Our current food systems are pushing the planet beyond its ecological limits, fueling declining agricultural productivity, biodiversity loss, exacerbating climate change, deepening food insecurity and hunger, and worsening poverty — especially in Africa.
Around one in five Africans are affected by hunger, driven by conflicts, climate change and economic downturns, according to the latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World. This is made worse due to limited social protection systems and economic constraints, which restrict access to diversified diets, further exacerbating food insecurity.
However, Africa has a unique opportunity to transform its food systems by adopting sustainable approaches to food production and consumption. By focusing on agroecological and regenerative approaches to restore degraded lands, enhance soil health, boost biodiversity and increase productivity, the continent can build resilient food systems that address food insecurity while promoting environmental conservation.
Prioritizing territorial markets can further localize food systems, reducing dependency on global supply chains, while decreasing food loss and waste. Territorial markets are markets within local or national food systems that rely on locally sourced products, where most goods sold are grown, processed or produced within the same geographical area.
In recent years, agroecology and regenerative approaches to food production have gained considerable momentum, challenging the industrial agricultural practices that have dominated for decades. Agroecological approaches integrate socio-ecological principles in the design and management of agrifood systems, optimizing sustainable interactions between plants, animals, humans and the broader environment.
While the concept of agroecology is still evolving in Africa, the rising demand for sustainably grown food across the continent presents a significant opportunity and it’s fueling the emergence of agroecological entrepreneurship, particularly within territorial markets and supply chains focused on providing healthy, safe, and culturally relevant food options.
In September 2024, the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa convened the second Agroecological Entrepreneurs and Territorial Markets Convening in Harare, Zimbabwe, to explore how agroecological enterprises can further advance this vital agenda.
WRI Africa’s food team in collaboration with our partners, Slow Food Kenya and the Center for AgroEcological Practices and Conservation of Nature in Rwanda, participated in this convening. The event showcased how agroecological enterprises are transforming food security in Africa, ensuring accessibility and sustainability for both people and the planet.
Participants observed that industrial agricultural development approaches to food security have not only failed to achieve food and nutrition security but also pose serious challenges to human and environmental health. In contrast, agroecology offers a sustainable solution that conserves soils, culture and social connections, while agroecological entrepreneurship ensures access to such foods through cross-border exchanges of seeds and produce.
Exploring Agroecological Enterprises in the Mbare Market
During the convening, the participants visited Harare’s iconic Mbare Market, a hub of local trade that exemplifies the importance of territorial markets. The market is a thriving center where local traders and small-scale farmers play a pivotal role in advancing sustainable food systems. Markets like Mbare support local producers, minimize food loss and waste and create opportunities for agroecological products to reach consumers.
Unfortunately, a month after the visit, a devastating fire severely damaged the symbolic market, causing millions of dollars in losses and disrupting the lives of thousands of traders and vendors. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the affected traders, producers, vendors and their families.
This tragedy underscores the urgent need to strengthen the infrastructure of African territorial markets to prevent such disasters in the future. Stakeholders must collaborate to advocate for policies that strengthen, safeguard and revitalize territorial markets across Africa, ensuring sustainable livelihoods and a resilient food system.
Pathways to Transforming Africa’s Food Systems
Here are insights from the convening for how to advance agroecology in Africa to deliver sustainable food systems:
- Advocacy for Inclusive Financial Systems: There is a need for financial systems that support small-scale producers and entrepreneurs in agroecology. Increased investment in agroecological practices will drive entrepreneurship and innovation, making the food system more equitable.
- Favorable Policy Environments: Creating a policy framework that supports agroecological entrepreneurship is critical. Governments need to be at the forefront of developing pro-people policies that address gaps in existing frameworks and enable agroecology to thrive.
- Networking and Partnerships: Expanding networks among agroecological farmers, entrepreneurs and stakeholders is essential for knowledge-sharing and scaling sustainable practices. Collaborating across regions helps counter the growing corporate control of Africa’s food systems and promotes local food sovereignty.
- Empowering Women and Youth: Women and youth must be at the center of agroecology initiatives, as they are crucial to ensuring the intergenerational transfer of knowledge and the continued growth of agroecological entrepreneurship.
- Participatory Research: Engaging farmers in research processes is key to understanding and solving the challenges facing agroecology. Co-creation of knowledge ensures that innovations are rooted in local contexts, leading to higher-quality products and more resilient farming practices.
- Strategic media engagement: There is a need to leverage the power of media in promotion of agroecology, changing narratives and increasing demand for agroecological products.
