Ban Ki moon Centre Youth AgriChampions Demand Paper 2025 - Youth-Powered Agroecology: Building Climate Resilience for Smallholder Farmers

YOUTH AGRICHAMPIONS

DEMAND PAPER 2025

Youth-Powered Agroecology:

Building Climate Resilience for

Smallholder Farmers

October 2025

Rooted in local knowledge and practices, it creates

decent jobs in agriculture, strengthens food

security and nutrition, and enhances the resilience

of smallholder farmers to climate shocks.

Agroecology goes far beyond growing food; it

empowers farmers, bridges traditional wisdom with

innovation, and restores balance between people

and ecosystems.

To realize this promise, we must work together.

Scaling up agroecology requires supportive

policies, accessible climate finance, and strong

platforms for knowledge-sharing between farmers,

researchers, and decision-makers. By doing so, we

can build inclusive, resilient food systems that

Foreword

deliver on climate goals and protect the most

marginalized communities.

With this goal, at the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global

Citizens, we facilitated the development of a

demand paper by a selected group of Youth

During my tenure as Secretary-General of the

AgriChampions from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria,

United Nations, I worked tirelessly to bring together

world leaders to address the awaiting impacts and

Rwanda, and Zambia. This group consists of 18

destructive effects of the climate crisis. This resulted

smallholder farmers, farmer representatives,

agripreneurs, and agri-practitioners all under the

in the landmark Paris Climate Change Agreement

signed in 2015 by 196 countries. However, in

age of 35.

discussions since, the overwhelming focus has been

on climate mitigation efforts.

I strongly support the Youth AgriChampions and

their demands to expand the use of solar-powered

irrigation, adopt integrated soil health frameworks

Without urgent action on climate adaptation, the

world will fail to adapt to the impacts of the climate

and mainstream agroforestry for youth.

crisis as needed and further millions of people will

go hungry. Amongst the most impacted are

Their invaluable young voices must be brought to

the decision-making table, and their demands must

smallholder farmers. They are the least to

contribute to the causes of climate change and play

be taken into consideration, most importantly by

world leaders heading the climate negotiations.

a crucial role in our global food systems.

As this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Paris

I hope that these explicit demands play a role in

influencing the global discussion on agricultural

Agreement, business as usual is not an option. If

smallholder farmers are to continue to feed our

adaptation, shaping the agenda on a worldwide

scale.

communities, we must innovate and transform how

agriculture is practiced.

Agroecology represents a vital pathway to

advancing progress toward SDG2 (Zero Hunger).

BAN KI-MOON

8th Secretary-General, United Nations

Co-Chair, Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens

Youth AgriChampions Demand Paper

Introduction

adaptation to climate change, and progressively

Smallholder farming is the main source of

livelihoods and employment for an estimated 33

improve land and soil quality (4). In other words, the

future of farming hangs on production systems

million households in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

These households generate two-thirds of all food

capable of preserving and regenerating the

ecosystems on which they depend.

produced in the region while also representing a

significant share of the population living in poverty

and experiencing food insecurity (1). African

Agroecology (AE) has been widely recognized as a

win-win solution to address these multiple, complex

smallholders, farming in regions that are highly

exposed to climate variability, face disproportionate

challenges. Agroecological practices rely on the

simultaneous application of ecological and social

risks from unpredictable weather patterns and

climate change, despite their long history of

principles to farming under a holistic and integrated

approach (5). There is no ‘one size fits all’

innovation and adaptation (2) (3). These extreme

agroecological solution; rather, producers pick from

weather patterns strain not only food security in

an array of practices and techniques that often

rural African communities but also the livelihoods

and resilience of smallholder farmers.

merge indigenous knowledge with science and

technology (e.g., agroforestry, holistic habitat

management, and soil health conservation). These

This is why under Sustainable Development Goal 2

(SDG2), the objectives of ending hunger and

approaches must then be properly integrated and

adapted to local contexts.

malnutrition are inevitably intertwined with that of

increasing the productivity and the income of

smallholder farmers. More specifically, SDG Target

To this end, the framework pictured below offers

useful guidance. Merging the 10 Elements of

2.4 emphasizes the need to promote resilient

agricultural practices that increase smallholders’

Agroecology set by the Food and Agriculture

Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the 13

productivity while at the same time helping to

maintain ecosystems, strengthen capacity for

Principles that underpin the transition towards

Figure 1: The FAO/HLPE framework in the format proposed by the Agroecology Coalition

