Agroecological transition of food systems in Africa: Evidence for research and development policies in Africa-EU collaboration

Climate change and environmental degradation pose significant challenges to food and nutrition security in Africa. Agroecology and organic farming offer viable solutions to agricultural productivity while restoring soil health, conserving water and increasing biodiversity. Moreover, these farming systems deliver positive socio-economic benefits, compatible with more inclusive development. This briefing presents key findings and recommendations from nine multi-actor transnational research and development projects focused on agroecological and organic farming practices in Africa. These results provide compelling evidence of the transformative potential of agroecology and organic farming, demonstrating their crucial role in driving the transition to more sustainable food systems. We present collective evidence from three main areas: 1) climate resilience and productivity, 2) food security and healthy nutrition, and 3) sustainable growth and job creation for local communities. We conclude with recommendations for scaling up agroecological and organic farming practices for greater positive environmental, social and economic impacts in Africa.