3. Joint Project
Purpose & Definitions
What do entrepreneurs need to
create an enabling environment for
agroecology?
What are the financial and non-
financial areas of support?
Agroecology Fund
&
Alliance for Food
Sovereignty in
Africa
4. Why support
agroecological
enterprises?
Essential strategy to improve farmer livelihoods
To scale agroecology, principled agroecological
enterprises are critical
By advocating against unfair subsidies to large
industrial farms, our alternative is public support
for small scale agroecological farmers
To garner political power to transform agriculture
across Africa, we need a vibrant principled
agroecological entrepreneurial sector & policy
environment
5. Action
Research
Project
Phase II (2021-22)
Identify strategies to
support agroecological
entrepreneurs
Develop a collaborative
plan with partners &
entrepreneurs
Pilot the plan in a
specific place / region
Phase I (2020-21)
Survey Entrepreneurs
Interview Service
Providers
Follow up with
Entrepreneurs
Commission Field Studies
Convene Stakeholders
Share Findings
6. What
challenges do
agroecological
entrepreneurs
face with
investors in
Africa?
Investors
Ignore agroecology as a viable business model
Focus on productivity and income
Invest $200,000 USD at a minimum
Are mostly – 80% – domiciled outside of Africa
& focus on a limited number of countries
Note: there are many other credit providers like local banks,
microfinance institutions, self-help associations, local traders, etc.
that extend credit to farmers
7. Virtuous
Agroecological
Cycle
NGO & Cooperatives
Knowledge Exchange
Compost
Green manure
Agroforestry
Pulses
Farmer on Land
Healthier soils
More diverse crops
Continuous land
production
Increased conservation
areas & poachers
transformed
Household
Enhanced food security by
increased yields
Excess production sold
Sustainable production
Cooperative
Aggregation
Premium prices
On-time payments
Principled Social
Enterprise
Value-added processing
Transportation
Marketing
Employment
Customers
Access healthy foods
Know where food is
coming from
Culturally relevant foods
9. Entrepreneur
Responses
Chain referral sampling
Qualitative insights
68 responses (27 in French)
17 countries
Majority identify as
aggregators, small farms, or
processors serving local
markets
Around 20% were large
farmers or exporters
10. How would you
characterize
your business?
Aggregator 39%
Small farm 36%
Processor 33%
Other entity 25%
Cooperative 17%
Large farm 13%
Exporter 9%
Other enterprise 9%
11. Improving food security – 96%
Sustainable alternative to conventional or industrial
production – 95%
Reestablish linkages between producers and consumers -
90%
Landscape level changes to farming - 88%
Strengthened local food markets & autonomy – 90%
Agroecological
Practices
12. Sources of
monetary
support
Monetary support
Personal & group savings. 83%
Grants 38%
Bank loans 21%
Low interest loans 18%
Non-monetary support
Technical assistance in agriculture 56%
Business advisory services 44%
Incubator or accelerator training. 32%
Sources of non-
monetary
support
14. We asked
entrepreneurs:
“What is
working for
you in
accessing
capital and
markets?”
Reliable Markets
Good Inputs, Quality & Diversity of Production
Loans
Mutual Aid and Support
Good Networks
21. Farm Infrastructure
Solar driers – food preservation
Solar energy for refrigeration, etc.
Biodigestors – fertilizer and gas
Irrigation – hand pumps etc.
Information – via mobile & technology
24. Initial Findings
Entrepreneurs
1. Rely on personal & group savings
2. Engage in diverse activities and markets
3. Increase local nutritious food diversity - Covid-19
4. Experience outside providers emphasizing production over business skills and
marketing
25. Initial Findings
Entrepreneurs
5. Know farmers seek high quality bio inputs due to low cost, effectiveness, and
adaptation
6. Experience a challenging environment – competition, traders, policies, poor
infrastructure, etc.
7. Work at scale through cooperatives and associations to reach thousands
27. Invite your
Feedback &
Participation
In your country, what
agroecological businesses
inspire you?
In your country, what
support do agroecological
businesses need?