Shadrack Nyakoe
Key stakeholders in the agricultural sector, policymakers, and industry experts convened in Nairobi for a media breakfast engagement ahead of the highly anticipated 2nd Eastern Africa Agroecology Conference, set to take place from April 13 to April 16, 2025. The conference, organized by Biovision Africa Trust and supported by various partners, will bring together scientists, policymakers, farmers, development partners, and private sector players to discuss agroecological innovations aimed at enhancing food security, mitigating climate change, and promoting sustainable farming in Eastern Africa.
The media breakfast engagement served as a platform to discuss key thematic areas of the upcoming conference while highlighting the urgent need to transition towards agroecological approaches amid increasing threats of climate change, biodiversity loss, and soil degradation.
Among the prominent speakers were David Amudavi, Executive Director of Biovision Africa Trust, Dr. David Kamau from the Ministry of Agriculture, and Venancia Wambua, among other experts in agroecology. The session also provided an opportunity to announce the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM), where new representatives will be elected in line with Regulation 20 of the Sports Registers Regulations.
The speakers emphasized that Eastern Africa is facing severe agricultural and environmental challenges, with food insecurity on the rise due to erratic weather patterns, soil depletion, deforestation, and excessive reliance on synthetic inputs such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Amudavi highlighted that the region’s food production systems are at a crossroads, warning that unless transformative changes are made, smallholder farmers will continue to bear the brunt of environmental and economic pressures.
“We cannot ignore the warning signs—soil degradation, unpredictable rainfall, and loss of biodiversity are already impacting food production. If we do not act now, the situation will worsen. Agroecology offers a scientifically proven and locally adaptable solution to these challenges,” he stated.
Dr. David Kamau echoed these sentiments, pointing out that agriculture in Eastern Africa must transition from being dependent on chemical-intensive farming to more regenerative and ecologically sound practices. He stressed that soil health must be at the center of this transformation, advocating for organic fertilization methods, conservation agriculture, and improved biodiversity in farming systems.
“Healthy soils mean healthy crops, healthy people, and a healthy planet. Investing in agroecology is not just about farming—it is about protecting the environment, improving nutrition, and ensuring economic sustainability for farmers,” he remarked.
One of the key issues raised during the engagement was the role of women, youth, and smallholder farmers in driving the agroecology agenda forward. Speakers emphasized that despite producing the bulk of the region’s food, these groups often lack access to crucial resources such as land, financing, and markets.
Venancia Wambua pointed out that empowering women and young farmers through targeted policies, training programs, and financial incentives is essential for ensuring the long-term success of agroecological farming.
“Agroecology is about more than just farming—it is about social justice, inclusivity, and ensuring that those who work the land the most benefit the most. We must remove barriers that prevent women and youth from fully participating in sustainable agriculture,” she stated.
The upcoming conference will feature special sessions and workshops dedicated to gender equity, youth involvement, and financial inclusion in agroecology.
The presence of key government officials, including Cabinet Secretaries (CSs), Principal Secretaries (PSs), county representatives, and policymakers, demonstrated a strong political commitment to supporting sustainable agricultural practices.
Discussions focused on how governments in the region can integrate agroecological principles into national agricultural policies, food security strategies, and climate resilience programs.
Speakers called for increased funding for agroecological research and farmer training programs, stronger policy frameworks to regulate the excessive use of synthetic inputs and promote sustainable alternatives, market support for organic and sustainably produced agricultural products, and public-private partnerships to drive agroecology innovation and value chain development.
With over 600 participants expected, the 2nd Eastern Africa Agroecology Conference will be a landmark event focusing on enhancing food security through agroecological innovations, restoring soil health and biodiversity to improve farm productivity, building climate resilience among farmers through sustainable practices, and strengthening market linkages and financial access for smallholder farmers.
