This report represents the initial effort to structure existing knowledge about agroecology as farming and food
system in support of the EC Knowledge Centre on Food and Nutrition Security
(https://ec.europa.eu/knowledge4policy/global-food-nutrition-security_en). Scientific literature has been
screened on a selection of developing countries in which food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture
represent a focal sector for EU intervention (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cuba, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Kenya, Lao
PDR, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Nicaragua, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Zimbabwe). In total, 172 documents
have been synthesised, a country brief has been prepared for each investigated country, and some general
conclusions have been drawn.
Overall, the majority of analysed publications focuses on small scale, extensive farming systems that produce
food at subsistence levels and for sale on local markets. This includes smallholder farming producing staple
crops (millet, sorghum, yam, etc.) or vegetable gardening for local markets. The agroecological practices that
are mostly studied are: agroforestry, intercropping (or mixed cropping), introduction of legumes in rotations, soil
and water conservation practices (mulching, return of crop residues, zaï holes etc.), use of animal manure,
biocontrol methods to mitigate chemical pesticide use.
At least 50% of the analysed papers report a positive contribution of agroecological practices to food security,
mostly due to improved yields and/or a better economic situation of producers. The improvement of soil quality
is key to improve yields and consequently income and food security; this can be achieved using various practices
including the use of residue mulch from tree leaves in agroforestry, as well as crop mixtures or intercropping
and longer more diversified crop rotations. Moreover, higher on-farm crop species diversity often results in more
diversified diets. Diversified crop systems, including the introduction of agroforestry, improve household
nutritional status and have positive links to better health conditions. On the other hand, the lack of access to
inputs is an important limitation to the improvement of soil fertility (manure, mineral fertilizer, leaf litter, etc.),
which remains a major hindrance for food security.
The agroecological cultivation of cash crops, post-harvest practices and crop-livestock integration were overall
lacking in the scientific analyses, as well as the assessments of fully agroecological systems compared to
individual agroecological practices or groups of practices.
The report identifies three factors required for the substantial development of agroecology at the farm level:
more financial support from the government, greater scientific knowledge on novel agroecological practices,
and a higher market value for agroecological products.