A major regional forum on agroecology and organic farming is set to take place in Abuja, Nigeria, from October 21 to 24, 2024.

The event, organized by the West Africa Agroecology Alliance and the West Africa Organic Network, in partnership with ECOWAS and ActionAid Nigeria, aims to address the pressing issue of food sovereignty in West Africa.

The region faces significant challenges, including structural food and nutrition insecurity, climate change, land degradation, and growing insecurity, which weaken production systems.

To combat these issues, the forum will bring together approximately 400 stakeholders from various sectors to reflect on financial policies and mechanisms towards strengthening food sovereignty.

The forum’s overall objective is to promote sustainable food systems, strengthening food sovereignty through policies and public interventions based on agroecology and organic farming best practices.

This will be achieved through keynote presentations, panel discussions, thematic working groups, and a dialogue session with decision-makers from regional institutions.

The event has garnered significant support from partners, including ECOWAS, the European Union, and other international organizations.

The forum promises to be a crucial step towards achieving food sovereignty in West Africa by promoting agroecology and organic farming to create sustainable food systems, improve nutrition, and enhance resilience to climate change.

By providing a multi-stakeholder platform for in-depth analysis and discussion, the forum aims to renew commitment among stakeholders to support scaling up agroecology and organic farming practices.

The outcomes of the forum will be closely watched by stakeholders across the region as West Africa moves towards a more sustainable food future.