Food insecurity is one of the major challenges facing the world today. Climate change, environmental degradation and the excessive use of toxic chemicals are affecting the availability, safety and affordability of nutritious food, putting pressure on both small-scale food producers and consumers.
In response, farmers are increasingly turning to agroecology: a farming approach that works with nature while recognizing the interconnectedness of people, communities and ecosystems. It seeks to build sustainable food systems that protect soil, water and biodiversity while providing farmers and consumers with healthy, nutritious food.
In Sri Lanka, the Alpitiya SANASA Society is advancing this approach by supporting farmers in becoming “smart farmers” who combine traditional farming knowledge with modern technologies and practices.
In Alpitiya, smallholder farmers cultivate diverse crops and maintain rubber plantations, which also provide nectar for bees and support local honey production. Protecting soil, water sources, and forest reserves is a shared concern among cooperative members. These values are also passed on to younger generations through community activities and learning.
The cooperative has developed an organized marketing system that helps distribute locally produced food within the community. By connecting producers and consumers locally, the system helps reduce food waste and the carbon footprint associated with transporting food over long distances. It also gives members better access to nutritious food while creating more stable markets for farmers.
Working collectively also allows farmers to access finance and machinery, share risks and strengthen their livelihoods.
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