National Agroecology Conference

May 21^st -22^nd 2024, FIAN Zambia, along with its partners, organized Agroecology Conference to discuss transforming Zambia’s food production system into a more holistic, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable model. The current industrialized food system has not sufficiently addressed issues like food insecurity, poverty and environmental degradation, highlighting the need to reform.

The conference emphasised the urgent need to shift from an industrialized food system to Agroecology, which promotes sustainable farming practices. Despite government programs like FISP, and FRA, many food producers still live in poverty, and the country faces severe land and soil degradation, food insecurity, and environmental challenges exacerbated by climate change. Agroecology was presented as a comprehensive solution to address climate change, land degradation, social justice, and nutrition issues in Zambia. It promotes soil health, biodiversity, and resilience while reducing reliance on chemical inputs. Agroecology also supports equitable access to resources and fair-trade practices, fostering social and economic justice.

The conference concluded with a call to action for all actors to commit to agroecology and environmental           sustainability. Emphasizing the importance of collaboration, participants were encouraged to prioritize local solutions, support smallholder farmers, and advocate for policies that promote agroecological practices.