Highlights from Learning Event No.5: "How can affordable, accessible, inclusive and resilient food and farming systems be achieved through Ecological and social intensification?" at the 2012 Agriculture and Rural Development Day in Rio de Janiero.

1. How can affordable, accessible,
inclusive and resilient food and
farming systems be achieved through
ecological and social intensification?
Laurence Smith

2. Key messages
• Please give up to three bullets on key messages
from your Learning Event
1. Diverse, organic agro-ecological systems provide
resilience to climate change, disease and extreme
weather events;
2. Organic compost and legume-enhanced
production systems can double yields of
smallholder farming systems;
3. Organic systems promote farmer-led research
and extension, enabling farmers to develop seeds
suited to their own ecosystems through co-
operation with scientists

3. Evidence of impact
• Please give up to three bullets on evidence of the
impact of your case example – ideally this should
be quantitative data
1. Samples of crop yields from 900 plots in Ethiopia
showed doubled yields from organic plots;
2. 80 organic farmer-led community seed banks in
India are providing an increased diversity of crops
and nutritional outputs;
3. Use of organic companion planting in maize
systems can supply nitrogen, reduce weeds and
helps to control pests in Africa;

4. Going to scale
• Please give up to three bullets on messages on
what is needed to take your case to scale:
1. Governments, international agencies and
policy frameworks such as CAADP should
mainstream organic agriculture for food
security and healthy and sustainable diets
2. Mainstream farmers’ rights to save, use and
sell their own seed
3. Governments and civil society organisations
should support the development of farmer led
participatory organic research and extension