Home | News
News
-
8 May 13
Leaked document reveals plans for massive land grabbing in Northern Mozambique
The warning arrives from a group of civil society's organizations which have been able to see a leaked copy of the Master Plan of the Pro-SAVANA programme dated March 2013. The document confirms the worst fear: governments of Japan, Brazil and Mozambique are secretly paving the way for a massive land grab in Northern Mozambique. Several civil society's organizations and their partners in Mozambique are now making this plan publicly available, along with their JOINT STATEMENT. Please visit the GRAIN website for more information.
-
7 May 13
The Food Sovereignty Prize 2013. Calls for Nominations
The U.S. Food Sovereignty Alliance is now accepting nominations for the 2013 Food Sovereignty Prize. Since 2009, the Food Sovereignty Prize has been awarded to an organization - rural or urban - that advances the cause of food sovereignty through education and direct, collective action. The Deadline for Nominations is May 20.
-
25 April 13
Principles for responsible agricultural investments
The More and Better Network engages in the process to develop principles for responsible agricultural investments (RAI) within the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) framework. We encourage member organizations of More and Better to take part in, organize local, national and regional consultations and to be active in commenting and proposing changes in the draft principles. The CFS Zero Draft of the RAI principles is now available in English ...
-
11 April 13
Principles and examples of good, responsible investments in smallholder agriculture
More and Better encourages its partners and friends to engage in the discussions about Principles on Responsible Agricultural Investment to be developed by the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and likely to be adopted in October 2014. The first draft of the document will be released this month (April 2013). You can engage by organizing your own consultations and/or participating in consultations organized by others. There will be also Regional civil society consultations and regional multistakeholders consultations organized respectively by the Civil Society Mechanism and the CFS secretariat...
-
11 April 13
WSF2013 | More and Better workshop: A radical change is needed
The World Social Forum was for More and Better a great opportunity to share experiences and debate around agricultural transition and other forms of unconventional agriculture. Our successful workshop Agricultural Transition – into a viable future brought us many encouraging experiences from different countries and diverse actors while confirming, once again, that the environmental and social costs of industrialized agriculture are no longer acceptable among the general public.
-
22 March 13
More and Better at the World Social Forum 2013
We are pleased to invite you at the workshop "Agricultural Transition - into a viable future", organized by More and Better in cooperation with many other organizations, with inputs from leaders of farmers’ and fisherfolks’ organizations, international institutions, scientists and activists. Read more...
-
14 March 13
Donor in the Dark: Putting a spotlight on UK aid to small-scale farmers
A research-report conducted by Concern Worldwide - UK, Oxfam GB, and Self Help Africa into how much of the UK’s aid goes to agriculture, particularly small-scale farmers, and the impacts of this aid.
-
11 March 13
Towards a viable food future, join us at the World Social Forum
Also this year More and Better will be present at the World Social Forum, hosted this time by Tunisia (26-30 March). We are organizing a side event in cooperation with other organizations with the aim to stimulate the debate around agroecology and real changes towards sustainable forms of farming. More than 4000 organizations and networks are already registered into the Forum and more than 1500 activities have been proposed....
-
11 March 13
Post 2015: informal consultation with CFS and CSOs reaction
An informal Consultation with CFS stakeholders was convened by FAO and WFP on February 11th, 2013 in Rome, in the context of Global Thematic Consultation on Hunger, Food Security and Nutrition towards the Post-2015 Development Agenda. Much critics were raised from civil society side regarding the consultation process...
-
27 February 13
A Million NOs to Golden Rice
A Petition to stop the commercialization of Golden Rice promoted by Searice.
2013 has been declared the National Year of Rice in the Philippines, in line with the national government’s desire to achieve rice self-sufficiency for the country. While this may be good on the surface, it is quite alarming that part of the efforts to achieve rice self-sufficiency involves the commercialization of Golden Rice, a genetically modified rice variety that is said to be vitamin A enriched.
Read more... -
31 January 13
Inputs to the Vo drafts of the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition reports.
The High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) has published the V0 draft of the report “Investing in smallholder agriculture for food and nutrition security” and the V0 draft of the report “Biofuel and Food Security”. The online consultation, hosted by the Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition and launched to collect feedback and inputs to improve this early drafts has been extended to the 3rd of February.
Read more... -
16 January 13
A welcome to our new members!
