Frutti dimenticati e agrobiodiversità: risorse da salvare INIZIATIVA PRODOTTI DI MONTAGNA

Transcription

1 Frutti dimenticati e agrobiodiversità: risorse da salvare INIZIATIVA PRODOTTI DI MONTAGNA

2 Mountains matter! home to 13% of the global population! cover 22% of the earth s land surface! host 23% of the world s forest cover! provide 60 80% of global freshwater

3 Mountains under pressure " Mountains are being threatened by global challenges such as climate change, land degradation and natural disasters. High rates of hunger and poverty lead to migration " Mountain people are vulnerable to food insecurity:! 2000: 253 million = 35% mountain population! 2012: 329 million = 39% mountain population

4 Mountains offer solutions " Mountains, however, offer solutions. " Healthy mountains help prevent natural hazards such as landslides, floods and avalanches, protecting mountain communities and those millions of people in lowland areas whose livelihoods depend on high-elevation ecosystems.! host 25% of terrestrial biodiversity! 56% of all UNESCO Biosphere Reserves contain mountains! welcome 15 20% of global tourism

5 MOUNTAIN AGRICULTURE Inherently green, low impact, family farming, women, traditional knowledge, high diversity Rising demand for quality foods and beverages from mountain areas: coffee, honey, herbs and spices, traditional grains, handicrafts, cosmetics... Potential to improve livelihoods and boost local economies when focusing on markets for sustainable, high quality, fair trade products Small-scale mountain businesses often disadvantaged if compared to lowland businesses # harsh and inaccessible terrains # lack of investments # poor infrastructure # inadequate transportation # lack of training opportunities # unfair market incomes, etc. Cannot compete with lower prices and larger volumes of lowland production

6 THE MOUNTAIN PARTNERSHIP PRODUCTS INITIATIVE Perception of mountain products among consumers (MP survey in 9 countries) consumers associate mountain products to positive values but they cannot distinguish them from others in the marketplace The MPS in collaboration with Slow Food developed a voluntary labelling scheme backed up by a value chain and marketing strategy to benefit small mountain producers from developing countries The MPP label is a narrative label that tells the story a mountain product, enabling the consumers to make a more informed purchase, and the producers to sell at a premium price

7 A NARRATIVE LABEL

8 REQUIREMENTS FOR THE USE OF THE LABEL # Altitude*: products produced and processed in the mountains # Small-scale: products from small-scale production; including family farming and small mountain producers cooperatives # Environmental sustainability: production processes respectful of the environment # Equity: fair returns for the producer, equitable distribution of profits along the value chain Sustainable value chains Biodiversity conservation priority Cultural and traditional values * According to UNEP-WCMC definition

9 LABEL-GRANTING MECHANISM Application Assessment label granting Monitoring Any producer may request the authorization to use the label by filling the application form and submitting it to the MPS by An expert appointed by the MPS assesses the compliance to the key values and requirements and may visit the production site The MPS may authorize or deny the use of the label An expert appointed by the MPS periodically monitors a random sample of products $ authorization may be revoked

10 MPP PRODUCTS ONLINE DATABASE Pilot phase: 16 products from 7 countries Cuba: value chain Analysis Panama: Ceibal Coffee Bolivia: Black Amaranth, Roca del Illimani cheese, Achocalla cheese Kyrgyzstan: Dried apricots, Rosehip Tea, Silk&Felt Scarves Peru: Blueberry Jam, Goldenberry Jam, Maca Andina Mongolia: Felt ornaments India: Purple Rice, Pink Rice, Chamomile Tea Nepal: Himali Black Lentils, Jumla s Mixed Beans

11 THE PRODUCTS OF THE PILOT PHASE

12 BOLIVIA: NATIVE BLACK AMARANTH Chuquisaca district, 2800m asl Revival of an ancient variety under threat: despite higher nutritional properties and resistance to drought and pests, almost completely replaced by more productive non-native varieties # Training: 200+ people Agro-biodiversity, production, cultivation, storage, transformation # Production: 20 producers, 4 communities 50% consumption within families, 10% kept for seed and 40% for sale

13 INDIA: PINK RICE AND PURPLE RICE Ri-Bhoi basin, State of Meghalaya at 1800 masl Indigenous crops cultivated by small-scale Indian Himalayan farmers # Over 40 farmers involved in trainings on production techniques, agro-biodiversity and sustainable food systems # New packaging design # Rice varieties are now distributed in selected outlets and 5* hotels

14 NEPAL: JUMLA S MIXED BEANS Jumla district 2300m asl Cultivated manually, high quality but low quantity, fields free of chemicals and pesticides. Under the threat of being replaced by more productive crops. A traditional Nepali mixture of beans with a strong link to the local culture and religious festivities produced in the Sinja Valley Product Jumla Mixed Bean Year Quantity Ton Unit price (1kg) USD Number of farmers Number of women # Label helps to fight against fake products # Producers proud $ upgrade for product # Increase in price 25% # Great interest by consumers and distributors on the MPP narrative Label

15 PERU: GOLDENBERRY AND BLUEBERRY JAMS Región de Conchucos, 3200m asl Produced with native berries and processed by a Agribusiness center for youth enterpreneurship Achievements # Increase in income: 56 % # Increase in production: 500 to 1200 units/y # Beneficiaries: 400 rural youth and their families Impacts! Peruvian Ministry of Agriculture and Commission on Family Farming interested in adopting the label! Famers value their products! Better income for communities! Increased consumption of local products

16 OUTLOOK PHASE II Expand geographical scope Private sector: agreements for distribution Strengthen assessment/monitoring mechanism Promotional material for all MPP products Expand scope into services: ecotourism Master on Agro-biodiversity and Climate Change

17 Thank you!