1st session of the intergovernmental working group on the rights of peasants
and other people living in rural areas
Geneva, 15/07/2013
Peasants are part of the
solution
for the climate change
Facts and data
Eva Torremocha
Revista Soberanía Alimentaria,
Biodiversidad y Culturas
The problem
How and how much the industrial food system
contributes to the climate crisis?



Conquering land by deforestation: 15-18%
Intensive farming model with chemical
fertilizers, manure and petrol-dependent
machines and irrigation system :11-15%
Transport of inputs and food (specially
animal feed): 5-6%
The problem (2)



Processing and packing demands lots of
energy: 8-10%
Freezing and retail need a cold distribution
system for ready made food: 2-4%
Waste of nearly a half of all the food
produced: 3-4%
BETWEEN 44% AND 57% OF ALL GHG COME
FROM THE GLOBAL FOOD SYSTEM
Special focus on soils – data




Soils have lost 30 to 75% of their organic matter during
the 20th century
25 to 40% of the CO2 excess in the atmosphere comes
from the destruction of soils
The continuous use of correct farming practices would
allow the offset of between 24 and 30% of current
global annual GHG emissions
In 50 years, with the rights policies and incentives,
worldwide, soil organic matter content could be restore
to pre industrial agriculture levels.
SOILS MUST BE PART OF THE SOLUTION
Soils are part of the solution – how?

Increasing organic
matter content in
soils



Diversifying
cropping systems
Better integration
of crops and animal
production
Increasing trees
presence and non
cultivated
vegetation on
farming lands
Higher
organic
matter
content
Higher soil
fertility
Higher
production
potential
Higher
capacity to
hold water
Higher
soils
quantities
(less
erosion)
Soils with organic matter are part of the
solution what for?
They are the solution for
 Soil erosion
 Alkalinity in tropical soils
 Climate change mitigation: decreasing GHG
emissions
 Climate change adaptation - Better resilience
to droughts and floods
 Pest and diseases management, better
controlled through biological activity
More solutions – which
farming/distribution model?

Shift to local markets and shorter circuits of
food distribution

Integration of crops and animal production

Stopping deforestation and land clearing
POVERTY AND HUNGER ARE ALSO ADRESSED
Soils are part of the solution – how?

Increasing organic
matter content in
soils

Diversifying cropping
systems
PEASANTS

Better integration of
crops and animal
production
PEASANTS

Increase of trees and
non cultivated
vegetation on
farming lands
PEASANTS
Higher
organic
matter
content
Higher soil
fertility
Higher
production
potential
Higher
capacity to
hold water
Higher soils
quantities
(less
erosion)
Solutions – which farming/distribution
model?



Shift to local markets
and shorter circuits of
food distribution
PEASANTS
Integration of crops
and animal production)
PEASANTS
Stopping deforestation
and land clearing
POVERTY AND
HUNGER ARE ALSO
ADRESSED
Conclusion


GHG emissions can be cut in half within few decades
Peasants have the knowledge, the experience, the
genetic ressources, the commitment and the
willingness to do so.
THERE IS NO SOLUTION WITHOUT PEASANTS
Final statement
IFOAM position on smallholders
“To further advance the rights of peasants and other
people working in rural areas, there is a need to
elaborate a new international human rights instrument,
(…) It should recognize new rights of peasants and
other people working in rural areas, such as the rights
to land, to seeds and to the means of production.
IFOAM calls on all sectors of civil society, business and
government to take responsibility and action for a
better world for smallholders and, therefore, for
humankind”.

Thanks!