The document discusses ILEIA's LEISA Network, which aims to promote Low External Input Sustainable Agriculture (LEISA) to smallholders in developing countries. Over the past 23 years, ILEIA has developed the LEISA Network through collecting and validating knowledge from practical LEISA experiences, publishing it in LEISA Magazines and on their website, and networking with over 40,000 subscribers in 173 countries. The challenges are to strengthen exchange between the field level and policy level, ensure continuous funding, and increase involvement in regional networks.

1. The LEISA Network www.leisa.info Euforic Annual Meeting 4-6 June 2007 Brussels Wilma Roem ILEIA Centre for Information on Low External Input and Sustainable Agriculture Amersfoort

2. The objective To show how, over the last 23 years ILEIA has developed the worldwide LEISA (Low External Input Sustainable Agriculture) NETWORK Highlighted will be: The process of collecting and validating “knowledge” The methodology underlying the editorial approach The role of networking in this process

3. ILEIA’s Mission: The development and promotion of LEISA to smallholders in developing countries: Contribute to the alleviation of poverty Enhance ecological sustainability Safeguard social and cultural integrity

5. Exchange of information Exchange with partner organisations -> w ith broader community -> authors/readers and beyond: visitors website Aim: Building and Sharing LEISA knowledge Tools: LEISA Magazines Regional partner organisations Interactive LEISA Website

6. Developing the LEISA concept: ILEIA started in 1984 Options for agriculture more relevant to small scale farmers Only tacit knowledge Reports, memos and stories only available in grey sector Building up knowledge about LEISA Publish this knowledge Well-known collection of articles LEISA Magazines

8. Regional editions More languages

11. Strength of approach Collection criteria: practical experiences with LEISA at the community level Editorial approach: validation of knowledge quality, reliability, “peer reviewed”, lessons learned didactic editing Networking: sharing knowledge authors world wide network 40,000 subscribers in 173 countries Each magazine shared with on average 5 readers Digital archive of >3000 articles

12. Wider networks Local LEISA experience Regional networks Local networks Local networks Regional networks Wider networks Interaction of networks Information System Mutual learning Body of Knowledge Mutual Learning Encouragement Visibility

13. Challenges for LEISA network From dissemination to exchange Reach the field level and the policy level Get people to document their experiences Ensure continuous funding

15. Policy: beyond 2007 Learning network: LEISA series Farming matters Documentation programme Capacity building partners Increase network: Find new partners more languages/regions Synergy Website with Magazines Improve network: Regional networks (partners) Involvement partners, authors, readers Advocacy

16. Discussion points Increase exchange of knowledge Use of website in networking Monitoring impact of networking