Eastern Africa champions agroecology for a nature-positive future

In a landmark gathering of policymakers, farmers, environmental leaders, and researchers, the 2nd Eastern Africa Agroecology Conference in Nairobi underscored one key message: agroecology is central to the future of food systems, climate action, and biodiversity conservation.

With the region’s food security under threat and the impacts of climate change becoming more evident, this conference represented a call to action for a more sustainable and nature-positive agricultural future.

Nancy Rapando, WWF’s Africa Food Futures Lead, was among the keynote speakers who emphasized agroecology’s critical role in addressing the intersecting crises of food insecurity, climate change, and biodiversity loss. 

“I am delighted to have been among the keynote speakers of the day, advancing evidence on the role of agroecology in advancing the food, climate, and nature nexus. WWF, APD, CGIAR, and the African Union held a side event on Resilient Food Futures that allowed for sharing evidence on the impact of food systems on environmental integrity and the need for policymakers to support agroecology as an approach with practices that advance nature-positive food systems that protect ecological integrity of high biodiversity landscapes,” said Rapando. 

The conference also provided a platform for regional leaders to reflect on the importance of aligning agroecological practices with national policies. 

Dr. Ronny Braithwaite, representing the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), delved deep into the role of policy in building resilient food systems, drawing on global lessons to emphasize the urgent need for robust and long-term policy commitments. 

Citing Barbados as a key example, Dr. Braithwaite explained how the country once implemented strict agricultural policies to protect soil health, which resulted in long-term benefits for both productivity and sustainability. However, when these policies were relaxed, Barbados faced severe soil depletion and permanent land loss. 

He warned that the absence of strong, enforced policies risks exacerbating land degradation and reduces the ability of agricultural systems to adapt to climate change. He called for stronger legislative frameworks that prioritize sustainability, urging African governments to integrate agroecology into national strategies for food security and environmental protection.

Dr. Rui Benefica from CGIAR addressed the economic aspects of agroecology, emphasizing the importance of True Cost Accounting (TCA) in food systems, noting that 30% of the costs associated with food production are hidden—comprising environmental and social externalities. 

He called for the integration of true cost accounting into agricultural policies to reflect the true costs of food production, which would help policymakers create more inclusive and sustainable agricultural frameworks. By accounting for hidden costs, he argued, governments could better support farmers transitioning to agroecological practices.

Meanwhile, local voices also played a vital role in the dialogue. Joyce Mutua, Makueni County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, spoke on behalf of the devolved governments of Kenya, reiterating the country’s commitment to integrating agroecology into the frameworks of all 47 counties. 

She affirmed that a county-level approach is essential for addressing local challenges and creating tailored policies that encourage agroecological practices. 

“We are fully committed to ensuring that agroecology becomes a key pillar of our agricultural policies,” said Mutua, highlighting the importance of local-level support to achieve national sustainability goals.

The discussions at the conference also revealed significant gaps in the policy landscape. The side event, “Growing Resilient Futures in Africa: Advancing Nature-Positive Agri-Food Systems Transformations,” identified key policy gaps that hinder the scaling of agroecology across the continent.

These included the lack of secure land tenure for smallholder farmers, insufficient policy support for agroecological transitions, and the limited recognition of the environmental and social costs of conventional farming. Experts at the side event called for the development of an Agroecology Gap Report, similar to the Adaptation Gap Report, to assess the cost of inaction regarding agroecology on a national and regional level.

Key recommendations included adopting land-use reforms to support agroecology, expanding water access solutions for smallholder farmers, and ensuring policy alignment that recognizes the environmental and social costs of conventional farming. There was also a strong push for greater investment in agroecological education, capacity building for farmers, and the creation of market opportunities for agroecologically-produced food.