Site recognition of traditional agricultural systems

In 2017, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), together with the National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN), the National Bank of Economic and Social Development (BNDES), the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply and FAO Brazil, launched a call for the Traditional Agricultural Systems Prize. The initiative aimed to identify, recognize and protect traditional agricultural systems in which practices, places, instruments and ways of life contribute to on-farm conservation of PGRFA; it thereby addresses Brazil’s obligations under the ITPGRFA. The initiative builds on concepts developed under the National Immaterial Cultural Heritage Programme and the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Programme of FAO. The prize provides an opportunity for communities to present their initiatives for agrobiodiversity conservation. The organizers received 58 traditional agricultural systems, and selected 15 sites. Initiatives such as collective work, seed fairs, self-demarcation of traditional territories, among others, received the prize. The evaluation was done by a committee consisted of representatives of organizing institutions, universities and civil society organization. The prize includes a financial award and an opportunity for selected communities to participate in a workshop on patrimony and agricultural systems. A film, book and booklet were produced for promotional purposes.