Are you ready to dive into how we can build a future where farming and nature thrive together? It all starts with smart rules and strong organizations. The CGIAR’s Multifunctional Landscapes Science Program (MFL SP) is working with communities all over the world to make this happen!
Building Bridges: Policies and Institutions
Imagine a world where farming helps, not hurts, our planet. That’s the goal of the MFL SP. They team up with local and national governments to create policies that support both farming and the environment. It’s about getting everyone on the same page!
Breaking Down Silos
The MFL SP focuses on connecting different sectors like agriculture and environment. They make sure that local groups, like water user associations, have the resources to manage things effectively.
It is also about changing the “rules of the game,” from laws to everyday habits, to help sustainable practices thrive.
Governance: Working Together
For landscapes to thrive, everyone needs to be involved. The MFL SP supports community groups, local governments, and even businesses to work together.
This means making decisions that are inclusive and based on what’s happening on the ground, while also keeping bigger environmental goals in mind.
Smart Solutions for a Healthier Planet
The Program uses a process to find out what works best, testing solutions at different levels, from farms to protected areas. This includes:
- Climate-smart strategies
- Nature-positive approaches
- Regenerative farming
These practices help optimize landscape functionality from farms to protected areas.
Measuring Success: Tools and Indicators
To make sure things are on track, the MFL SP uses a comprehensive set of tools and indicators to measure the diverse dimensions of performance, including environmental health, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. This helps them:
- Track environmental health
- Biodiversity
- Ecosystem services
They align these indicators with global goals like the Rio Conventions and Sustainable Development Goals, providing data for countries and communities to track their progress.
Kenya’s Success Story: Agroecology in Action
In Kenya, the Nature Positive Initiative helped shape farming policies that are good for biodiversity. Vihiga County even created an Agroecology Policy that supports:
- Biodiversity conservation
- Sustainable agriculture
- Community seed systems
Reforming Seed Policies
Nature Positive also played a key role in reforming Kenya’s seed policies. This ensures that local seed varieties and farmer-managed systems are valued and supported. When new farming practices work well, it’s important to get them into policies so everyone can benefit!
Agroecology: A Strategy for Transformation
The Agroecology Initiative has been vital in strengthening policies across multiple countries. In Kenya, it supported the creation of the National Agroecology Strategy for Food System Transformation (2024–2033). This promotes sustainable practices and ensures coordinated action across counties.
Global Impact: Biodiversity and Agroecology
The Agroecology Initiative is making a difference in countries like Lao PDR, Peru, Senegal, and Tunisia. These countries are working together to create and implement agroecological practices.
Vietnam’s Commitment to Sustainability
CGIAR experts helped Vietnam integrate nature-positive solutions into its food system strategy. This shows the government’s dedication to sustainable, climate-resilient, and healthy diets.
Burkina Faso: Supporting Neglected Species
In Burkina Faso, Nature Positive is tackling issues of agricultural biodiversity by promoting policies around neglected and underutilized species (NUS). This helps:
- Diversify livelihoods
- Improve nutrition
- Build resilience against climate shocks
Peru and Laos: Regional Strategies
In Peru, efforts led to the creation of the first Regional Strategy for the Promotion of BioTrade with an agroecological approach. In Laos, partnerships are establishing platforms to build coherence across national food, land, and water policies.
Empowering Institutions and Reforming Governance
It’s not just about policies, but also about empowering institutions to put them into action.
East Africa and Tunisia: Land-Use Planning
The Livestock and Climate Initiative has significantly influenced land-use planning in pastoral areas of East Africa and Tunisia. This includes empowering communities to manage and restore communal lands.
Tunisia’s Collaborative Governance
In Tunisia, collaborative governance approaches have improved resource management. Local communities are actively involved in making decisions about land use.
True Cost Accounting: Revealing Hidden Costs
CGIAR’s work on True Cost Accounting (TCA) in Kenya and Viet Nam revealed the hidden environmental and social costs of food production. This sparked important discussions about integrating these costs into decision-making.
Global Stage: Shaping Sustainable Landscapes
CGIAR helps shape global frameworks for sustainable landscapes through the Environmental Health & Biodiversity Impact Area Platform (EHBIAP).
Aligning with Global Goals
By aligning with international frameworks like the Rio Conventions and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), CGIAR provides critical environmental metrics. This helps guide sustainable business decisions and global policy dialogues.
Through all these efforts, CGIAR’s Multifunctional Landscapes Science Program is showing how integrated policies and strong institutions can drive the global transition toward sustainable food systems.
By connecting local actions with global sustainability goals, CGIAR initiatives are building a resilient future for food systems, landscapes, and livelihoods.
Each member shares a commitment to accuracy, transparency, and engaging storytelling to keep you informed and motivated to make a difference.
