In May 2022 AgroPermaLab members participated in the international training of Eastern European and Central Asian Agroecology Schools. The gathering took place on BioBagnolese Farm & Agroturismo near Rome, Italy, and was facilitated co-jointly by Schola-Campesina and supported by the FAO.

The 2022 Agroecology schools’ trainings aimed at strengthening the network of organisations working on Agroecology in Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Balkans and Central Asia, and build a common voice from our different local contexts where agroecology -invisibly- makes our local food systems resilient and strong. The current situation of war in Eastern Europe and tensions throughout the region forces us to give a peace perspective to this activity and build bridges and deep connections amongst our organizations and people, across borders and conflictual interests.
The training is organised in the framework of the activities planned with FAO European office (based in Budapest, Hungary) “Strengthening civil society organisations linked to food production in the targeted countries” and is part of the activities between Schola Campesina, AgroPermaLab and approximately 20 other organisations.



TRAINING SESSIONS
- Public event on “Farmer’s knowledge as peace building tool. International agroecology schools meeting”;
- Farm visit Biobagnolese and local variety Artichok catalog field;
- Agroecology schools methodology: How to set up?
- The role of agroecology schools in the new food security emergencies related to shocks (pandemia, war, …);
- Updates on global governance and international issues (FAO, UNDROP, …)
- Farmer-led digital tool for knowledge sharing;
- Seed saving sharing of experiences and agricultural biodiversity in the region;
- Make a better use of data on smallholders farmers;
- Nyéleni 3: the role of the agroecology network in the region;
- Dinner – Exchange with the European group of agroecology schools (BAG project);
- Theatre of the Oppressed;
- and others.
AGROECOLOGY SCHOOLS
What do we talk about? Agroecology schools are the place where knowledge is shared within communities led by grassroots organisations on a diversity of topics determined by the local context. It can be either in the formal or informal educational system, in a solid structure or without walls. They tend to have the following features:
- They are based on local needs and realities;
- They are based on local knowledge and open knowledge access ecosystems;
- They are based on horizontal learning processes;
- They use the Dialogue of different types of knowledge (food producers, academia, activists, …);
- Include Participatory Action Research (research with practice, determined by community needs)
- They use emancipation pedagogy aimed at “democratic awakening” of citizens;
- They are aimed at transforming society and strengthening social organizations;
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TRAINING PARTICIPANTS
Organisation | Country | |
1 | Elkana | Georgia |
2 | Alica Foundation | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
3 | ZZ Eko-Ilinden | North Macedonia |
4 | Gradina Moldovei | Moldova |
5 | Gradina Moldovei | Moldova |
6 | Knowledge platform – Agro Development and rural innovation (KP – AD&RI) | Ukraine |
7 | Albanian Network for Rural Development | Albania |
8 | Nomadic Livestock Keepers DPF | Kyrgyzstan |
9 | Indigenous | Russia |
10 | Cifti-Sen | Turkey |
11 | Tomiris | Tajikistan |
12 | Agency of Development Initiatives | Kyrgyzstan |
13 | Zher Ana–Astana | Kazakhstan |
14 | Mohira Bonu | Uzbekistan |
15 | Local extensionist | Kosovo |
16 | FAO REU | Hungary |
17 | FAO REU | Hungary |
18 | AGRO-PERMA-LAB | Poland |
19 | Parmaculture org. | Ukraine |
20 | EcoRuralis | Romania |
21 | Hungarian agroecology network | Hungary |
22 | Jengalab | Italy |
24 | Schola Campesina | Italy |
25 | Schola Campesina | France |
26 | Schola Campesina | Iran |
27 | Schola Campesina | Italy / Brazil |