Summary: Agroecology in the 2021-2027 Multi-annual Financial Framework

The scope of this training was to raise awareness on the meaning, role of and country experiences in agroecology and to provide concrete clues and guidance for programme formulation (e.g. entry points, indicators, etc.).

In her welcome words Carla MONTESI, Director “Green Deal, Digital Agenda”, DG INTPA, underlined the extreme relevance of Agroecology (AE) in the efforts to manage and mitigate Climate Change. The European Union is very committed to promoting this approach in international cooperation and in regular programmes on agriculture and nutrition. All Multi Indicative Plans (MIPs) include references to sustainable agrifood systems.  Such interventions need to be in line with AE principles to reach the climate and biodiversity targets.

“Sometimes we are aware of issues but not innovative enough. Now is the moment in which we can materialise our engagement at the political level and realise the Green Deal, and the Farm to Fork objectives.”

Multiple documents and instruments at the EU level reveal a strong push for Agroecology (AE). The European Green Deal was published at the end of 2019. It gave a strong push for agroecology notably in two main strategies: the Farm to Fork strategy and also the Biodiversity strategy. Both recognize the need to foster and promote further sustainable farming practices such as agroecology, agroforestry and organic farming. Not only these two strategies are relevant but also the zero pollution ambition. It recognizes the potential of agroecology in achieving those targets, leading towards zero pollution. The EU forestry strategy could also be mentioned for the recognition of the role of agroforestry and also the need to increase research in this area.

In the Farm to fork and Biodiversity strategies, agroecology is a holistic approach. It has the potential to transform agricultural systems, sustainability and performance. It includes social, economic, environmental, climate issues; healthy diets and agri food chains.

Food systems in crisis

Food systems are in crisis, and this is only the beginning. There is scientific consensus that hunger and malnutrition are increasing, biodiversity is degrading, water stress worsening and poverty on the rise. Agriculture is the biggest employer in the world. But agricultural policies still work in silos and the main agro policies are focused on productivity, forgetting the positive and negative externalities. There is a lack of consumer awareness and cooperation with other parts of the agrifood chains as well as policies that incentivise and reward agroecological farming.

One of the outcomes of the United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS, September 2021) has been the creation of a (growing) AAE Coalition, as part of the recognition of the need for a complete re-orientation of the agrifood system.

The new AE paradigm addresses all relevant issues, comprehensively (climate change adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity preservation, social sustainability, etc.) rather than only focusing on one aspect. it is not only about promoting a set of agricultural practices. From an environment/climate point of view it provides the resilience needed to face climate change. It puts carbon back in the soil, boosts diversity, restores degraded land and it improves ecosystem services.

But AE is still a contested topic and faces resistance from several corners. The AE webinars took therefore into consideration issues raised during previous webinars and INTPA InfoPoints. How to disseminate agroecology in policy? How to persuade those who are not convinced by the approach? What is the need for more training?

Barriers that research can help overcome

From a Research & Innovation perspective, Europe is devoting a lot of energy to demonstrate that AE can help achieve above objectives. Research & Innovation can help overcome the lock-ins that conventional farming poses to the transition to AE practices. Progress in genetics responds to the need to invest in and protect the variety of species. But this scientific progress should be aligned with the AE principles (e.g. associated cultures). The practical implementation of AE allows to better understand the context in which AE operates: such as lack of market outlets; the importance of Knowledge Management; data availability and harmonization and sharing at different levels.  

Tools are important to evaluate and measure the performance of AE. Agroecology – multistakeholder concept originated in the scientific community and they slowly became part of the debate. FAO has contributed to having a more theoretical approach to AE (10 elements, 13 principles).

A high level panel discussion praised the experience of the Andhra Pradesh Community managed natural farming (A.P.C.N.F). The respondents discussed a European Development Finance Institution perspective; the political/policy perspective; the youth perspective, the scientific perspective and the philanthropic approach. The very rich debate was followed by an exclusive Interview with the president of Sri Lanka H.E. Gotabaya Rajapaksa on agroecology - by Fergus SINCLAIR of World Agroforestry (ICRAF, Nairobi).

Designing a project in agroecology

Mentioning AE approaches in the Multi Indicative Plans (MIPs) is not enough. It must be translated in the Annual action plans and in the design of the programme: from intentions to consistent actions. A practical exercise on log frames from Laos, Burkina Faso, Madagascar and Vietnam was an opportunity for the participants to concretely put agroecology at the heart of programming.

The training was concluded with a commitment from INTPA/F.3 to support geographical units and EU delegations in agroecology project and programme design. This will be done with its internal resources and by bringing in external expertise. 

Webinar resources:

• Webinar sessions
• Interview with Helene Quentrec 
• Case study: The experience of the Andhra Pradesh Community managed natural farming
• Agroecological systems for food security, climate mitigation, adaptation and biodiversity conservation
• Library and resources
• Biography of the speakers / Biographie des intervenants
• Link to all the presentations
• Link to the video playlist