FiBL highlights agroecology’s transformative power at 2nd Eastern Africa Agroecology Conference

With 850 participants from over 40 countries, the 2nd Eastern Africa Agroecology Conference, held in Nairobi at the end of March, called on farmers, policymakers, and consumers to drive food systems transformation. During the event, FiBL showcased that, when done right, agroecology boosts resilience, productivity, and sustainability.

Visitors and FiBL staff at the FiBL stand. (Photo: FiBL)

Last month, FiBL took a science lead at the 2nd Eastern Africa Agroecology Conference (EAAC), held in Nairobi, Kenya. During the conference, five FiBL experts showcased evidence-based narratives for the agroecology and organic movement through research and development projects like SysCom (Farming Systems Comparison in the Tropics), CROPS4HD (Consumption of Resilient Orphan Crops & Products for Healthier Diets), AOMD (Accelerating the Organic Market Development in Kenya), and SustainSahel.

Markus Arbenz from FiBL held the first keynote and also moderated the final session of the 2nd Eastern Africa Agroecology Conference, which concluded with a powerful Call to Action. EAAC 2025 urged farmers, stakeholders across the value chain, service providers, consumers, and policymakers to embrace agroecological transformation for the benefit of people, society, and the planet. Looking ahead to the next two years, African agroecology stakeholders plan to reconvene to exchange knowledge and assess progress. FiBL, with its wealth of scientific data, innovative technologies, best practices, and methodologies, remains committed to supporting system transition projects and policy frameworks.

Agroecology far outperforms green revolution strategies

The conference also served as a platform for addressing critical questions, such as: can agroecology and organic agriculture address malnutrition? Are these systems productive and profitable for farmers? Do they benefit the climate, biodiversity, and natural resources? Can they make the food system more resilient and scalable?

The answer is, of course, yes – when done correctly and with sufficient time for stakeholders and ecosystems to transition, agroecology far outperforms green revolution strategies. FiBL's flagship projects in Africa – Syscom, CROPS4HD, AOMD, Africa Organic Manual, and SustainSahel – demonstrate the successful integration of agroecological practices.

In the long term, FiBL's strategy is to support partners in the transition towards agroecology and organic agriculture, offering multi-perspective solutions and providing evidence that strengthens the agroecology and organic narratives across Africa's food systems.

As momentum builds from EAAC 2025, FiBL remains steadfast in transforming insight into action, ensuring agroecology is not just discussed, but deeply rooted in practice across the region. With science as its compass and collaboration as its engine, FiBL continues to bridge ambition and implementation in the agroecological transition Africa deserves.