We recently met one exceptional farmer whose story speaks to the heart of our work: Wango Emmanuel, from Bonessin, Burkina Faso. After spending several years living and working in Côte d'Ivoire, Emmanuel returned to his native village amid a grave political crisis. His only means of feeding his family was a small plot of land he inherited from his father. But the soil had hardened like cement, rendered unproductive by decades of extractive farming practices common in the area. As soil … [Read more...] about How Agroecological Farming Transformed Emmanuel’s Field in Burkina Faso
Four Smallholder Women Farmers at the Forefront of Agroecological Farming
Almost half of the world’s agricultural workers are women. In the Global South, women produce 60 to 80% of the food that sustains their communities—yet they own less than 20% of the land. Despite having limited access to resources and shouldering significant family responsibilities, these women continue to feed the world. They play a crucial role in restoring ecosystems, addressing climate change, and building food security from the ground up. As they nurture land and life, there is much we can … [Read more...] about Four Smallholder Women Farmers at the Forefront of Agroecological Farming
Lessons from Our Global Conference in Berlin: Farmer-Led Innovation at the Center of Agroecology
In September, over 30 people from West Africa, South Asia, the Americas, and Europe gathered in Berlin, Germany for Groundswell International's Global Conference, hosted by the Robert Bosch Stiftung foundation. Among them were leaders from our 14 NGO partners spanning 11 countries—from Burkina Faso to Haiti and Ecuador to India—along with our staff, board members, and global allies. Together, we shared lessons from the field, learned from local farmers and activists, and strengthened plans to … [Read more...] about Lessons from Our Global Conference in Berlin: Farmer-Led Innovation at the Center of Agroecology
A Taste of India in the Amaranth Fields of Guatemala
In May 2024, I visited Guatemala for the very first time. As part of my work with Groundswell International, I always relish the chance to visit our partners and communities in the field. We spent the week with our long-term partner in Rabinal, Qachuu Aloom, and our new partner in Jalapa, ACESH. They both were wonderful hosts who packed the week with a lot of learning, brainstorming, and bonding. Gaining insight into agroecological techniques and their implementation is always … [Read more...] about A Taste of India in the Amaranth Fields of Guatemala
La Semana Mundial del Agua 2024 Vista a Través de los Jóvenes de América Latina
Cada agosto, la Semana Mundial del Agua reúne voces de todo el mundo para reflexionar y actuar en torno a la gestión del recurso más vital para la vida: el agua. En un planeta donde más de dos mil millones de personas carecen de acceso a agua potable segura y se proyecta que, para 2050, más de la mitad de la población mundial enfrentará escasez de agua, América Latina y el Caribe se encuentran en una posición crítica. A pesar de concentrar un tercio de los recursos hídricos del mundo, esta es … [Read more...] about La Semana Mundial del Agua 2024 Vista a Través de los Jóvenes de América Latina
World Water Week 2024 as Seen by Youth from Latin America
You can read the Spanish version of this article here. Every August, World Water Week brings together voices from around the globe to reflect on and act upon how we manage life's most vital resource: water. Two billion people lack access to safe drinking water, and it's projected that by 2050, more than half of the world's population will face water scarcity. Latin America and the Caribbean in particular, find themselves in a critical position. Despite hosting a third of the world's water … [Read more...] about World Water Week 2024 as Seen by Youth from Latin America