A warmly welcome to ILEIA and the AgriCultures Network as new members of the More and Better. We look forward to strengthening our cooperation with them on issues of common concern, in 2013 and beyond. Both the organizations are pretty much in line with the work that More and Better has done so far, with our goals and principles. For those of you who do not know them yet, we are pleased to include here a brief description of what they do and how they concretly contribute to the fight against hunger and poverty.
Read more... -
11 January 13
Have your say on investing in smallholder agriculture
The High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) has published the first draft of the report Investing in smallholder agriculture for food and nutrition security and is seeking feedback and inputs in order to further elaborate the document. Deadline to submit input has been extended until January 30, 2013. Contribute to improvements!
Read more ... -
27 November 12
Access to land and agricultural investments: building on coherent policies
The approval of the The Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGs) adopted by Committee on World Food Security in May 2012 is a significant achievement in the direction of setting out principles and internationally accepted standards for responsible practices. VGs provide a framework that States can use when developing their own strategies, policies, legislation, programmes and activities.
-
21 November 12
In Surin the First Global Encounter on Agroecology and Seeds
International delegates of La Via Campesina gathered in Surin, Thailand, from 6 to 12 November 2012 for the First Global Encounter on Agroecology and Seeds. The objective of the reunion for La Via Campesina, was “to share experience and construct a strategy and vision on agroecology and seeds, in the holistic understanding that both are part of the struggle to achieve food sovereignty.”
-
7 November 12
Cooperatives and food security
An interview to Elisabeth Atangana as FAO's Special Ambassador for Cooperatives by the Donor Global Platform for Rural Development. Elisabeth explains why cooperatives deserve much attention and why they play a central role in reaching food security.
-
23 October 12
Civil Society and social movements gathered in Rome for the CSM/CFS
A number of organizations from civil society and social movements gathered in Rome in the occasion of the 39th session of the World Committee on Food Security - CFS (15-20th October). The Committee session was preceded by the preparation meetings of Civil Society Mechanism on Food Security and Nutrition – CSM (13-14th October). Several members of the More and Better network intensively contributed to the important work of CSM / CFS; their commitment was crucial...
-
23 October 12
African Green Revolution Forum
By Aksel Naerstad
The second African Green Revolution Forum was held in Tanzania on September 26-28th with about 1000 participants. Most of the participants were from private companies, institutions and governments. There were only a few representatives of farmers organizations, and NGOs. Read more... -
22 October 12
CFS 39 | Statement on the Global Strategic Framework
Statemenent of social movements and other civil society organizations on the Global Strategic Framework of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and list of signatures
http://www.csm4cfs.org/news/?id=86 -
27 August 12
Successful congress for the Pan African Farmers Organization
The first ordinary congress of the Pan African Farmers’ Organization (PAFO) was held in Cameroun August 23-25, with the participation of about 65 delegates from the five regional farmers’ organizations of Africa. The congress was very successful and represents an important step forward for the young organization. Aksel Naerstad attended the congress on behalf of the More and Better Network as cooperative partner of PAFO since its foundation and shared with us the following article ...
-
24 July 12
A new born website to share your knowledge
Have you got case studies, articles, documents concerning sustainable agriculture or experiences of transition to a sustainable agriculture? Please visit Agricultural Transition, and share your knowledge! The aim of the Agricultural Transition website is to show the wide range of sustainable agricultural practices and demonstrates that peasants and small scale producers can nourish a growing population, preserve the environment and contribute substantially to stop the climate change.
-
12 July 12
Agricultural Transition, new publication from More and Better
Agricultural Transition – a different logic is the new publication released by the More and Better Network in the occasion of the Rio+20 Conference, in June 2012. Viable forms of farming exist and are evolving in different parts of the world and many transitions are proving successful. Twelve steps are proposed in the book. together with their supportive policies, to accompany and trigger transitions into a viable food future.
-
25 April 12
Rio+20: a historic turning point or a flop?
This year marks 20 years since the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.The original summit's full name was the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. It was there that the three conventions on climate change, biodiversity and desertification were adopted. The fight for what will be the outcome of this year's conference is well underway.
-
25 April 12
Nourish Our People, Nurture Our Planet
The outcome document from the High Level Roundtable on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture, organized in New York (March 15-16) in preparation of the Rio+20 Conference with the cooperation of More and Better.
-
16 April 12
Green Growth sounds nice, but can it deliver?
