On August 26, 2024, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Italian Agroforestry Association (AIAF), the Italian Agroecology Association (AIDA) and the Sicilian Coordination of Agroecology
(CAS).
The Memorandum establishes the terms of collaboration between AIAF, AIDA and CAS for the promotion of agroecology and agroforestry, through joint initiatives of training, awareness, communication, promotion, planning, study and development of definitions for companies and the agroecological territory.
With the aforementioned Memorandum, the three organizations undertake to collaborate in the protection, recovery, maintenance and/or innovation of agroecosystems and agroforestry landscapes, in the following areas:
1. Support for participatory research: through the development of joint research and innovation projects, to study and improve agroecological and agroforestry practices, also for the purpose of combating desertification processes.
2. Training and education for citizens and institutions: through the organization of courses, seminars, publications, workshops and other training and innovation transfer activities for farmers, technicians, students, interested citizens, public administrations.
3. Awareness-raising: through the organization of events at local, national and international level; awareness-raising and communication campaigns to promote knowledge and adoption of sustainable practices among citizens, institutions and stakeholders.
4. Promotion of pilot projects and practical initiatives to demonstrate the effectiveness of agroecological and agroforestry practices, also for the purpose of combating desertification processes.
5. Study and development of definitions for agroecological companies and territories and guidelines for agroecology that will be developed through a UNI process.
6. Support for the development and necessary accompanying activities to promote national and/or regional agroecology laws and standards that are consistent with each other.
This is an important agreement that will allow the three organizations to work together and in synergy, both at a technical and regulatory and legislative level to achieve the objectives of agroecology and agroforestry.