Youth AgriChampions Demand Paper 1

food systems, as identified by the High

sustainable

Panel of Experts on Food Security and

Level

of the Committee on World Food Security

Nutrition

it encompasses the technical, social, and

(HLPE),

aspects that define an agroecological

institutional

system: as long as farmers operate in line

farming

most or all of these principles, they are

with

agroecology.

practicing

suggests that agroecological practices

Evidence

and stabilize agricultural production and

increase

farmers’ adaptation amid an erratic climate

support

(7). By providing essential ecosystem services

(6)

as soil and water conservation, enhanced

such

and carbon sequestration, and, thanks

biodiversity,

the regenerative use of natural resources, AE

to

more diverse and productive farming

creates

and reduces the use of purchased inputs,

systems

fossil fuels and agrochemicals (8). This

including

build up smallholders’ resilience to weather

helps

and variability, while also reducing their

shocks

on external inputs and market price

dependency

fluctuations.

also reinforces smallholders’ adaptation by

AE

job opportunities and stimulating the

creating

of rural economies. Agroecological

revitalization

encourage nature-based solutions

approaches

and circular economy solutions that valorize

(NBS)

resources; thus, they have the potential to

local

local and inclusive value chains and offer

foster

or more stable income sources,

alternative

of rural youth in sub-Saharan Africa live

Two-thirds

areas projected to experience significant land

in

declines; in these areas, limited

productivity

outdated technologies, and restricted

infrastructure,

to resources leave rural youth ill-equipped to

access

to these declines. Yet, young men and

adapt

possess important positive attributes that

women

help to strengthen both climate adaptability

may

the resilience of agrifood systems: they tend to

and

higher levels of education compared to

have

generations and can better use digital

previous

to access information and training;

technologies

change, which increases their willingness to explore

new jobs, learn new skills, and experiment. Youth

are also physically healthier and better able than

older adults to deal with extreme weather events

and work in stressful climatic conditions (16).

especially for the youth (9) (15).

they are more open to innovation and


regional and international events on AE

Various

targeted specifically the youth. In May 2023,

have

first African Youth Summit on Food Systems

the

Agroecology was held in Machakos, Kenya,

and

the aegis of the Alliance for Food

under

in Africa (AFSA). The summit

Sovereignty

agreed on a final document, The

participants

Youth Statement on the Transition to

African

for Healthy and Sustainable Food

Agroecology

which underlines the importance of

Systems,

as a means of ensuring sustained

agroecology

sovereignty. The declaration addresses eight

food

demands, including a comprehensive

fundamental

toward agroecology, more investments to

shift

small-scale farmers and young

support

entrepreneurs, equal access to land

agroecological

resources, and the need for the meaningful

and

of youth voices in policymaking (18).

participation

the subsequent year, 2024, over 200 youth

In

the Thousand African Youth Summit on

attended

Systems and Agroecology in Addis Ababa,

Food

a further 1,000-plus participants joined

and

mentioning are also the Youth in

Worth

and Business Learning Track Africa

Agroecology

initiative, that convenes a broad base of

(YALTA)

networks in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and

youth

and the EU-funded ‘Global Programme

Uganda,

Small-scale Agroecology Producers and

for

Food Systems Transformation’, that,

Sustainable

other interventions, foresees the

among

of young Agroecology Fellows led by

engagement

Professionals for Agricultural Development

Young

the research side, internationally coordinated

On

such as the Knowledge Centre for

initiatives,

Agriculture and Agroecology in Africa

Organic

the Agroecology Coalition, or the

(KCOA),

TPP (Transformative Partnership

Agroecology

on Agroecological Approaches to

Platform

Resilience of Livelihoods and Landscapes),

Building

to overcome research and investment gaps for

aim

Institutional and research initiatives

supporting youth engagement in

agroecology in SSA

upscaling agroecology in SSA.

virtually.

