Farmers are often absent from discussions about how policies and programs impact sustainable agricultural production

The Inter-American Foundation (IAF), through its Assistance for Overseas Programs (CFDA 85.750), awarded a $110,000 project grant to the non-profit organization Asociacion Vivamos Mejor (AVM) to promote sustainable agricultural practices and improve food security in rural, indigenous communities in the Guatemalan highlands. Over 2 years, AVM will coordinate a regional effort with the University of British Columbia to give farmers a voice in data collection, analysis, and reporting on agricultural practices to inform policy and programming. The project aims to support the transition to sustainable agriculture, enhance farmer livelihoods, and minimize environmental degradation. This grant is part of the IAF's strategic initiative for sustainable agriculture in Latin America and the Caribbean.

At the IAF, we are investing in a regional effort, in conjunction with the university of british columbia, that will give farmers a voice and directly support them in collecting, analyzing, and presenting data that they can incorporate into their operations to manage their farms more efficiently. To improve the quality of life and food security in rural, indigenous communities in the guatemalan highlands, asociación vivamos mejor (AVM) promotes family agriculture and food production. AVM coordinates and supports social development and environmental management projects that focus on health and nutrition, intercultural education, youth and women in development, ecosystem conservation and restoration, and risk management. The results of this regional project will inform agricultural support organizations (government extension experts, farmer groups) and policymakers with context-specific data about how to encourage the transition to sustainable agricultural practices to improve food security, enhance farmer livelihoods, and minimize environmental degradation. This is part of the IAF?S strategic initiative for sustainable agriculture.