A new UNCTAD Discussion Paper (No. 205) reviews the fallacies of green growth in coping with climate change and the implications for development prospects in the South.
-
31 March 12
More and Better is active in the Rio+20 preparations
The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development / Rio+20 is a top priority for More and Better in the first half of 2012. We are working successfully to get agriculture and food issues to be at the core of the Rio+20 Conference and several member organizations are involved both nationally and internationally in the preparation of Rio. Read more...
-
1 February 12
Rio+20: disappointing and very weak zero draft
The so called zero draft of the outcome document for Rio+20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, came out in the beginning of January. The document is very disappointing and weak. It is filled with good words and intentions about sustainable development and poverty eradication, but almost empty of concrete actions, policies for real changes and commitments.
-
30 January 12
UN declares the International Year of Family Farming
The 22nd December 2011, the UN General Assembly has declared 2014 the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF). For the first time in history, an International Year has been promoted by Civil Society.
-
9 December 11
Rio+20: Battles around models of agriculture
More and Better has worked together with many other organizations and institutions to influence governments and the UN to put sustainable agriculture at the center of the Rio+20 Conference (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 10-22, 2012). About 140 organizations have now signed on the document Rio+20 Time to act! which was also sent to the conference secretariat as a formal proposal. The document can still be signed on the webpage; signatories organizations will be invited to the email-list for the work on Rio+20 and agriculture. Read more...
-
9 December 11
Report of the Yaoundé workshop
The report of the workshop held in May, in Cameroon, organized by PROPAC with ROPPA, EAFF, PAFF and supported by More and Better, Terra Nuova, Practical Action, Concord and FAO, is finally online! Also available in French.
-
5 December 11
Viable Food Future / Updated version
Dowload the updated and revised version of Viable Food Future, Part I, (November 2011) available here. Important note for this version: Unfortunately the source on the map on page 27 in the printed updated English version is wrong. We are extremely sorry for that. The correct source is: FAO 2011. The State of the World's Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture (SOLAW) http://www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/022/mb213e.pdf
-
9 November 11
Take part in documenting small scale ecological agriculture and how to transform non-sustainable agriculture
Small scale food production contributes significantly to feeding the world, drastically reduces poverty, cools the planet and revives local ecologies and economies. But this is not well recognized by policy and decision makers. It is, therefore, necessary to document this better and show that providing the enabling environment to develop more viable small and medium scale food production systems would be the most cost-effective way to for the important challenges we face today ...
-
12 October 11
Rio+20 / Report by Fundaexpresion
Briefing report concerning the Regional Preparatory meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean /Rio+20, held in Santiago from 7 to 9 September 2011,by Fundaexpresion.
Click here for downloading. -
1 September 11
Rio + 20: Time to Act!
Since last year, More and Better has worked with an informal group of CSOs organizations, to influence the preparatory process of Rio+20.
The result is being summed up in a document made available in English, French, Spanish and German. A number of CSOs organizations concerned with Rio+20 key issues has already signed on to the document. If your organization wants to support this document or provide comments/suggestions, please write to rio2012agcso@gmail.com and visit http://www.timetoactrio20.org/ for more information and regular updates. -
16 May 11
What characterizes international discourse and action on investment in agriculture today?
We are pleased to publish the presentation made by Nora McKeon at the workshop held in Yaoundé, Cameroun, at the beginning of May, with a focus on 'Investment in Agriculture in Africa.' The event was organized by PROPAC in cooperation with EAFF, ROPPA and PAFO and the economic support of Terra Nuova, Practical Action, Concord, More and Better and FAO.
While waiting for the final report of the workshop (to be finalized in the coming week) the input provided by Nora McKeon can definitely give you a brief picture of the main issues debated in the Yaoundè workshop concerning the international context of agricultural investments.
-
28 March 11
Rio+20 will be important!