(YPARD).


agroecology’s contribution requires

Unlocking

and enabling conditions that foster

policies

rather than competition between

integration

systems (8) (10) (13).

farming

farmers to effectively embark on the

For

transition, they need access to

agroecological

skills and technology, and, last but not

resources,

secure land tenure (10). Yet, smallholders, and

least,

young farmers, continue to face severe

especially

in accessing land, credit, and

limitations

youth are largely excluded from food

information;

decisions, and their participation in

production

and policy influence, particularly in SSA, is

advocacy

(14) (16). Consequently, as the HLPE notes

limited

“the involvement of the next generation of

(p.20),

producers in transitions to sustainable food

food

demand paper aims to put youths’ needs and

This

at the center of a concrete call to action

perspectives

mainstreaming agroecology into common

for

surrounding climate adaptation and

discourses

draws on a peer-to-peer, co-creation process led

It

a cohort of young African farmers and

by

who apply agroecological principles to

practitioners

address three fundamental aspects of

pragmatically

resilience: water management systems, soil

farming

and agroforestry. This is especially urgent in

health,

where agriculture is highly vulnerable to

Africa,

environmental, and economic pressures

climate,

to the fragility of local landscapes and

due

ecosystems.

elevating youth voices and agroecological

By

this paper highlights a generation of

practices,

who are not only adapting to climate

farmers

but also shaping a more resilient and

challenges

future for African food systems. Farmers’

sustainable

to pursue adaptation strategies across these

ability

areas is extremely important in ensuring the

three

stability of the agroecosystems that

long-term

In this demand paper, we advocate that engaging

youth in successful agri-businesses based on

agroecological principles can boost the resilience of

rural communities in many ways: it promotes food

security, resource conservation for future

generations, employment, and economic

opportunities in new markets, such as organic

foods. Embracing innovative practices and

committing to more sustainable, transformative

food systems helps combat youth’s perception of

agriculture as a low-status livelihood (14) (15).

Agroecology is knowledge-intensive and requires

an innovative attitude. Youth are best-positioned to

be actively engaged in this flexible approach that

prizes creative skills and novel attitudes towards

knowledge sharing. As outlined earlier, compared

to older generations, youth are highly attuned to

systems is too low” (8).

climate and environmental issues, and they are

adept at using technology to learn, apply, and share

knowledge (16). Importantly, youth act as cocreators,

not just beneficiaries.

resilience in Africa.

Foreseeing the potential of successfully driving a

youth-led transition towards more sustainable food

systems, several national and international

organizations have recently promoted initiatives

aimed at boosting African young farmers’

engagement with agroecology (see page 3). While

agroecology is becoming more widely recognized

and its potential benefits applauded, its presence in

SSA is still modest. At the national level, with some

exceptions, agroecological initiatives still receive

weak policy support and too little space in

agricultural development strategies.

As the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable

Food Systems (IPES-Food) observes, agroecology in

Africa is too often treated as a marginal or niche

option, rather than being valued for its potential to

complement conventional agriculture and

commercial crop production. Yet, research funding

and investments remain overwhelmingly directed

toward conventional models, limiting opportunities

for diverse approaches to work in synergy.

underpin food production.


DEMAND 1

EXPAND THE USE OF SOLAR-POWERED

IRRIGATION


The Challenge:

Limited Access to

Reliable Water Sources

The Demand:

Expand the Use of

Solar-powered Irrigation

than 95% of all food produced in SSA comes

More

rainfed agriculture. As climate change causes

from

weather and inconsistent rain

unpredictable

rainfed agriculture becomes increasingly

patterns,

and unsustainable without adaptation

risky

We, the BKMC Youth AgriChampions, ask national

governments, development finance institutions,

and relevant research and technical bodies to

engage in a coordinated effort to sustain the

widespread adoption of affordable solar-powered

pumps by smallholder farmers.

strategies. Farmers in SSA have experienced belowaverage

rainfall in both short and long rain seasons,

and the increasing average temperatures also

Facilitating direct collaboration between producers

and solar pump providers is essential to developing

reduce water availability in dams and reservoirs.

financial schemes tailored to the smallholders’

needs, such as flexible payment plans, micro-credit,

Groundwater resources are thus vital, especially in

drier regions. Fuel-powered water pumps are

or collective loans with joint liability. Farmer-based

Organizations (FBOs), such as cooperatives and

widely used in SSA for groundwater-fed irrigation,

but they often incur high costs in installation and

other associations, play a pivotal role in improving

access to solar pumps. By pooling resources and

maintenance; in addition, they rely on fossil fuels

demonstrating collective demand, they can

2

that contribute to CO emissions. Inappropriate or

negotiate better prices and secure subsidies to buy

uncontrolled use of water pumps also makes

groundwater resources vulnerable to

pumps, as well as secure technical assistance and

regular maintenance after the purchase. Involving

contamination and fast depletion (17).

youth groups offers additional value because of

their innovative uptake and adaptability to

Solar-powered pumps are increasingly being

adopted as a more cost-effective and sustainable

technology.

alternative. They support farmers’ adaptation

primarily because they rely on a clean, renewable

We call upon governments and donors to facilitate

platforms that connect energy companies with

energy source and because, in the medium and

long term, they are more efficient – economically

FBOs with the objectives of enabling better

communication, aggregating demand, and

and environmentally – than fuel-powered pumps.

