Ethiopia unveils 15-year agroecology strategy to transform climate-vulnerable food systems
Agriculture employs more than 80 percent of Ethiopia’s population and supports millions of smallholder farmers, pastoralists and agro-pastoralists
ADDIS ABABA, March 17, 2026 — Ethiopia has launched two complementary national strategies aimed at transforming the country’s agricultural sector: the National Agroecology Strategy for Food System Transformation [2026–2040] and the National Agroforestry Development Strategy [2026–2035], according to an official press release issued at the Ministry of Agriculture headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Agriculture employs more than 80 percent of Ethiopia’s population and supports millions of smallholder farmers, pastoralists and agro-pastoralists. Smallholders produce approximately 95 percent of the country’s agricultural output, primarily through rain-fed systems that are highly vulnerable to climate shocks, making resilient and sustainable farming systems a national priority.
The Agroecology Strategy provides a broad framework for building sustainable and resilient food systems, while the Agroforestry Strategy offers practical, tree-based solutions to strengthen ecological processes within farms and landscapes. Integrating trees with crops and livestock enables farmers to restore soil fertility, improve water management and reduce reliance on external inputs, providing practical entry points for implementing agroecological principles at both farm and landscape levels.
Both strategies respond directly to climate challenges by promoting nature-based agricultural solutions that enhance productivity while protecting natural resources. Agroecological practices encourage crop diversification, improved soil management and the use of locally adapted knowledge. Agroforestry expands the role of trees in agricultural landscapes by providing shade, improving soil health, conserving biodiversity and creating additional income streams through fruits, timber and fuelwood.
The Agroecology Strategy was developed through a year-long, multi-stakeholder process involving government institutions, research organisations, civil society, the private sector and development partners, including GIZ Ethiopia and Djibouti, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, and CIFOR-ICRAF.
Support was provided by the European Union’s DeSIRA initiative, managed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development [IFAD], as well as Irish Aid, CGIAR science programmes, the World Vegetable Center and other partners.
The Agroforestry Strategy was also developed in collaboration with partners advancing tree-based farming and landscape restoration, including the European Union, Irish Aid, the Packard Foundation, UK DEFRA-GCBC, Norwegian Church Aid, Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative, GIZ and the World Bank.
Growing global momentum for agroecology
Meanwhile, as of March 2026, a growing number of countries are adopting national agroecology strategies and laws, reflecting a significant global shift towards more sustainable and resilient food systems.
Countries that have already adopted such frameworks include Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Tunisia and Uruguay. Others, including Laos, Malawi, Nepal, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabw, are in the process of developing or validating their own strategies.
At sub-national level, agroecology policies are also gaining traction, with multiple initiatives across Brazil, several counties in Kenya, including Murang’a, and regions such as Sicily in Italy and Vaud in Switzerland.
Regional momentum is also building through policy developments led by ASEAN in Asia, the East African Legislative Assembly in East Africa, and PARLATINO in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Notably, most of these strategies have been adopted since 2011, with a sharp acceleration in the past three years and several new adoptions recorded in 2025 alone. This trend signals increasing political recognition of agroecology as a strategic pathway for transforming food systems towards sustainability, resilience and equity.
https://thecooperator.news/stakeholders-push-for-agroecology-and-food-sovereignty-in-africa/
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