16 Days of Global Action on Agroecology 2024: Agroecology is our climate solution! Rural youth and women forward the future of food and the planet!

The 16 Days of Global Action on Agroecology is an annual campaign organised and participated in by PAN Asia Pacific and its partners, networks, agroecology advocates and small food producers’ movements. Held from 1 to 16 October, the 16-day campaign is a series of community-initiated awareness-raising, campaigning and advocating for food systems transformation and asserting food sovereignty and climate justice. 

This year, youth takes the centrestage and leads the assertion of agroecology as a climate solution and as the most viable food and agriculture system for the future. Amid the worsening crises of hunger, poverty, landlessness and climate change, the youth play very important roles in pushing for  agroecology as a viable solution to the crises, and in the continuing struggle for food sovereignty. They march on along with women and rural peoples the world over. They carry the torch and lead the way to strengthening food sovereignty movements, radically transforming food systems and asserting climate justice all over the world.

PANAP and its partners are leading the Global People’s Caravan for Food, Land, and Climate Justice campaign. The campaign highlights the rural peoples’ demands and struggles for radical food systems transformation, right to land and resources, and climate justice. With youth groups at the core, this year’s 16 Days of Global Action provides a good opportunity to contribute in the promotion, mobilisation, and forging solidarity for the caravan. 

Youth, women, rural peoples groups and movements will be leading rural and urban communities in activities such as discussions and fora, cultural activities, seed exchanges, food festivals, farmer learning exchanges, rallies and policy advocacy, among others, aimed at promoting and advancing agroecology as a climate solution and the future of food and agriculture. It culminates on Rural Women’s Day (15 October) and on World Hunger Day (16 October).

Objectives:

1. Youth groups in rural and urban communities lead awareness-raising on agroecology as one of the solutions to the food and climate crises;
2. To gather the broadest support possible and promote youth’s leadership and initiatives in advancing food sovereignty, agroecology, and climate justice; and 
3. Push for immediate and long-term food and agriculture policy changes at the local, national, regional and international levels towards achieving more just, equitable, healthy and sustainable food systems.
4. Support the Global People’s Caravan for Food, Land, and Climate Justice campaign

Our main calls and demands:

1. Youth of the world unite for food, land, and climate justice!
2. Agroecology and food sovereignty for climate justice now!
3. Agroecology, not false climate solution!
4. Land and subsidies for people-led agroecology!
5. Phase out Highly Hazardous Pesticides!
6. Fight for Just, Equitable, Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems!

Specific sectors can add their own calls and demands.  Partners can also add their own calls and demands based on the theme, including local and national-level calls and demands.

How to join:     

1. Email us at terence@panap.net and elnard.arellano@panap.net to start a conversation and for more information about the 16 Days campaign
2. Organise an action or activity led by youth, women, rural peoples any day from October 1 to 16 in line with the objectives of the 16 Days of Global Action on Agroecology. Suggested activities are seed exchanges, food festivals, collective farming, learning exchanges, local markets, cultural activities, fora and discussion, policy advocacy, rallies, bike tours etc.
3. Submit statements or policy briefs to local or national governments asserting agroecology as a climate solution and as the future of food and agriculture.
4. Answer any of the two questions in a video/vlog format: “why is agroecology a climate solution?” And “How can youth lead the movement for climate justice and food systems transformation?” Send to terence@panap.net  and elnard.arellano@panap.net  by September 22, 2024. (See below for short video submission guidelines) These will be published at the PANAP website & social media accounts. EMAIL US for guidelines.
5. Print the 16 Days poster or simple placards written with our calls and demands and take a photo!  The campaign poster, placards and other materials may be downloaded on this link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jlbssKY7_-fyoiV8ZbDw5-FQSmATOoaD
6. Social media action: Use the hashtag #AgroecologyNow. We’ll share your photos on our social media platforms! Tag us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram