Mai Son, Son La province, and Tuan Giao, Dien Bien provinces, including: Integrated crop-livestock systems. Sustainable cultivation solutions for coffee growers. Intercropping models of macadamia and forage crops. Use of bio-fertilizers for soil restoration. Raising Awareness: The journalists gained a deeper understanding of the sustainability and positive impacts of agroecology on the economy, environment, and society. Strengthening Connections: The field trip fostered stronger ties between journalists, farmers, and experts while laying the groundwork for high-quality media […]