By Aksel Naerstad
Twenty years after the Rio Earth Summit, the UN Conference on Environment and Development (1992), and forty years after the first huge UN Conference on Human Environment, held in Stockholm (1972), a new UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) will take place in Rio, June 4-6, 2012, preceded by the third and last Preparatory Committee (Prep Com). The preparation process started a year ago. Everyone who really care about environment and development should be aware of the Rio+20 Conference in 2012. It might be a good possibility for some important and positive decisions, but could also do more harm than good. Our engagement, over the next 14 months, will be crucial on the outcome. -
16 February 11
More and Better at the Annual General Assembly of the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development
Elisabeth Atangana, president of Pan-African Farmers Forum (PAFFO), president of the Plateforme Régionale des Organisations Paysannes d'Afrique Centrale (PROPAC), and co-coordinator of More and Better, attended the Annual General Assembly of the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development that was held in Tunis, the 13th and 14th of January. The objectives of the Assembly were to identify options for improved networking among Platform members, to exchange on processes, activities and messages leading up to the 4th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan; to help agree some key themes for the 2011 work programme.
-
5 February 11
More and Better at WSF2011
Conference
8 Feb 2011 h. 4.00 – 7.00 PM
A Viable Food Future
9 Feb 2011 h. 4.00 – 7.00 PM
Gathering meeting to share experiences and viewpoints and discuss future plans and actions of the More and Bette networkCheikh Anta Diop University Campus - WSF 2011
-
2 February 11
Rio+20: opportunities and challenges
by Aksel Nærstad
The Earth Summit on sustainable development held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 was a very important event. The conference adopted the Climate Convention, the Convention on Biodiversity, and the Agenda 21. In 2012, in Rio, there will be another United Nation Conference on environment and development: the Rio+20 conference. More and Better is taking active part in the preparations and works together with other organizations and networks in order to get ecological small scale agriculture to be a key issue at the conference.
-
3 November 10
More and Better has an important role to play
By Aksel Naerstad, Co-coordinator of More and Better
Many international conferences, institutions and countries have decided to give more support to agriculture and rural development. However, a lot of this support will never be realized. It’s ghost money.
Much of the support which is given, instead, goes to programs which in reality will increase poverty, hunger and environmental destruction in the long run. Sometimes less support is better! There is, therefore, still an important role to play for More and Better. -
29 September 10
A Viable Food Future
The aim of this report is to provide scientifically based facts, arguments and ideas for what is needed to meet some of the most important challenges in the world today. The future of humanity depends on how food is - and will be - produced and provided.
Click here to read more and download the report
-
16 August 10
What kind of food provision should More and Better promote? Join the debate in the MaB general meeting.
More and Better has the pleasure to invite members and friends to take part in their general global meeting to be held Thursday 7th and Friday 8th October at FAO headquarters, in Rome. The meeting is scheduled prior to the 36 session of the FAO committee on World Food Security and CSOs initiatives linked to it.
-
18 May 10
The final declaration of FAO CSOs/NGOs Consultation in Yerevan, Armenia
On 10th and 11th May 2010, 44 CSOs and NGOs, representing national organizations from 10 countries and 9 international organizations of the Region Europe and Central Asia (including More and Better), gathered in Yerevan before the Regional FAO Conference. They discussed issues on the agenda of the 27th FAO Regional Conference for Europe and the relationships between FAO and Civil Society. The Consultation came to a consensus on a number of key issues of common concerns; the final declaration and other useful documents are available at: http://www.csa-be.org/spip.php?article678
-
20 April 10
Focusing on the quality of aid to agriculture. More and Better presents its new publication.
There is an urgent need for more support to agriculture and rural development, but not all support can be a good one. Sometimes less aid is better than more. Both governments in developing countries and donor countries are now giving some more support to agriculture and rural development – even if it is still very little. Will this support sustainable agriculture or an agriculture model which contributes to climate change, loss of biodiversity and soil degradation?
-
21 February 10
Common actions for commitments to eradicate hunger and malnutrition
Many organizations will cooperate and advocate together to strengthen the fight against hunger. One key element will be to try to get governments to make plans for how they will fulfill their commitments to half the number of hungry people by 2015 and to eradicate hunger and malnutrition as soon as possible. We hope that many organizations will take part in this work.
Download the invitation letter to take part in this work here (Word document)
Read the background document here (Word document) -
8 December 09
Policies and actions to eradicate hunger and malnutrition.
A billion people are hungry and the number increases. Women are especially hard hit. There is an urgent need for shift in policies and actions. The documents presented at www.eradicatehunger.org provide proposals for policies and actions to eradicate hunger and malnutrition. They are based on the experiences and political work of social movements, non governmental organisations (NGOs) and others from all over the world during past decades and currently. It is based largely on the food sovereignty framework that embraces the human right to adequate food. Organisations and individuals are invited to sign on to the open letter and summary of the working document. Please click on the Eradicate Hunger! website to read the documents and sign on them.
