Our current food systems are pushing the planet beyond its ecological limits, fueling declining agricultural productivity, biodiversity loss, exacerbating climate change, deepening food insecurity and hunger, and worsening poverty — especially in Africa.

According to the latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, around one in five people in Africa are affected by hunger, a situation driven by conflicts, climate change and economic downturns. It is made worse due to limited social protection systems and financial constraints, both of which restrict access to diversified diets and further exacerbate food insecurity. Additionally, widespread land degradation — desertification impacts 45% of Africa's land — depletes ecosystems, reduces crop yields and intensifies the threat to food security.

However, Africa has a unique opportunity to transform its food systems by adopting sustainable approaches to food production and consumption. By focusing on agroecological and regenerative approaches to restore degraded lands, enhance soil health, boost biodiversity and increase productivity, the continent can build resilient food systems that address food insecurity while promoting environmental conservation.

Agroecological approaches integrate socio-ecological principles in the design and management of agrifood systems, optimizing sustainability and resilience. These approaches not only strengthen local food systems, but they also empower communities by reducing reliance on external inputs, enhancing climate adaptation and fostering biodiversity.

How Do Territorial Markets Strengthen Local Food Systems?

In recent years, agroecology and regenerative approaches to food production have gained considerable momentum, challenging the industrial agricultural practices that have dominated for decades. The rising demand for sustainably grown food across the continent presents a significant opportunity to fuel the emergence of agroecological entrepreneurship, particularly within territorial markets and supply chains focused on providing healthy, safe and culturally relevant food options.

Territorial markets are food distribution systems directly linked to local, national and/or regional food systems. They are typically organized horizontally among various stakeholders. Importantly, within their respective territories, they also serve multiple functions beyond mere food supply — economic, social and cultural — and are often most remunerative for smallholder farmers.

Key characteristics of territorial markets include:

  • Short supply chains with minimal intermediaries, fostering geographical and cultural proximity, trust and high social capital
  • Promotion of family farming and inclusivity for small-scale entrepreneurs and producers
  • Direct relationships between consumers and producers, enhancing availability and accessibility of healthy and diversified diets at the territorial level
  • Embodiment of local conditions and knowledge, fostering community and regional relationships
  • Lack of emphasis on hierarchy, with high participation from small-scale food producers
  • Services that extend beyond food as a mere market commodity  

Showcasing Agroecology's Potential

In September 2024, WRI Africa's food team, in collaboration with our partners, Slow Food Kenya and the Center for AgroEcological Practices and Conservation of Nature in Rwanda, participated in the second Agroecological Entrepreneurs and Territorial Markets Convening in Harare, Zimbabwe. The event, sponsored by Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa, explored the potential for agroecological enterprises to advance this vital agenda and showcased how many of them are already transforming food security in Africa, ensuring accessibility and sustainability for both people and the planet.

Participants observed that industrial agricultural development approaches to food security have not only failed to achieve food and nutrition security but they also pose serious challenges to human and environmental health. In contrast, agroecology offers a sustainable solution that conserves soils, culture and social connections — and agroecological entrepreneurship ensures access to such foods through cross-border exchanges of seeds and produce.

Exploring Agroecological Enterprises in the Mbare Market

During the convening, participants visited Harare’s iconic Mbare Market, a hub of local trade that exemplifies the importance of territorial markets. The market is a thriving center where local traders and small-scale farmers play a pivotal role in advancing sustainable food systems by supporting local producers, minimizing food loss and waste and creating opportunities for agroecological products to reach consumers. The insightful visit brought out the tremendous impact that local markets have on promoting livelihoods, cultural heritage and food sovereignty in Africa.

Produce and herbs for sale at the Mbare Market in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The Mbare Market, a territorial market in Harare, Zimbabwe, sells locally sourced products to the community. Photo by Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa.

Unfortunately, territorial markets are inherently vulnerable, often facing challenges such as weather-related disruptions, fires, inadequate access to energy for cooling perishable foods and health and safety risks — particularly for meat and ready-to-eat foods.

Tragically, a month after the visit, a devastating fire severely damaged the symbolic market, causing millions of dollars in losses and disrupting the lives of thousands of traders and vendors. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the affected traders, producers, vendors and their families.

This tragedy underscores the urgent need to strengthen the infrastructure of African territorial markets to prevent such disasters in the future. Stakeholders must collaborate to advocate for policies that strengthen, safeguard and revitalize territorial markets across Africa, ensuring sustainable livelihoods and a resilient food system.

Pathways to Transforming Africa’s Food Systems

As we reflect on strategies to enhance food systems and implement efficient agroecological practices, some key insights from the September convening reveal how to advance agroecology in Africa to deliver sustainable food systems.

  • Building Inclusive Financial Systems: Financial systems that support small-scale producers and entrepreneurs in agroecology are necessary to drive entrepreneurship and innovation, making the food system more equitable.
  • Favorable Policy Environments: Creating a policy framework that supports agroecological entrepreneurship is critical. Governments need to be at the forefront of developing pro-people policies that address gaps in existing frameworks and enable agroecology to thrive.
  • Networking and Partnerships: Expanding networks among agroecological farmers, entrepreneurs and stakeholders is essential for knowledge-sharing and scaling sustainable practices. Collaborating across regions helps counter the growing corporate control of Africa’s food systems and promotes local food sovereignty.
  • Empowering Women and Youth: Women and youth must be at the center of agroecology initiatives, as they are crucial to ensuring the intergenerational transfer of knowledge and the continued growth of agroecological entrepreneurship.
  • Participatory Research: Engaging farmers in research processes is key to understanding and solving the challenges facing agroecology. Co-creation of knowledge ensures that innovations are rooted in local contexts, leading to higher-quality products and more resilient farming practices.
  • Strategic media engagement: Leveraging the power of media in promotion of agroecology, changing narratives and increasing demand for agroecological products.

.Editor's note: This page was updated on Feb. 4, 2025.