From 29th September to 3rd October 2025, Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT), in collaboration with IFOAM – Organics International, hosted a transformative Agroecology and Organic Agriculture Leadership Course (AOLC) workshop at the JJ McCarthy Centre in Nairobi. The session marked the first in-person phase of the nine-month hybrid leadership programme, uniting over 20 changemakers — farmers, researchers, policymakers, NGO leaders, and students — all committed to building inclusive and sustainable food systems through agroecology.
In his opening remarks, Dr. David Amudavi, BvAT Executive Director, reaffirmed the enduring partnership between BvAT and IFOAM in promoting agroecology as a science, a practice, and a movement. He highlighted the 6Cs of transformation — Change, Competence, Communication, Connections, Collaboration, and Catalytic Action — as the foundation for scaling agroecological impact across Africa.
The workshop offered an immersive learning experience, covering agroecology principles, sustainable diets, territorial markets, value chains, facilitation skills, entrepreneurship, and policy transformation. Participants designed actionable development plans to translate learning into community-led change.
A field visit to Rehema Farm in Mai Mahiu, a model agroecology enterprise under Sylvia’s Basket, provided hands-on exposure to regenerative practices such as agroforestry, permaculture, aquaculture, and composting. The visit powerfully demonstrated that agroecology can be both ecologically sound and economically viable, inspiring participants to replicate similar models in their contexts.
Closing the week, Ms. Venancia Wambua, Head of Programmes (EOA-I & KCOA) at BvAT, applauded participants for their passion and commitment, and acknowledged IFOAM facilitators Patricia Flores and Lena Ahlf for their exceptional coordination. She reaffirmed BvAT’s commitment to fostering leadership, collaboration, and innovation in agroecology across Africa, calling for continued partnerships and donor support to scale up this leadership journey and strengthen resilient food systems.
