Skip to main content
Knowledge4Policy
Knowledge for policy

Supporting policy with scientific evidence

We mobilise people and resources to create, curate, make sense of and use knowledge to inform policymaking across Europe.

  • Publication | 2024

How can agroecology contribute to improving food security in Africa?

Global Food and Nutrition Security

This discussion paper aims at exploring the potential of agroecology to improve food security, nutrition and the overall wellbeing in Africa in the face of the challenges posed by the growing population, climate change, rising cost of living, sociocultural and environmental pressure on the continent. Based on the 10 elements defined by FAO and the High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) principles of agroecology, by using desk reviews and webinar series as the main methodology, the paper summarizes evidence-based benefits and challenges for the adoption of agroecological practices and explores open research questions on agroecology. The paper contributes to the support of FARA and RUFORUM to the Regional Multi-actor Research Networks (RMRN) in agroecology that will promote food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture across Africa 

The paper documents that agroecology offers numerous benefits for sustainable agriculture and food security. However, actors willing to uptake agroecology face significant challenges, particularly in the African context. These challenges span from policy and institutional barriers, economic and market constraints, technical and knowledge barriers, socio-cultural challenges, and limited access to inputs. The paper strongly advocates for the establishment and operationalization of initiatives such as the Regional Multi Actor Research Networks (RMRN) which target a broad range of stakeholders such as farmer representatives, food system actors, consumers, decision makers, extension and advisory service and scientists. The paper proposes concrete actions that need to be undertaken by the implementers and funders of RMRN initiative to address some of the gaps identified by the paper to support the green transition of Africa through agroecology practices.

  • Multistakeholder Engagement for agroecological research and practice: The RMRN will foster regional-based participatory research and engagements to ensure that agroecology practices and innovations are developed according to the needs of stakeholders. Specifically, a deeper understanding is required at the local level to tailor these approaches to specific agroecological conditions, and at the regional and continental levels to inform advocacy efforts and policy decisions. 

  • Networking: FARA, RUFORUM and the sub-regional organizations (SROS)- ASARECA, CCARDESA, and CORAF- will support these engagements and facilitate the exchange and cooperation between the multi-actor networks. They will liaise with international and continental networks and organizations, such as Transformative Partnership Platform on Agroecology (TPP), Agroecology Coalition, CGIAR Initiative on Agroecology, FAO Knowledge Hub, Biovision, AFSA and others. 

  • Capacity Building: RMRN will provide training for researchers, scientists, extension workers, and policymakers in agroecological principles and practices. This action will strengthen scientific and technological capacities in agroecology to produce, collect, access, process, share data / information and carry out impactful research activities. This action will further ensure transformative quality research and scientific knowledge generation and dissemination on the continent. FARA and RUFORUM will support the RMRN in building up capacities and mutual learning. With scientific support of the JRC trainings on the use of Earth Observations, on agroecology in food systems and economic policy modeling are envisaged. 

  • Policy Advocacy: RMRN, together with the regional and continental structures will engage with decision makers to inform them of the benefits of agroecology in order to build up a broad recognition, build up supportive environments, and the integration, and consolidation of solutions and responses generated by research in agroecology. The RMRN will establish a platform for exchange and information sharing among policy makers’, extension workers, farmers, and researchers. 

  • Investment in Research: RMRN, together with the regional and continental structures will call for increasing funding for agroecological research and innovation tailored to the diverse farming and food systems on the African continent. The research gaps provided can be an inspiration of where to support agroecological research on the continent. 

  • Infrastructure Development: The SRO and the RMRN will strengthen their existing infrastructure with support tools to build up centres of excellence on agroecology for sustainable research and training capacities and structures on agroecology. 

  • Generation of Reliable Data: Inadequate data on agroecology (e.g. adapted agroecological systems, barriers for adoption, transformation of food systems, as well as impact research) on the continent has been observed. Where data exists, there is an identified lack of balance between quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data on the continent are often missing and absence of such information has represented a strong limitation to carry out a complete analysis of the link with food security. Overall, there is currently scattered knowledge on the functioning of agroecological systems, and a systemic approach to research should be adopted.