The importance of the 500 million family farmers across the globe, not just in producing food, but safeguarding biodiversity and boosting local economies is highlighted through a blot post in the Huffington Post.

“To help them do their multiple jobs better, we need to invest more in family farmers, small and large,” says the article.

Studies by Food Tank and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) show that family farmers who plant a variety of crops contribute to biodiversity and also increase nutrient density in diets. Examples include Kenyan farmers who are working with the World Agroforestry Center to intercrop trees with maize and millet.

Family farmers also help to mitigate and adapt to climate change through the use of perennial crops that conserve water, stabilize soils and create more resilience, or through sustainable grazing practices that sequester more carbon in the soil.

With regard to boosting economies, it is estimated that every dollar earned in the farming sector in Asia generates $0.80 in non-farming sectors.

During this, the International Year of Family Farming, and in coming years, farmers need to be recognized for all the roles they fulfill.

Read the full story: Family Farmers + You