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.
Second Nutrition report
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.
Comprehensive account
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.
Facts
101,159
hectares of land cultivated by smallholders. This corresponds to the area of the canton of Thurgau.
94,858
people sow local seeds, fertilise with natural compost, grow a variety of food crops or use other agroecological practices.
64
new seed banks are in operation. This means that 32,198 people now have access to local traditional seeds.
Resistant varieties: The importance of cassava and higher margins
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.
Transforming entire regions
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!
Guinea-Bissau
For a long time, Penda Queita from Madina Ioba, Guinea-Bissau, focussed on one particular product: cashew nuts. The smallholder was not alone in this – cashew is one of the small country’s most important exports, often planted in highly damaging monocultures that deplete the soil.
With the support of SWISSAID, Penda Queita and her village have freed themselves from this vicious cycle of cashew cultivation. Use of new agroecological techniques has allowed the soil to recover, planting seasons and harvests have become more diverse. The women use the new products to make juices and compotes, which they sell at the market. They also know how to maintain – and utilise – the nearby forest in a sustainable way. All of this has helped to improve Penda Queita’s living situation.
“In the past we were often hungry, but now we can eat three meals a day!”
India
Mumtaz is 45 years old and illiterate. She owns five hectares of farmland with her husband Nawab Sab, in the state of Karnataka, in India. For a long time, they did what they could with the conventional methods available to them. They struggled with depleted soil, poor yields and ongoing concerns about how to feed their family.
In 2021, they switched to organic farming with the support of SWISSAID. This was a turning point for the family, and the soil has been healthier and thus more fertile ever since. Mumtaz is planting more diverse crops, which has led to a significant increase in yields. The couple can now sell their produce for better prices in the local markets. The family’s standard of living has improved – they are delighted with the results, and aim to expand their organic farming practices in the coming years.
Agroecology and Gender Equality
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.
