More than 735 million people worldwide suffer from hunger. Around half of them are smallholder farmers in the countries of the Global South. Hunger is not just a lack of food, but a symptom of deep-rooted global injustices exacerbated by climate change, conflict and economic insecurity. The hunger crisis is not an isolated problem, but the result of a flawed global food system.
In 2020, SWISSAID and five other Swiss NGOs joined forces to form the Sufosec Alliance (Alliance for Sustainable Food Systems Worldwide). Together, they are active in 29 countries across Latin America, Africa, and Asia with one goal: to build sustainable food systems and combat hunger.
The Alliance does not limit itself to theoretical concepts but attaches great importance to scientifically evaluating the impact of its projects. It regularly conducts surveys of the farming families it supports. The new nutrition report is based on a survey of around 10,000 households in 15 countries, representing around 125,000 households worldwide. The results are encouraging.
In 2023, 43 % of the farms surveyed had introduced a new agroecological method. As a result, in just 24 months, the average number of methods used per small farm has risen from four to ten. This is progress, as each new agroecological method introduced reduces the likelihood of suffering from food insecurity by 5 %.
The results show that a combination of the methods used from different groups (reduction of harmful substances, protection of biodiversity, synergies with livestock farming, promotion of soil health) has an increasing effect on food security. Farmers who use methods from at least three of the groups reduce their susceptibility to malnutrition by around 20 per cent and their risk of suffering from hunger by 34 per cent.
Further data shows that malnutrition in the project households fell significantly by an average of 10 per cent between 2021 and 2023. Hunger was significantly reduced in 13 out of 23 projects. And in 9 out of 17 project regions, a significant improvement in the nutritional situation was observed.
Agroecology is the key instrument of the Alliance projects. While the agroecological approach integrates well-known and already widely used methods such as seed diversification or rainwater irrigation, it also offers a variety of other innovative techniques that encompass social, economic and environmental aspects.
Relationships within communities are strengthened through the sharing and preservation of traditional seeds. The focus is on the exchange of techniques and experiences between farmers, whether through field visits or digital applications. Women, who are often the main actors in food production, are given special support. They are involved in decision-making processes and trained to participate in various local committees.
In economic terms, agroecology contributes to the independence and economic security of farming families. It favours closed cycles and solidarity-based markets as well as short supply chains, such as direct sales on the farm, fixed sales markets and guaranteed prices. These approaches create networks in which producers and consumers know each other and agree on fair prices.
In addition, agroecology is more labour-intensive it is regardless more cost-effective, as farmers save on pesticides, fertilisers, seeds and health costs. Pesticides cause 385 million poisonings and up to 10,000 deaths among agricultural workers every year. Reducing their use is a double win.
According to the FIES survey, in Matiguas, Nicaragua, the rate of severe malnutrition among the population has fallen from 13% to 9% compared to the previous year. ‘Before, we had nothing’, says farmer Paula Elle and her family, who joined the project in 2020. Thanks to the introduction of agro-ecological practices, the family now grows 15 different varieties.
Our diet is much improved and the surplus enables us to generate additional income.
Find out more about the project (in German only).
The transition to agroecological agriculture requires time and experience and still faces many obstacles. Pressure from agricultural corporations, government guidelines, institutional framework conditions or a lack of investment: «Agroecology often has to work against existing structures and the mainstream», explains Johanna Jacobi, assistant professor at ETH Zurich and responsible for the scientific monitoring of the report.
As an expert in agroecological transitions, Johanna Jacobi knows that «a paradigm shift is not only necessary at the level of farmers. A rethink is also required at a political, social and economic level. It is about reaching millions of households and convincing decision-makers that there are no longer any reasons not to promote agroecology.»
In order to create a globally sustainable and fair food system, the Sufosec Alliance is continuing its agroecological work with the rural population and continues to engage with state institutions. This is because the challenges are still immense. In some regions, particularly in Guinea-Bissau and Chad, food insecurity has increased due to droughts, floods and violent conflicts. In these difficult contexts, agroecology has only a limited impact and must be coupled with many other measures to improve people’s living conditions. This proves once again that development cooperation is of crucial importance and its efforts must continue.
The results explained in 10 minutes
