Bridge Funding for Accelerating Systems Transformation

Lead Organization:

Bioversity International

Partner Organizations:

Coalition of, to date (April 2023), 47 member countries, regional commissions, and 130-plus organizations encompassing farmers’ groups, research institutions, Indigenous peoples’ organizations, UN agencies, philanthropic foundations, and civil society organizations

Duration:

11/2023—9/2024

Overview:

Food systems, crucial to human existence, are increasingly feeling the impacts of climate change. Paradoxically, they also contribute significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions. Certain agricultural practices perpetuate biodiversity loss, environmental pollution, land degradation, and depletion of water resources. The perilous livelihoods and social disparities faced by countless farmers and food system workers further complicate efforts to ensure adequate nutrition for all.

Agroecological food systems—rooted as they are in diversity, resilience, and equity—are uniquely positioned to concurrently address the crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, and hunger. AE enhances agricultural biodiversity and its manifold benefits, spanning production to consumption and operating from individual farms to larger landscapes and food systems. Additionally, it champions social justice, nurtures identity and culture, and bolsters the economic viability of rural areas.

The Coalition for Food System Transformation through Agroecology, or Agroecology Coalition, was launched to accelerate the transformation of food systems through AE, guided by the 13 principles of agroecology defined by the High-Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) that align with the 10 Elements of Agroecology adopted by the FAO Council in December 2019. 

A multi-stakeholder partnership, the Coalition calls for governments and all actors engaged in food system transformation to catalyze collaborative action on instruments and initiatives to scale up AE on the ground. As of April 2023, it brings together 47 countries and more than 130 organizations, including farmers’ organizations, research organizations, Indigenous people’s organizations, civil society groups, UN agencies, and philanthropic foundations. The different regions and stakeholder categories select representatives to a steering committee, which is composed of four member countries (one per continent) and one member per group of actors. It guides the Coalition’s work between meetings of the full membership and supervises the Secretariat of the coalition.

Grant Aims:

The overall goal is to accelerate food systems transformation around the 13 principles of agroecology  and the 10 Elements of Agroecology. The Coalition endeavors to support implementation of country pathways for food systems transformation and to make visible and amplify members’ efforts. 

Specifically, the project aims to:

  • Facilitate co-creation and exchange of knowledge and experience.
  • Push for increased investments in AE.
  • Seek political engagement and increased commitment to agroecological transformation.

Outputs and Outcomes:

Outputs:

  • Strategy for Coalition finalized
  • Two meetings of full Coalition membership 
  • At least four meeting of steering group
  • Strategy development process agreed upon and implemented
  • Agreed workplan for Coalition 
  • At least four meetings of each working group
  • Annual progress/monitoring report 
  • Coalition represented at two public events per year
  • Six additional countries and 30 additional organizations joining Coalition; in 2024, two additional countries and four additional organizations
  • Initial mapping of AE projects by members of implementation work group compiled and made available 
  • Four webinars about specific topics relating to AE organized
  • Newsletter published four times and two to four articles about Coalition published
  • Website further developed and updated
  • Support provided to working groups for activities