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What is holding back investment in agroecological research for Africa? Dear Friends and Colleagues The International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food), in collaboration with Biovision and the Institute of Development Studies, has released a new report – ‘Money Flows: what is holding back investment in agroecological research for Africa?‘ – analysing the all-important financial flows in food system research that go to sub-Saharan Africa. The report finds that money flows in agricultural development are still reinforcing damaging industrial models in Africa. New data show that only a fraction of agricultural research funding in Africa is being used to transform food and farming systems. To accelerate a meaningful shift in funding flows to agroecology, the report calls on donors to: shift towards long-term, pooled funding models; require projects to be co-designed with farmers and communities; increase the share of funding going to African organisations; and increase transparency in how their projects are funded, monitored and measured for impact. The full report, and executive summaries in English, French, German and Spanish, are available here: https://www.agroecology-pool.org/MoneyFlowsreport/# ——————————————————————————————————– PRESS
RELEASE Industrial agriculture receiving bulk of Africa’s agricultural development funding Investments by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Kenya and Switzerland still reinforce status quo in agricultural research 10 June 2020 – Money flows in agricultural development are still reinforcing damaging industrial models in Africa, according to a new report by Biovision, IPES-Food and the Institute of Development Studies. New data shows that only a fraction of agricultural research funding in Africa is being used to transform food and farming systems:
Approximately 30% of farms around the world are estimated to have redesigned their production systems around agroecological principles. The report finds that support for agroecology is now growing across the agri-development community, particularly in light of climate change, but this hasn’t yet translated into a meaningful shift in funding flows. The authors argue that change can’t come soon enough. Biovision president Hans Herren said: “Most governments, both in developing and developed countries still favour ‘green revolution’ approaches, with the belief that industrial agriculture is the only way to produce sufficient food. The same goes for the Gates Foundation and its development agency AGRA. But these approaches have failed. They have failed ecosystems, farming communities, and an entire continent.” Herren added: “With the compound challenges of climate change, pressure on land and water, food- induced health problems and pandemics such as COVID, we need change now. And this starts with money flowing into agroecology.” To accelerate this shift, the report calls on donors to: shift towards long-term, pooled funding models; require projects to be co-designed with farmers and communities; increase the share of funding going to African organisations; and increase transparency in how their projects are funded, monitored and measured for impact. Olivia Yambi, co-chair of IPES-Food, said: “We need to change funding flows and unequal power relations. It’s clear that in Africa as elsewhere, vested interests are propping up agricultural practices based on an obsession with technological fixes that is damaging soils and livelihoods, and creating a dependency on the world’s biggest agri-businesses. Agroecology offers a way out of that vicious cycle.” The Biovision Foundation for Ecological Development is a not-for-profit organisation involved in ecological and sustainable development projects in Africa, and advocating for sustainable development worldwide. The International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food) is an independent, expert panel that works towards the transition to sustainable food systems worldwide. The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) is a global research and learning organisation for equitable and sustainable change. Experts
available for interview: Hans
Herren English (EN) Molly
Anderson Français (FR) Olivier
De Schutter Media enquiries (EN/DE/FR/ES): Mathieu
Carey Martin
Grossenbacher
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