What drives agroecological transitions in Africa? A systematic review

Food systems in Africa face complex and interconnected challenges whose promising solution is agroecological transformation. A variety of actors support the transition, yet significant impediments exist among agroecology actors and stakeholders in African contexts. We systematically reviewed 70 studies to examine the impediments to agroecological transitions in Africa. Our results show that for successful transitions, participatory research methods, inclusive policies and robust market systems are critical for driving adoption of agroecological practices. Farmer organizations and their participatory models like farmer field schools and alternative food networks, are effective in promoting inclusivity and scalability. However, our analysis reveals that fragmented policies, socioeconomic inequalities and knowledge asymmetries are constraints onto meaningful progress. These challenges are further exacerbated by low awareness, constraints in funding and inadequate policy oversights. Results of our analysis propose long-term engagement in agroecology interventions, context-specific solutions, inclusive policies and equitable market access as well as interdisciplinary collaboration which are vital for unlocking the potential of agroecology in Africa.