The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) proudly presents our latest policy brief, “Adaptation, Resilience, and Mitigation Through Agroecology.” This comprehensive document advocates for transformative policies that integrate agroecology into our climate strategies. As Africa faces unprecedented climate challenges, this brief underscores the urgency of transitioning from high-emission industrial agriculture to sustainable, agroecological practices that bolster resilience, enhance food security, and ensure economic sustainability for the continent’s most vulnerable communities.
Key Insights and Recommendations:
This policy brief draws on extensive research, including over 100 case studies, and interactions with key stakeholders across more than ten African countries. It addresses critical areas such as adaptation, finance, loss and damage, and the necessity for genuine, impactful climate actions rooted in agroecological practices.
Key recommendations include:
Prioritizing Agroecology: Elevating agroecology as a central theme in climate-related decision-making, acknowledging its role in enhancing sustainable agricultural practices and ensuring food security.
Fulfilling Financial Commitments: Advocating for developed countries to meet and exceed their climate finance pledges, emphasizing grants over loans to support the most vulnerable communities effectively.
Operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund: Ensuring that this fund is accessible and managed in a way that does not increase indebtedness, supporting sustainable actions like agroecology.
Setting Measurable Targets: Establishing clear, actionable targets and indicators to mobilize resources and implement sustainable adaptation measures.
Why This Matters:
Africa’s agricultural sector, primarily dependent on rain-fed farming, faces significant risks from climate variability. The implementation of agroecological practices is not just a necessity but a moral imperative to protect and empower millions of small-scale food producers and indigenous communities. By supporting biodiversity, reducing reliance on chemical inputs, and promoting local resilience through traditional and innovative practices, agroecology offers a path towards a sustainable and equitable future.
Join us in advocating for a transformation that places resilience, ecological integrity and human well-being at the heart of climate action.