The Three Sisters (Spanish: tres hermanas) are the three main crops grown by many Indigenous groups in Central and North America. These crops are squash, maize (called corn), and climbing beans, such as tepary beans or common beans. Some Native American groups also planted sunflowers near their gardens, calling them the “fourth sister.” A farming method called companion planting is often used.
In agriculture, a milpa is a field used to grow food crops and a farming system common in Mesoamerica, especially in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. The word “milpa” comes from the Nahuatl words milli and pan. Based on farming traditions of the Maya and other Mesoamerican peoples, the milpa system is used to grow maize, beans, and squash.
Chinampa (Nahuatl: chināmitl [tʃiˈnaːmitɬ]) is an agricultural method used in Mesoamerica. It involves creating small, rectangular plots of fertile land on shallow lake beds in the Valley of Mexico. The word “chinampa” comes from Nahuatl, meaning “in the fence of reeds.” These plots are built on wetlands, such as lakes or freshwater swamps, and their shape helps keep the soil moist.
Wadi Group (Egyptian Arabic: وادى جروب) is a large Egyptian company that works in the agriculture and food industry. It is based in Giza, Egypt. The company is owned by a family and includes 12 different businesses.
A qanāt (Persian: قَنَات) or kārīz (کَارِیز) is a system used to bring water from underground sources, such as aquifers or wells, to the surface through an underground channel. It was created about 3,000 years ago and is used in many places across Asia and North Africa, though it is called by different names in different regions. For example, it is known as kārēz in Afghanistan and Pakistan, foggāra in Algeria, khettāra in the Atlas Mountains, daoudi-type falaj in Oman and the United Arab Emirates, and ʿuyūn in Saudi Arabia.
Zaï or tassa is a farming method that involves digging small pits in soil that does not let water pass through easily. These pits are between 15 and 50 centimeters (0.5 to 2 feet) wide and about 5 to 15 centimeters (2 to 6 inches) deep. They are placed roughly 80 centimeters (3 feet) apart.
The Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras are a World Heritage Site located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. They were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995, becoming the first site listed in the cultural landscape category. This listing includes five areas: the Batad and Bangaan Rice Terraces (both in Banaue), the Mayoyao Rice Terraces (in Mayoyao), the Hungduan Rice Terraces (in Hungduan), and the Nagacadan Rice Terraces (in Kiangan), all in Ifugao Province.
ICCAs are areas of land and nature that Indigenous Peoples and local communities protect and manage. These areas are naturally preserved by Indigenous groups or local communities, leading to clear benefits for both nature and cultural traditions. ICCA stands for “territories and areas governed, managed, and conserved by Indigenous Peoples and local communities.” Since around 2020, the term “territories of life” has been often used together with ICCAs.
Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is knowledge, skills, and beliefs that have been developed over many years through observation, experience, and cultural traditions. This knowledge is passed from one generation to the next and explains how people, animals, plants, and the environment are connected. Some people debate whether TEK should be used in modern ecological management.
Biopiracy is the act of taking knowledge and genetic resources from farming or indigenous communities without permission, often to claim exclusive control through patents or intellectual property. Bioprospecting involves searching natural resources for new chemical compounds that may have medical or anti-microbial uses. When companies profit from bioprospecting, they may try to claim ownership of indigenous medicinal plants, seeds, genetic resources, or traditional medicines.