Last year, practitioners, researchers and policymakers gathered online for the second dialogue of the Transformative Partnership Platform on Agroecology (AE-TPP), a milestone exchange that helped consolidate a new wave of agroecological thinking and action.
Held in October 2024 under the theme Transforming Food Systems through Agroecology, the dialogue focused on the Five Steps to Transform Food Systems in Africa, a framework designed to guide countries toward more resilient, equitable and sustainable agrifood systems.
Drawing on the 13 principles of agroecology, keynote speaker Fergus Sinclair, co-convenor of the AE-TPP, emphasized the interconnected nature of today’s global food systems challenges. “You cannot tackle these issues individually,” he said. “Systemic responses are required to adapt agricultural and food systems to the interrelated challenges.”
Sinclair outlined five priorities at the heart of the framework: strengthening food security and nutrition, intensifying agroecology through diversification, developing inclusive value networks, reducing food loss and waste and enabling participatory governance.
The discussion brought together voices from Africa and beyond, revealing shared priorities for advancing agroecology at scale. Participants highlighted the need to empower smallholders, advance gender equality and recognize forests and biodiversity as central to resilient agroecological landscapes.
“There is beauty in coming together and working towards a shared goal: ensuring healthy and nutritious food for all, in ways that are friendly to the environment,” said Janet Maro, co-founder and CEO of Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania.
Carrying the conversation forward
Since the second dialogue, the Five-Step Framework has continued to shape conversations and collaborations across the agroecology community. Those discussions are now evolving into concrete tools and shared spaces for learning, exchange and action.
One milestone in that journey is the newly launched forum hosted within the Metrics Library. Developed under the METRICS project of the Transitions Programme, the Library is an online database that brings together a comprehensive collection of metrics for evaluating the performance of food and agricultural systems. User-friendly and open-access, it serves as a one-stop shop where policymakers, donors, development actors and producers can explore and select the most appropriate metrics and tools for their specific needs.
The forum, now open to members of the TPP Community of Practice, also offers a dedicated space for practitioners to continue discussions on the Five-Step Framework, share experiences and exchange insights on how agroecological transitions are unfolding around the world.
Looking ahead: The fifth dialogue on the horizon
With its third and fourth dialogues completed, the AE-TPP is now preparing for its fifth dialogue. Once again, the event will convene a broad range of stakeholders through an innovative online format, offering space to take stock of progress and chart new pathways forward.
Details of the fifth dialogue, along with updates on new resources such as the Metrics Library, will be shared through the AE-TPP as preparations continue.
A recording of the second AE-TPP dialogue, held in October 2024, is available online and provides additional context on the Five Steps to Transform Food Systems in Africa.
Watch the recording:
Acknowledgements
The Agroecology TPP dialogue 2 was undertaken through the Food Systems Transformation through Agroecology Project funded by the Liechtenstein Development Service (LED).
