A/HRC/43/44 83. States should develop adequate legal frameworks that are based on the “precautionary principle” to regulate such innovations. That principle is intended to help reduce the potentially harmful, unintended consequences and side effects of innovations, but several countries do not recognize, much less apply, that key principle of international law. Tools to enhance the sustainability and productivity of food systems are necessary, but not to the extent that they infringe upon or impede access to productive resources and the realization of human rights. I. Invest in agroecology and traditional knowledge 84. Investment should be diversified and reconciled with more responsible and sustainable food system methodologies, such as agroecology, as well as traditional knowledge. That requires a well-conceived shift away from industrial agriculture, which constitutes the main driver of the climate emergency, coupled with the promotion of transformative, resilient and sustainable practices. Agroecology avoids the use of dangerous biochemicals and pesticides; supports the local food movement; protects smallholder farmers, including women, and small fisheries; respects human rights; enhances food democracy, traditional knowledge and culture; maintains environmental sustainability; and helps to facilitate a healthy diet (see A/70/287). J. Protect scientific integrity 85. There is a lesser known, but indisputable, human right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress. That right is not only fundamental in itself, but is critical to the enjoyment of the human rights to life, health, adequate food and the environment. Recognizing the vital role of science in our food systems, the Special Rapporteur has spoken out on unfathomable, insidious attacks on scientific integrity. 69 Scientific discoveries concerning the threats posed by climate change, pesticides and sugar consumption to human and environmental health are most often caught in the crossfire. States should not allow government agencies and research institutes to become corrupted by short-sighted corporate interests. Global citizens must also call out those who threaten to silence the voices of scientists, academics and researchers, and condemn any threat of violence against those fellow citizens. Realizing the right to food requires the collective rejection of false claims and belief in the truth of well-founded science. It is important to recognize that States are responsible for protecting scientific integrity. K. Enhance the role of civil society and protect human rights defenders against violence 86. We have entered a new era for human rights, one that is dominated by populist governmental regimes spewing hateful rhetoric and promoting nationalism, authoritarianism and xenophobia over liberty and freedom. In that environment, fighting for human rights is becoming dangerous. In recent years, violent atrocities committed against human rights defenders, including those fighting for land rights and environmental conservation, have significantly increased. The United Nations verified 431 killings of human rights defenders, journalists and trade unionists in 41 countries between 2017 and 2018 (see E/2019/68). Civil society cannot allow impunity for human rights violations committed against human rights defenders and cannot shy away from fighting for rights in fear of retaliation (see A/74/159). Rather, civil society must seize every opportunity available to ensure that States fulfil their obligations to advance human rights and hold States accountable when they fail to act. 87. That is particularly true in the case of economic social and cultural rights, which continue to be too frequently cast aside as less important than others. Indeed, while the 69 See Hilal Elver and Melissa Shapiro, “Scientific integrity: the next battleground for human rights”, The Hill (29 March 2019). 19