-
6 August 09
FAO initiates debate on declaration for World Summit on Food Security
FAO Director-General, Jacques Diouf, has invited governments around the world to participate in negotiations to agree on a declaration for adoption by the World Summit of Heads of State and Government on Food Security, to take place from 16 to 18 November 2009 in Rome. To initiate the negotiation process, Jacques Diouf has sent a document to Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Development Cooperation and Agriculture of members of FAO and the United Nations.
-
22 June 09
Peoples’ Comprehensive Framework for Action to Eradicate Hunger: first draft available
The very first draft of the "People' Comprehensive Framework for Action To Eradicate Hunger" is now available in English, French and Spanish. We do encourage as many organizations as possible to contribute to the development of the document. Inputs and comments will be collected until the 1st of September.
Article updated - 9th July. Read more...
-
20 June 09
Declaration from governments to eradicate hunger and malnutrition
A group of individuals and organizations is now working on promoting an initiative for a declaration of commitment by governments to eradicate hunger and malnutrition by 2025.
-
6 May 09
Take part in creating a peoples’ framework to eradicate hunger!
The organizations of the More and Better campaign are now cooperating with the International Planning Committee for Food Sovereignty (IPC) for developing a peoples’ framework to eradicate hunger. This framework will be presented to governments, international institutions and media in October, in Rome at the meeting of FAO’s Committee for World Food Security. Aksel Naerstad, the international coordinator of More and Better encourages people and organizations who are working with hunger, the right to food, food security and sovereignty to send in their views, proposals, etc as soon as possible.
-
21 April 09
The Farmers’ Organizations of Africa address the G8 Agricuture
On 14 and 15 April 2009 five African regional networks of farmers’ organizations (EAFF, PROPAC, ROPPA, SACAU, UMAGRI) have meet in Rome in order to adopt a Common Declaration on the state of african agriculture addressed to the G8 Agriculture that took place in the province of Treviso from 18 to 20 April 2009.
-
2 February 09
Pathways to resilience: smallholder farmers and the future of agriculture
This discussion paper is the result of the efforts of Canadian Food Security Policy Group to examine how the work of our partners in the South might inform Canada's response to the Global Food Crisis. It argues that this response must acknowledge the central role of smallholder agriculture and its long-term sustainability and resilience. A series of six case studies have been written to accompany this discussion paper.
-
24 January 09
Case studies and country reports: deadline has been extended
In 2009 More and Better will publish a book in English, French and Spanish about aid to agriculture and rural development in developing countries. The organizations of MaB are crucial to make it happen. The book will include: short country reports; case studies about good or bad aid/support to agriculture and rural development, based on the common principles developed by MaB; facts and figures about the global and regional support for agriculture and rural development.
-
1 September 08
More Aid for African Agriculture: policy implications for small-scale farmers
Members of the UK for Food Group are calling on governments to increase Aid for small-scale African farmers in ways that will help them to feed their people, improve their livelihoods and sustain the environment.
-
7 June 08
Criticism of the peasent movements to the final document of the FAO Summit
The FAO Summit on World Food Security held in Rome from the 3th to the 5th of June 2008 has produced a final document that, accordingly to the social movements and peasents representatives gathered in Rome for the parallel Civil Society's Organization Forum is avoiding to face the structural issues of the worl-wide agricultural market.
-
5 December 07
Outcome of conferences at Nyéléni center in Selengue, Mali
More than 150 participants from 25 African countries and 10 countries from other continent representing farmers, pastoralists, environmental, women, youth and development organizations, gathered at the Nyéléni center in Selengue, Mali from November 26th to December 2nd.
-
5 November 06
General Meeting of More and Better
A shift in the development aid is needed. Development aid has to be based on the needs of the local communities and countries, not the policies and conditions set by donors and international institutions. This was the clear messange from most of the about 70 participants in the general meeting of More and Better taking place in Rome October 28th and November 1st 2006. The participants in the More and Better meeting took also part in FAO's Special Forum on World Food Security which took place in Rome October 30-31st with the participation of governments and representatives from cicil society
-
7 February 06
Tsunami support - More support with better participation
Since this mega-tragedy of Asia 26th December 2004, many members of More and Better Campaign are active and participate in soldierly in relief and rehabilitation work on the ground in affected areas.
