Facts
Time: 2023-11-22 09:00 - 12:00
City: Online
City: Online
22
Nov
Online
Round table discussion on Agropastoralism in the Sahel
Within the framework of the project “Sustainable Agri-Food Systems Intelligence – Science-Policy Interface” (SASi–SPi) , the team on agropastoralism in the Sahel is currently preparing a scoping report to the European Commission.
Historically, hardly any farming could function without animal integration. Today, animal husbandry still plays a role in lots to most farming systems, albeit with varying degrees of significance and intensity. Moreover, for vast stretches of land on all continents, animal ranching or pastoralism is the only ecologically sustainable form of land use (apart from national parks, lately carbon sinks), and, as a centuries-old way of living and providing livelihoods. Transhumance –the seasonal mobility of livestock and herders – was even adopted in the UNESCO list of immaterial cultural heritages in 2019.
Across sub-Saharan Africa at large and in the Sahel in particular, pastoralists face various challenges relate to, inter alia, climate, animal disease, access to water and grazing lands, poor market infrastructure and not having early warning systems for drought. The scoping report based on scientific evidence will aim to frame the overall question of the sustainable transformation of agropastoralism in the Sahel, particularly by addressing:
1) the importance of agropastoralism in the Sahel,
2) current issues of agropastoralism in the Sahel and
3) the path towards sustainable agropastoralism in the Sahel.
To facilitate the exchange of views, we are here inviting a selected group of diverse specialists from government organisations, academia, industry, civil society, and other stakeholders internationally to participate in an online round table, on 22 November 2023 at 9 am–12 CET.
Invitation
We would like to invite you to this specialist virtual roundtable, and hope that you will be able to join!
Date: 22 November
Time: 9-12 am CET
During this virtual roundtable we will address questions such as:
Why is it critical that today’s agropastoralism in the Sahel should transition into a sustainable system?
Which are the issues (or divergent views) regarding transitioning to sustainable agropastoralism in the Sahel?
What are the relevant policy options and
Who are the relevant stakeholders?
How do we envisage the path(s) for this transitioning to sustainable agropastoralism in the Sahel?
As base for the discussion, we will send the draft of the scoping study prior to the virtual roundtable. A link to the meeting will be sent to the registered email address a few days before the meeting.