In 2024, a new generation of journalists in the Democratic Republic of Congo took up their pens and microphones not just to report the news but to transform the national food narrative. Through an initiative of the Comité national pour la Promotion de l’Agriculture familiale en RDC (CNPAF-RDC), twenty members of the Congolese Association of Agricultural Journalists (AJAC) were trained to become strong advocates for agroecology and food sovereignty. Their mission: to highlight farmers, traditional food cultures, climate resilience, and alternatives to industrial food systems.
The training combined theory and practice, equipping journalists with knowledge, resources, and case studies to investigate systemic issues, ask tougher questions, and amplify community voices. Since then, their stories have reached across newspapers, radio, and television — from investigative reports on pesticide misuse and GMO campaigns, to live debates on food sovereignty that sparked wide community responses.
By challenging corporate-driven narratives and promoting culturally rooted messages, these journalists are reshaping public discourse. Their broadcasts have inspired citizens to start home gardens, join cooperatives, and support policies that protect local food. With CNPAF-RDC’s support, they are building bridges between rural farmers and urban consumers, and holding corporations and policymakers accountable.
Looking ahead, CNPAF-RDC aims to expand this momentum by creating a national agroecology media network and mentoring young journalists. For now, the transformation is already visible: in the headlines, on the airwaves, and in the voices of citizens reclaiming food sovereignty.
