The meeting focuses on the main results of the GIAHS Building Capacity project, coordinated by the DAGRI Department of the University of Florence and funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, with the contribution of FAO and the Tuscany Region. The project has identified 20 models of sustainable agriculture in Europe, Asia, Africa, South and Central America. These are examples of traditional practices for high quality food production, conservation of biodiversity and landscape, as well as examples of mitigation and adaptation to climate and socio-economic changes, connected to the FAO program on world agricultural heritage, called GIAHS. During the meeting, the role of agricultural and forestry activities for sustainable development will be discussed and the aims of the project will be presented, through the activities of the international university master course organized within the project.