The following thematic areas will be the core focus for the food system dialogue to facilitate in-depth discussions among the key agroecology actors with interest, experience and specialised knowledge in the particular areas. The thematic areas include;
1. Harnessing agroecology research and knowledge to inform, policy and practice
This session will provide a platform for researchers, academia, agroecology practitioners to discuss and generate critical issues for further strengthening of research knowledge management to inform policy and practice.
2. Securing resource rights for smallholder farmers
There is a growing concern on the fast rate at which the smallholder farmers are losing their rights to access, utilise and own the key resources for food production such as land and seeds. This not only threatens their livelihoods but the entire food supply system that is largely dependent on them. This theme will further discuss the key issues affecting resource rights for smallholder farmers, share successful cases leading to the realisation of rights for smallholder farmers and generate key strategies for scaling up such initiatives.
3. Developing responsive agroecological markets and sustainable consumption
Smallholder farmers practicing agroecology are equally faced with the challenge of accessing favourable markets, with the exception of the few that have benefitted from organically certified markets with premium prices. The costs of such schemes often make 3rd party certification not affordable to the majority. However, several successful smallholder friendly initiatives for circular agroecological market development do exist and these need to be further analysed and strategies for their up scaling developed. This theme will therefore explore such cases and propose strategies for agroecological market development in Kenya
4. Favourable financing mechanisms for scaling up agroecology
One of the key ingredients for scaling up agroecology is availability of funds both from public and private entities to support such initiatives. Currently, agriculture and natural resource management
sectors are among the least funded by the national budgets even with support from non-state actors such as funding agencies. This theme will therefore explore the existing gaps and propose strategies for sustainable financing mechanisms as well as the priority areas for financing.
5. Agroecology and climate resilience
This session will provide a platform for various stakeholders to share and learn about the potential of Agroecology to build resilience of agricultural systems. Selected research studies will be shared, and strategies for scaling up agroecology for climate resilience will be generated
6. Mainstreaming Agroecology in Agricultural Extension Services
One of the major challenges for scaling up agroecology is lack of a coherent mainstreaming strategy for agroecology in public and private sector extension. This is largely due to limited knowledge of agroecology among the extension practitioners since majority are educated under conventional agriculture education systems. The single spine extension system developed by the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) provides such a framework that could be further reviewed and mainstreamed with agroecology. However, this is largely not functional and not well understood by many stakeholders. This theme will therefore explore innovative strategies that could guide the mainstreaming of agroecology in public and private extension systems.
7. Soil health
The Kenya anchor hub has been in the forefront providing solutions that enhance soil health among farmers. This thematic area will offer commentary support to the work undertaken by the anchor hub while at the same time learning from other similar practices.