A
G
R
I
C
U
L
T
U
R
E

The world today is undergoing dangerous trends in agriculture that are leading in the direction of major crises in poverty and hunger, environmental quality and the availability of natural resources. Soils have been degraded in many areas, and safe water resources are becoming scarcer. Existing agricultural practices, which rely on chemical inputs and large-scale monocultural crop production, have harmed biodiversity. Irradiation, use of additives and pesticides, deforestation, and genetically modified foods are rapidly becoming concerns of global importance.

Bio-agriculture, as promoted by B.I.O., is a sustainable form of agriculture that combines elements of both traditional and modern methods. It produces food for all the people of the world without irreparably harming the environment or jeopardising the ability to feed future generations. Bio-agriculture promotes food security for everyone, minimises use of chemical inputs, promotes and protects soil quality, conserves water and energy resources, protects biodiversity, and contributes to the eradication of large-scale poverty.

B.I.O. has been extensively involved in the promotion of sustainable agriculture through a number of educational and awareness-raising activities. In the many international conferences B.I.O. has held since 1985, the issue of agriculture has been addressed at length by scholars and experts from around the world. Fifteen chapters in the volumes of proceedings from the B.I.O. international conferences deal with issues of the environment and agriculture, and 13 articles, covering topics ranging from policy (regional and international) to sustainable agricultural practices, have been published in BioNews. Written contributions by B.I.O. on the subject of sustainable agriculture have appeared in proceedings from several conferences and events, as well as in the international press. Moreover, within the framework of the European Union's Leonardo da Vinci Vocational Training Programme, B.I.O. has developed and implemented a wide range of educational and training material (textbooks, CD-Roms, etc.) on the subject of agriculture. Finally, B.I.O.'s e-learning courses on "Food and Agriculture" and the EU's "Common Agricultural Policy" are available online and form part of our extensive e-learning programme, which is currently taking place in cooperation with 58 countries.