Contouring the footprint of regenerative agriculture and agroecology in Africa

The aspirations of African countries to accelerate change toward more climate-resilient, sustainable, inclusive and diverse food production is hindered by, among other things, a gap in understanding of current successful practices. Similarly, there remains a gap in knowledge of how national commitments to scaling up home-grown school feeding programs may serve to create demand and markets for regeneratively produced food.

This project aims to establish a baseline on regenerative agriculture/agroecology in nine countries in East and Southern Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Zambia, Angola, Malawi and Burundi. The project will pilot a systematic mapping exercise on the prevalence and stage of regenerative agriculture/agroecology in these countries and the potential to stimulate market growth for regeneratively produced food, including through public procurement for school feeding programs. It will analyze existing policies, map production gaps against healthy diet needs, identify adoption potential and pinpoint market connections.

Detailed situation analyses in three countries will integrate these findings to develop context-specific scaling pathways. This holistic approach will consider production, nutrition, conservation, climate and economic goals, with an emphasis on gender, youth and disadvantaged groups to ensure just and equitable transitions. The project's outputs will offer policymakers and food system actors insights and adaptable strategies to strengthen regenerative agriculture/agroecology practice adoption, notably supported by public procurement investments.

This initiative is co-funded by IDRC and the Rockefeller Foundation. It is part of IDRC’s Catalyzing Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Procurement for School Food initiative, a cohort of projects that aim to catalyze the adoption and scaling-up of regenerative, equitable and inclusive practices in school meal supply systems in Africa, with the ultimate goal of contributing to the agroecological transition of local and national food systems.