Agroecology on the rise

Actually, no one in the world should go hungry. The world produces 6,000 calories per person per day, almost three times as much as the average person needs. But despite this, 733 million people worldwide do not have enough to eat – 2.8 billion people are unable to afford a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals. Very little progress has been made in the fight against hunger since 2016. In 2024, the figures stagnated. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are receding ever further into the distance. How can this be?

“Our food system is like an hourglass. There are lots of producers and lots of consumers, but only a few actors in the middle making the decisions, and ending hunger is by no means their main priority,” explains Johanna Jacobi, Professor for Agroecological Transitions at ETH Zurich.

Professor Jacobi sees agroecology as a “global response to the problem of the hourglass syndrome.” She says: “Agroecology contributes to people’s independence and food sovereignty because it builds knowledge about how to select and store seeds, how to make compost, and what tricks to use to keep weeds or pests at bay.”

Farmers are then no longer dependent on expensive seeds, pesticides or fertilisers from agricultural corporations. They can build their local food systems and networks, and are therefore better equipped to combat hunger.

SWISSAID has been focussing on a sustainable approach in its partner countries for decades. The Global Nutrition Report published in October 2024 provides further scientific support for this approach. Together with the Sufosec Alliance (Fastenaktion, Vivamos Mejor, Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Suisse, Aqua Alimenta and the Skat Foundation), SWISSAID analysed the project areas under the close supervision of Johanna Jacobi, (ETH Zurich), the University of Bern and partner institutions in the Global South.

Every year from 2021 to 2023, more than 10,000 smallholder households in 19 countries were questioned on their food situation and their use of agroecological practices. Our approach combined the use of the UN’s Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) with measurement of the use of 18 farming practices, which we grouped in the four categories of biodiversity, soil health, input reduction and synergies with livestock farming. The interviews took place locally, whenever possible with the female head of the household.

The detailed responses were impressively positive, indicating that food insecurity had been reduced by up to 60 percent in the regions studied. Households that combine at least three agroecological farming methods from three different categories have, on average, a 34 percent lower risk of suffering from hunger.

In addition to the encouraging successes, however, the report also highlights limitations. Despite intense efforts undertaken in an agroecological project in Guéra, Chad, for example, food insecurity in the region rose from 74 to 92 percent. This development was caused by various factors, including a politically insecure situation, a large influx of refugees from the Sahel region, sharply rising food prices and severe flooding that inundated entire fields.

“While agroecology can also thrive under extreme climatic conditions, success depends on political and social stability, secure land ownership and access to markets,” says Francesco Ajena, agroecology expert at SWISSAID.

In regions like this, long-term agroecological approaches must be combined with short-term humanitarian aid. SWISSAID addresses this issue with the Triple Nexus approach, which it applies in several projects. Emergency aid is combined with long-term development cooperation and peacebuilding, and comes into play as needed depending on the situation.

Further insights were provided by a study in Tanzania, where SWISSAID worked with scientists to assess the impact of agroecological practices on the cultivation of cassava and maize. The project was based on research by Angelika Hilbeck, an expert in agroecology and environmental biosafety at ETH Zurich, and was carried out in cooperation with the Sokoine University of Agriculture and local organisations. One innovative aspect was the use of specially developed apps to support the field research. The “MachoSauti” app, for example, allowed farmers to take pictures of pestinfested plants and receive solutions from experts or other farmers.

The study showed that locally adapted varieties are crucial for high yields. The “Kiroba” cassava variety proved to be particularly high-yielding and resistant to pests, without the need for expensive and labour-intensive control methods. Cassava is a key staple in Tanzania, as it thrives even under difficult conditions and the tuber can be used to make flour and porridge. The leaves can also be eaten. The Global Nutrition Report and the Tanzania study by SWISSAID have joined a growing number of scientific accounts that confirm the positive impact of agroecology on biodiversity, crop yields, food security and farmers’ incomes.

SWISSAID expert Francesco Ajena sees various reasons for this: “Agroecological methods are more resilient. They ensure soil health, strengthen natural ecosystems and improve biodiversity, as a result performing better than conventional agriculture.” Lower costs for fertilisers and seeds also mean higher profits. And with direct sales channels, farmers gain more negotiating power and thereby higher margins.

These tangible benefits are also being felt in policy-making. Last November, for example, Colombia adopted its first national agroecology policy, as an important step in the transformation of agricultural systems. Colombia is the second country where SWISSAID operates to officially adopt the sustainable approach, following Tanzania. SWISSAID has been supervising and supporting both processes and will continue working with local partners to ensure the new strategy remains a priority for governments.

Agroecology will remain SWISSAID’s central strategy in promoting food security, strengthening climate resilience, and fostering economic development. In the future, we will focus even more on an integrated development approach. Francesco Ajena: “It’s a question of connecting small farmers, markets, local institutions, economic actors and political decision-makers in such a way that the shift to agroecology benefits entire regions!

Three questions for Daniele Polini, Thematic Advisor Gender and WASH at SWISSAID

Women play a central role in agroecology. Why?
Daniele Polini: Because they make a significant contribution to food security and sustainable agriculture. They are often responsible for cultivation, seed selection and the passing on of traditional knowledge. This is how they feed their children and their families. Women are also particularly affected by the impacts of climate change, which is why their active participation in sustainable farming methods is crucial for resilient food systems.

SWISSAID considers women in every single project, and provides them with targeted support. What were the milestones of 2024?
There were quite a few… For example, we supported 18 551 female smallholders in generating their own income. In India, we launched food markets to support this goal. Women smallholders there now have the chance to improve their income by selling their sustainably produced vegetables at a fair price – and thus also promote local food systems in the region. And almost 17 000 women have learnt to read and write in our ABC courses. This is the first step towards independence.

What were the difficulties last year?
Gender equality is a long-term goal –social structures must be fundamentally changed. Financing the necessary actions is often difficult, however. Nevertheless, together with our local gender experts, we are confident that we are making a meaningful contribution to a more equitable society.