Theme: Strengthening Agri-Food System Transformation for Resilience, Sustainability and Socioeconomic Development
Date & Venue: 25–28 March 2025 | Argyle Grand Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya
In March 2025, the 2nd Eastern Africa Agroecology Conference convened over 850 delegates from 42 countries, uniting policymakers, researchers, farmers, youth, and civil society actors under a shared vision: to accelerate the transformation of agri-food systems through agroecology. The EAAC2025 offered rich insights into emerging opportunities, tested models, and strategic entry points for influencing national and regional policy ecosystems.
Porticus, a key stakeholder in advancing policy reforms for agroecology in East Africa and was one of the main sponsors of the Conference. The Conference was convened by Biovision Africa Trust and supported by agroecology stakeholders in Africa. Biovision Africa Trust is a leading actor supporting ecological organic agriculture and agroecology in Africa.
Policy Shifts and Commitments: A Region on the Move
The Conference served as a springboard for high-level political commitment. In his opening address, Hon. Senator Mutahi Kagwe, Cabinet Secretary-Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (via his representative) reaffirmed Kenya’s resolve to implement its National Agroecology Strategy, aligning it with Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. Uganda’s State Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Fred Bwino, reiterated Uganda’s leadership in advancing agroecology as “a science, a practice, and a movement,” citing the country’s 2019 policy framework now under strategic review. Also, the Speaker of the National Assembly and woman representative for Uasin Gishu County, Gladys Boss Shollei, underlined the importance of agroecology and making bold political moves against harmful pesticides and fertilizers.
These national examples signal a significant trend: governments are moving from rhetoric to institutionalization, embedding agroecology within national agricultural frameworks. However, delegates also emphasized that policy coherence across education, environment, trade, and climate remains an urgent priority.
Policy Innovation: From Tools to Implementation
EAAC2025 showcased powerful tools driving evidence-based policymaking that show the effect of agroecology and sustainable agriculture on national agricultural systems. The FAO’s TAPE+ tool, presented by Rémi Cluset, stood out as a scalable model for measuring agroecological transitions and guiding national strategies. Notably, 70% of its applications globally show improved soil health outcomes, making it a vital tool for governments committed to tracking agroecology’s impact across multiple SDGs. Kenya, with support from Porticus and partners, is pioneering localized TAPE+ applications to inform county-level agroecology strategies—an approach praised for integrating farmer feedback into decision-making processes and enhancing bottom-up ownership.
Subnational Leadership and Decentralized Governance
A total of 11 County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) of Agriculture were in attendance funded by Porticus. This included key counties that have been instrumental in advancing agroecology like Makueni, Kitui, Murang’a, Kiambu, Kisii, Kakamega, Busia, Nyandarua, Tharaka Nithi, and Vihiga Counties.
Biovision Africa Trust organised a side event titled ‘mainstreaming agroecology policies, strategies, and practices in County Integrated Development plans. The side event provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss progress, share lessons, and identify opportunities for further integration of agroecology into County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs).
The county leaders shared actionable insights on integrating agroecology into County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs). The emergence of County Agroecology Steering Committees—multi-stakeholder bodies aligning public, private, and grassroots priorities—was celebrated as a best practice for fostering localized ownership and policy uptake.
Keynote speakers in the side event included Dr. Stephen Kimwele, CECM Kitui County, Dr. Joyce Mutua, CECM Makueni County, and Hon. Mophat Mandela, CECM Kakamega County.
The county experiences underscore a growing understanding that subnational governments are critical to policy innovation, particularly in devolved systems where agriculture is managed at local levels. They also highlight the potential of county-level success to inform and influence national policy direction.
Addressing Gaps: The Call for Coherent, Inclusive Frameworks
A major theme that echoed across plenaries and side events was the need to harmonize agroecology policies with existing national, continental, and global agendas—including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Agenda 2063, and the African Union’s post-Malabo Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) frameworks. A special roundtable led by ASARECA, IFAD, and the CAADP-XP4 Consortium emphasized embedding agroecology in the upcoming CAADP implementation framework as a key milestone for the continent.
Stakeholders also called for the mainstreaming of agroecology into education systems, land tenure regulations, seed governance, and fiscal policies—including tax incentives for agroecological inputs and public procurement of organic produce.
From Dialogue to Action: The EAAC2025 Policy Call to Action
A unifying outcome of EAAC2025 was the endorsement of a Regional Policy Call to Action, developed collaboratively by participants. The call urged governments and development partners to:
- Allocate at least 20% of agricultural budgets to agroecology, with priority to youth, women, and marginalized communities.
- Institutionalize inclusive governance mechanisms for agroecology at national and sub-national levels.
- Adopt standardized monitoring frameworks (e.g., TAPE+) to track agroecological performance and guide investments.
- Align national agroecology strategies with global food, biodiversity, and climate goals, while ensuring localized adaptation and responsiveness.
This collective resolve represents a strong step forward in the policy reform agenda—and a concrete opportunity for partners like Porticus to anchor their support within an energized, policy-ready ecosystem.
A Movement Taking Root in Policy
The 2nd Eastern Africa Agroecology Conference affirmed that agroecology is no longer an alternative—it is a necessity. It is a scientifically grounded, socially just, and ecologically regenerative pathway for transforming agri-food systems.
Yet, for agroecology to thrive, bold policy reforms, coherent implementation frameworks, and well-aligned investments are indispensable. Porticus and its partners are uniquely positioned to support this transformation, bridging global vision with grounded, context-specific action.
Prepared by Amose Meme (Fundraising and Partnerships), Ms. Venancia Wambua (Programmes)
