Future Perfect

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ustainable

agriculture

wildlife

food

security

consumption

and

production

patterns

practices and innovations that contribute to improved

profitability, stewardship and quality of people’s life by

investing in carefully validated research and education

The Biovision FCP is based on the assumption that

African farm households are capable of sustainably

increasing food security and enhancing livelihoods

while maintaining and protecting their natural environ-

ment. The programme is also based on lessons learned

from experience: that strengthening and enhancing

farmers’ access to information and knowledge on rele-

vant technologies can lead to healthy and increased

agricultural productivity, thereby ensuring improved

food security, better nutrition and higher incomes

in a stable environment. A key message, then, is that

individual nations can realize the full potential of agri-

cultural development and enhanced food security by

communicating farming knowledge and technologies

effectively – given that other enabling policy condi-

tions are put in place.

Using multiple channels

Being aware of the differences in farmers’ agroecologi-

cal conditions, their farming capabilities and needs,

the FCP has initiated various projects through which

authentic, scientifically proven farming information

and technologies are disseminated to farmers – thus

responding to their both expressed and latent demands.

The FCP aims at scaling up and impacting the agri-

cultural knowledge of rural communities by working

together with a network of agricultural extension

officers. These officers are considered an important

that smallholder farmers can double food production within 3 to 10

years while mitigating climate change and alleviating rural poverty if

ecological methods are sufficiently supported and applied.

New approaches to information

Improving access to quality information and developing capacities,

as well as networking and sharing knowledge, are necessary condi-

tions for achieving the targets set by international proclamations

such as Agenda 21 and the Millennium Development Goals. The

Biovision FCP, supported by the Biovision Foundation for ecologi-

cal development, the International Centre of Insect Physiology and

Ecology, the Biovision Africa Trust and partners, is striving towards

bridging the digital divide and removing the information barriers

facing smallholder farmers in East Africa. The programme supports

the dissemination of information based on four health dimensions:

• Plant health

• Animal health

• Environment health

• Human health.

Traditional pathways for accessing and exchanging relevant infor-

mation and knowledge in a timely and effective manner are currently

inadequate. Consequently, greater investments are needed in knowl-

edge creation and management, information dissemination and

enabling the wider use of ICT through space and time. Databases

are needed to store and retrieve the much-needed information.

Broadcast and print media are needed to unlock the power of organ-

ized, accurate and up-to-date information on demand. The Biovision

FCP has been able to make a useful contribution in responding

to these requirements. Its mission is, therefore, to advance and

improve access to information on sustainable agriculture through

The web-based platform Infonet-Biovision keeps trainers, extension workers and farmers informed