Agriculture in Action: SAN Members’ Highlights from the Week of July 11, 2025 🌱

The SAN global impact network continues to demonstrate its leadership in sustainable agriculture through initiatives that strengthen food systems, protect biodiversity, and empower communities. This week’s roundup includes several initiatives concerning rice, as well as nature-based solutions, climate-smart agriculture, and social inclusion.

🌾 Strengthening Climate Resilience and Innovation

CORAF is leading regional collaboration in West Africa through the Food System Resilience Program (FSRP WA). This initiative, backed by ECOWAS and other regional bodies, aims to enhance the resilience of agricultural systems amidst triple threats—climate, economic, and security challenges. A standout innovation this week was the spotlight on EXBAIKA rice, a drought- and pest-resistant variety now favored by farmers and consumers in Togo.

Discover the new high-yield rice variety that is being appreciated in Togo. The video has English captions.

In parallel, CORAF hosted a regional training of trainers on the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and Climate-Resilient Rice Production, engaging over 40 participants from 14 countries. These actions align closely with SAN’s goals for scaling climate-smart practices and promoting inclusive capacity building.

CABI also contributed to climate-smart knowledge sharing. Their content this week tackled the threat of invasive apple snails in rice, promoted mechanical pest control methods, and introduced their new partnership with IPL Biologicals to enhance the reach of microbial biopesticides via the CABI BioProtection Portal.

🌿 Advancing Biodiversity and Nature-Based Solutions

Preferred by Nature showcased the growing momentum behind regenerative agriculture through its Low Carbon Rice project in Indonesia, visited by EU ambassadors. This initiative demonstrates how donor and policy engagement can accelerate the shift to climate-positive farming.

Delegations from Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Cyprus, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Finland, and Sweden learned how the local government has been supporting the switch towards sustainable practices. They also met with partner farmers and small rice millers who have been part of the project for the past three years.

Preferred by Nature was also present at the RSPO China Forum, where their Regional Director moderated discussions on the role of voluntary standards in sustainable development, underlining the importance of market transformation through certification and transparent ESG practices.

👩🏽‍🌾 Empowering Women and Farming Communities

CottonConnect celebrated 10 years of its Women in Cotton programme, highlighting how rural women have advanced in entrepreneurship, climate action, and leadership. These achievements echo SAN’s Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) commitments, proving how tailored support to women farmers leads to community-wide sustainability gains.

In Morona Santiago, Ecuador, representatives of the Fundación Pachamama Forest Economies program met with Asociación Taramak growers and representatives of CUSI —a local organic food business of which Taramak has been a long term supplier.

Fundación Pachamama uplifted indigenous voices, particularly Shuar women from the Taramak Association, and continued its bioeconomy efforts by supporting women-led enterprises and food sovereignty in the Ecuadorian Amazon. They also promoted the recent Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruling recognizing nature as a subject of rights and the climate crisis as a human rights concern—a landmark that aligns with SAN’s vision of equity, environmental justice, and indigenous inclusion.

📚 Knowledge, Education, and Intergenerational Impact

Fundación Natura Colombia was active on several fronts this week. They participated in the OECD Local Development Forum, emphasizing intergenerational collaboration in sustainability leadership.

They also promoted learnings from the Guasca environmental compensation process and invited public participation in the Colombian Environmental Education Fair. These activities reflect SAN’s strategic goal to empower local actors and foster inclusive knowledge sharing across generations and communities.

🌍 Grassroots Action for Regeneration

PELUM Uganda continued its work to deepen knowledge of agroecology and organic farming among rural communities through its KHEA Multiplier training, reaching farmers in Soroti District with practices such as the use of native microbes for liquid manure.

Throughout the 5-day training, 30 farmers of the Arubela Village (Soroti district, Uganda) learned the basics of organic agriculture. In this photo from day two, they were learning how to harness the power of local microbes in liquid manure.

🔎 Tackling Greenwashing and Sustainability Integrity

Rainforest Alliance published a timely guide on how to spot greenwashing, reminding consumers and partners alike of the importance of transparency in sustainability claims. They also shared updates from their cocoa program, emphasizing soil health, forest protection, and farmer livelihoods.

Rainforest Alliance video that explains the importance of consuming sustainability-certified cacao products.

🔋 Circular Solutions and Agroecological Technology

RAAA Perú promoted the use of continuous biodigesters, a circular economy solution that turns animal waste into biofertilizer and biogas. This practice reflects SAN’s strategic pillar of technological innovation for ecological sustainability.

Stay Connected to the Movement

The activities highlighted this week demonstrate the power of local leadership, regional collaboration, and strategic partnerships in driving agricultural transformation. As SAN continues to strengthen its network model, each member’s contribution plays a vital role in meeting the ambitious targets of the 2025–2030 Strategic Plan.

Stay tuned to SAN’s communication channels for updates and opportunities to engage, support, or partner with our growing network. Together, we are cultivating a regenerative, resilient, and equitable future for agriculture worldwide.