CONSENT participated in the second Eastern Africa Agroecology Conference (EAAC) that took place from the 25th to the 27th of March 2025 in Nairobi- Kenya.
The conference under the theme, Harnessing the Potential of Agroecology in Transforming and Sustaining Resilient Agrifood Systems, attracted over 800 delegates from 42 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia, South America, and North America.
From the Conference, a number of researches were presented by experts and farmer experiences shared providing evidence of agroecology (AE) in practice and highlighting how agroecological principals are key in transforming the food systems landscape.
At the conference, numerous speakers emphasised the need for governments and all partners to appreciate and invest in agroecology as a science, a practice and a movement in order to holistically benefit from its contribution to sustainable food systems.
Policy gaps, limited funding, insufficient investment in agroecological research and innovations, fragmented coordination, and limited platforms for information sharing among agroecology stakeholders were the key challenges spelt out at the conference.
Several strategic recommendations were made, ranging from;
1. Investment in agroecological research and innovations
2. Creating an Enabling environment for agroecology (policy, legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks)
3. Strengthen Institutional coordination for agroecology
4. Consumer empowerment on Agroecology products
5. Capacity building and empowerment of farmers on Agroecology
6. Create platforms for farmers to exchange knowledge on Agroecology
7. Strengthen Partnerships for Agroecology
8. Strengthening Funding for agroecology by allocating 20% of the agricultural budgets to AE
9. Enhance and strengthen domestic and international markets for AE products
10. Promote and advocate for sustainable farmer managed seed systems.
Different governments, development partners, donor agencies and other partners signed a call to action that shall be executed and monitored until the next EAAC proposed to take place in 2027.
