As the 16th Conference of Parties on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) wraps up here in Cali, Colombia, we at AFSA find ourselves reflecting on what has been a whirlwind of highs and lows. Together with our partners—ZAAB, SKI, Friends of the Earth Africa, ABN, BIBA Kenya, PINGOs Forum, and the Pastoral Women’s Council—we’ve shared stories, strategies, and dreams for Africa’s food systems. But as the summit closes, one thing is certain: the work ahead is daunting, but our resolve is unbreakable.
What’s Hot: A Spark of Hope for Agroecology
Against all odds, agroecology is gaining momentum, not just in niche discussions but across the global biodiversity stage. Its formally referenced in Target 10 of the Global Biodiversity Framework, but increasingly being recognised as a holistic response cutting across all 23 targets. It’s a key step that has put our demands on the table. We affirm what farmers, Indigenous communities, and food sovereignty activists have known all along—agroecology is not only a way to grow food but a way to heal ecosystems, reclaim food sovereignty, and create resilient communities.
The Global Alliance for the Future of Food launched a new guide at COP 16, titled Boosting Biodiversity Action Through Agroecology. It’s a comprehensive toolkit to help countries integrate agroecology into National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). The big question is how: will farmers and local communities be at the centre of policy development and ongoing implementation? What agroecology principles will be maintained; what red lines will not be crossed? The work now lies in country level negotiations and ensuring agroecology implementation and financing, across historically siloed policy making processes[1].
What’s Not: Corporate Capture in a Conservation Cloak
There’s another side to COP16, one that casts a long shadow. This year, corporate interests have shown up in full force, with companies pushing so-called “nature-positive” solutions that look like ‘peace with nature’ on the surface but are rooted in market-based schemes that ultimately deepen environmental and social injustices. Synthetic biology, digital sequence information, and biodiversity “credits” sound promising in polished presentations, but behind these buzzwords lies a hidden agenda—one that seeks to commodify nature, to put a price on what is priceless.
Our friend and ally, Jim Thomas, captured this shift in his recent article at COP concluded. He describes how the CBD has moved from being a earth-centred treaty to a business-driven marketplace. Biodiversity, which should be sacred, is increasingly treated as an economic asset—open for trade, owned by corporations, and removed from the stewardship of Indigenous communities who have cared for these ecosystems for generations. Watch Markets, Credits, and Offsets for a picture of how insidious this shift is taking place. It captures the harsh truth about the financialization of biodiversity and what that means for real communities on the ground.
The Road Ahead: Building a Groundswell for Food Sovereignty
Despite these setbacks, our spirit remains undaunted. Our farmers, pastoralists, fisherfolk, faith leaders, and community custodians across Africa are the living pulse of our food systems. Their ancestral knowledge, seeds, and stories remind us that our fight for agroecology and food sovereignty is not just about policies or targets—it’s about people. It’s about protecting our lands, waters, and traditions from forces that seek to turn everything we value into a marketable commodity.
Leaving COP16, we are more determined than ever. The path forward is clear: to safeguard Africa’s food sovereignty, we must build powerful alliances at every level, from local communities to national policy tables. Our work is to ensure that Africa’s response to biodiversity loss, climate change, and food insecurity is grounded in agroecology, not in false solutions that promise much but deliver little.
Renewing Our Commitment to Africa’s Future
Our time at COP16 has strengthened our resolve. Amid the noise of corporate interests and technological fixes, the voices of Africa’s farmers, Indigenous peoples, and community leaders echo louder and clearer. AFSA stands with you, committed to a vision of Africa where food is grown sustainably, seeds are saved, and our land remains in the hands of those who care for it.
We leave Cali with a fire in our hearts, ready to engage policymakers and mobilize communities to keep pushing for agroecology as a cornerstone of Africa’s future. Together, we can reclaim our food systems, protect our ecosystems, and secure the right of every African to a life of dignity, health, and harmony with nature.
[1] Read The African Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) article on financing here.
