Towards Sustainable Agriculture: Alternative Movements and Iraqi Kurdistan’s Agricultural Heritage

Abstract

Critical movements from the Global South, particularly from indigenous farming communities who are among the guardians and practitioners of our shared ancient agricultural heritage, are spearheading alternative practices for clean and sustainable food production. These movements are also shifting the focus of analysis from the Western-centric discourse of "food security" to the more inclusive topic of food sovereignty. This article argues that the sustainable and ecological grassroots traditions and practices of Indigenous communities worldwide, including those in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, rooted in thousands of years of knowledge and experience, offer robust solutions to the global debates surrounding climate change and sustainable agriculture. Drawing on literature and empirical sources, this article builds on ongoing movements and achievements rooted in farming communities ancient traditional and cultural heritage, including testimonies from farming communities in the Sulaymaniyah Governorate of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The article explores how the knowledge and practices of local farming communities can contribute to and address the climate debate and the challenges facing the regions' agriculture and environment.