Transforming Africa’s Agriculture through Agroecology: A Call for Policy Innovation
October 2024
Agricultural Governance Insights
Introduction
As Africa faces mounting challenges of climate change, food insecurity, and economic pressures, the urgency to transform its agri-food systems has never been greater. The recently released report, “Agroecology Framework Perspective on the CAADP Strategy and Action Plan: 2026-2035,” sheds light on how agroecology and circular economy principles can play a pivotal role in driving sustainable agricultural development across the continent. Led by experts from the Agroecology and Circular Economy for Ecosystem Services (ACE4ES) Consortium, this analysis delves into the synergies within the CAADP strategy and identifies gaps that require specialized policy guidance.
Agroecology: A Holistic Approach to Agricultural Transformation
Agroecology goes beyond just farming practices; it offers a holistic framework that integrates ecological, economic, and social dimensions to create sustainable and resilient food systems. The ACE4ES project champions this approach, emphasizing agroecology, circular economy, and climate action to enhance ecosystem services in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The report highlights that, while the CAADP Strategy makes significant strides toward sustainable food production and climate resilience, a more comprehensive integration of agroecology is essential.
Dr. Kwaku Onwona-Hwesofour Asante, the lead expert behind the report from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Crops Research Institute, emphasizes, “Agroecology offers Africa a unique opportunity to address multiple challenges simultaneously— from enhancing soil health and biodiversity to building climate resilience and improving rural livelihoods. But for it to be effective, we need a specialized and cohesive policy guide that integrates these principles across all sectors.”
“Agroecology offers a transformative path for Africa, integrating climate action and sustainable food systems to address food insecurity and build resilience. This report highlights the importance of aligning our policies with these principles. At the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), CSIR-Crops Research Institute and ACE4ES Consortium, we advocate for inclusive, locally driven solutions that empower farmers and protect ecosystems.”
— Mr. Bismark Owusu Nortey, ACE4ES Advocacy Lead and Executive Director, PFAG.
Synergies in the CAADP Strategy
The report acknowledges the synergies between the CAADP Strategy and agroecological principles, particularly in areas such as sustainable food production, climate action, and inclusivity:
- Sustainable Food Production: The strategy’s focus on conservation agriculture, integrated pest management, and sustainable land management aligns well with agroecological practices that enhance soil health, water conservation, and biodiversity.
- Climate Action: By promoting climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy technologies, and digital tools for early warning systems, the CAADP strategy supports agroecology’s goal of building resilient and adaptive food systems.
- Circular Economy: The strategy’s emphasis on reducing food loss and waste and promoting indigenous food systems aligns with agroecology’s principles of recycling, minimizing waste, and enhancing local economies.
- Inclusivity: The integration of women, youth, and marginalized communities into agricultural value chains is in line with agroecology’s commitment to social equity and community empowerment.
However, while these synergies are promising, the report notes that further alignment is needed to ensure these strategies are effectively integrated under a cohesive agroecological policy.
Gaps Identified: The Need for Specialized Policy Guidance
Despite these synergies, the report identifies several critical gaps that need to be addressed through specialized policy guidance:
- Holistic Integration of Agroecology: The current CAADP strategy lacks a unified approach to integrate conservation, organic farming, and indigenous knowledge systems into a cohesive agroecological framework.
- Circular Economy Principles: While efforts are made to reduce food loss, the strategy needs a more comprehensive policy that promotes circular economy practices across all levels of value chain development, including recycling of agricultural by-products and local biogas production.
- Climate Mitigation: The report highlights a lack of concrete steps for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions within agricultural systems, particularly in livestock and rice production. Specialized policies are needed to implement low-emission technologies and practices that align with global climate targets.
- Ecosystem Services: The CAADP strategy does not explicitly value ecosystem services like pollination, soil carbon sequestration, and water regulation. The report recommends developing policies that incentivize farmers to maintain and enhance these services, including mechanisms like Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES).
- Policy Coherence Across Sectors: The strategy requires stronger integration across agriculture, environment, energy, and trade policies to support a sustainable and integrated agroecological approach.
Recommendations for Policy Innovation
To address these gaps, the report provides actionable recommendations:
- Agroecology Policy Framework: Develop a comprehensive policy framework that promotes agroecology as a holistic approach, focusing on ecosystem restoration, soil health, and biodiversity conservation.
- Circular Economy Integration: Formulate policies that incentivize smallholder farmers and SMEs to adopt circular economy models, such as composting organic waste and local biogas production.
- Climate Mitigation Strategies: Establish concrete guidelines for reducing emissions in agriculture, including methane management and carbon farming methods.
- Valuing Ecosystem Services: Implement mechanisms like PES to incentivize farmers for maintaining and restoring biodiversity and ecosystem services, aligning agricultural policies with broader environmental goals.
- Policy Coherence: Develop inter-sectoral policies that align agriculture with ecosystem conservation, renewable energy initiatives, and sustainable trade policies.
Conclusion
The report emphasizes the need for African governments, regional bodies, and international partners to come together and develop specialized policies that fully integrate agroecological and circular economy principles. “For Africa to achieve resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agri-food systems, it must embrace the transformative power of agroecology,” says Dr. Asante.
The ACE4ES project, with its focus on agroecology, circular economy, and ecosystem services, offers a blueprint for realizing these ambitions. The call to action is clear: policymakers must leverage these insights to create a policy environment that supports sustainable agricultural transformation, ensuring a food-secure and climate-resilient Africa.
About ACE4ES
The Agroecology and Circular Economy for Ecosystem Services (ACE4ES) project is a pioneering initiative aimed at integrating agroecological principles and circular economy models in agricultural systems across Sub-Saharan Africa with support from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition hosted by the United Nations Environment Program. By promoting sustainable practices, climate action, and ecosystem services, ACE4ES seeks to build resilient and inclusive food systems that benefit farmers, communities, and the environment.
Stay Updated
Follow the ACE4ES project on ACE4ES.org and ACE4ES Africa social media handles for more information on agroecology and sustainable agricultural practices in Africa.
Source:
ACE4ES project
