Organic Agriculture and Food Security in Africa

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Publication Date: 2008

This study examines the relationship between organic agriculture and food security in Africa, particularly East Africa, which is where UNCTAD and UNEP have, through their joint Capacity-Building Task Force on Trade, Environment and Development (CBTF), have been implementing a project on organic agriculture since 2004. Organic agriltulure is a holistic production system based on active agro-ecosystem management rather than on external inputs, and it utilizes both traditional and scientific knowledge.

The evidence presented in this study support the argument that organic agriculture can be more conducive to food security in Africa than most convention production systems, and that it is more likely to be sustainable in the long term.