The case studies illustrate a range of practical examples showing how agroecological practices and approaches at grassroots level can bring diverse positive impacts.

In all case studies, the adoption of agroecological practices has contributed to improve crop yields, reduce farming costs, increase smallholder farmers’ incomes, and their resilience to climate change.  In some cases, social and gender inequalities were also reduced (Cameroon, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania).

The key success factor seems to rely on the overall farm management and systemic approach, by introducing multiple agroecological practices simultaneously, like in Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe case studies.

Diversification is a central leading principle both at crop and farm level and both for agronomic (crop diversity) and economic purposes (diversification of activities). A widespread and successful practice related to crop diversification is intercropping, e.g. legume intercropping introduced in Malawi, Niger, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Reforestation and crop-tree integration provided as well multiple environmental benefits (Cameroon, Ethiopia, Niger, Nigeria and Tanzania).

Organic fertilization has shown to be another successful agroecological practice, in Madagascar, Malawi, Niger and Zimbabwe.

In some case studies (Cameroon, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya), the key element was just a single practice: the integration of trees in pastureland in Ethiopa; the banana-coffee intercropping in Uganda; the push-pull technology in the Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Many of these agroecological practices have simultaneously improve soil health and fertility and reduce farmer dependence on costly chemical inputs. This can be considered as an important motivation for smallholder farmers.

Varietal selection plays also a central role in different case studies (Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria and Tanzania) and the participatory approach in the plant selection process, involving both research institutions and farmers, has revealed itself strategic. In addition, the establishment of local seed markets in Niger Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana has proven to be a relevant innovation to improve access to seeds.

Only in a few case studies, processing and marketing were included in the project (Cameroon, Nigeria, Zimbabwe).

Finally, the role of participatory research and farmers’ exchanges was decisive for the large-scale adoption of agroecological practices in many cases (Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Niger).

In conclusion, by improving farmers’ incomes and increasing resilience to climate change, agroecology contributes to address two critical issue in developing countries in Africa. Participatory research and effective extension service are key conditions for the large-scale adoption of agroecological practices by farmers.