Yet, despite the potential benefits for agricultural

improving the efficiency of the distribution of solar

energy solutions. Roundtable discussions with

productivity and farmers’ livelihoods, high upfront

costs and lack of access to knowledge prevent

energy experts specializing in solar-powered

smallholders from investing in these tools.

irrigation and FBOs are key to developing

frameworks for delivering affordable solar pumps

and streamlining installation services directly to

farmers.

Following installation, farmers need training on the

use and maintenance of solar-powered water

pumps, but, crucially, also on water management

systems that allow them to save resources, such as

drip irrigation, hydroponics, or capillary wick

irrigation systems.


this end, extension officers need specific training

To

inform or demonstrate to farmers the long-term

to

of solar-powered irrigation under

benefits

farming frameworks.

agroecological

we demand policy support and public

Finally,

Applying Youth-Powered

Agroecology:

How AE Can Help Sustainable Use of

Solar-powered Pumps for Climate

Resilience

funding to initiate and scale up youth-led

innovations in water harvesting systems and

The use of solar power for irrigation offers a

irrigation solutions; for example, by providing

targeted innovation grants or by establishing

concrete opportunity for enhancing smallholders’

climate resilience. Promoting solar powered water

business incubation centers managed by Public-

Private-Philanthropic Partnerships (4Ps) involving

pumps through an agroecological lens, i.e., by

encouraging sustainable water and soil

the state, research institutions, the private sector,

and philanthropic entities. While this multilateral

management and conservation, helps avoid

common problems associated with the incorrect or

partnership will provide crucial support, youth-led

uncontrolled use of groundwater resources.

associations or FBOs can undertake the

management of such agreements. Financial

Innovative water sourcing and management

incentives and technical support should be

systems are key to supporting sustainable farming

provided to registered cooperatives and FBOs for

practices, increasing productivity, and ensuring

investing in solar-powered irrigation solutions and

yield stability throughout seasonal and long-term

communal infrastructures under energy transition

weather variability.

programs.

At the same time, the strategic use and

conservation of water resources through

agroecological methods like rainwater harvesting,

watershed design and management, and soil

moisture retention, among others, are extremely

urgent in the midst of an erratic climate.

Agroecological practices enhance water use

efficiency by mixing diverse crop varieties and

using local, drought-resilient varieties, or by

reducing evapotranspiration, for example, through

mulching and cover crops that maintain the soil

moisture.

Solar-powered pumps are gaining momentum in

SSA as they provide an effective solution to reliable

water sourcing, while breaking farmers’

2

dependency on fossil fuels and lowering CO

emissions. However, in order to contribute to

farmers’ resilience, the adoption of solar-powered

pumps should be part of a wider transition towards

more sustainable agroecological farming systems.

Scaling up the use of solar-powered irrigation

within the agroecological framework, as shown in


Youth AgriChampion

Experience:

Paving the Way for

Agroecological Innovations in

Water Management and

Conservation

Derefaka Derefaka, Sustainability Project

Associate, Olam Agri

he is developing a project to deploy

Currently,

solar-powered irrigation pumps. The

mobile

arose directly from group discussions

idea

farmers expressed frustration about

where

water and affording petrol for

accessing

irrigation systems. Despite a

conventional

irrigation infrastructure, most

national

remain underserved and lack

smallholders

to reliable water sources.

access

Once fully operational, the scheme would

Derefaka is a seasoned advocate for

provide an affordable lease-to-own system for

sustainable agriculture, supporting smallholder

solar water pumps, thereby enabling yearround

cultivation thanks to more reliable

farmers across Nigeria, particularly youth and

women, to improve their livelihoods while

technology and consistent watering

independent of weather conditions, while

advancing climate and nature-positive

outcomes.

lowering carbon emissions and reducing input

costs.

Specializing in the wheat, sesame, and rice

value chains, he delivers training on integrated

The aim is to improve yields and climate

resilience by providing sustainable access to

pest management, natural pesticide

fabrication, biochar production and

irrigation in the face of fuel price volatility and

erratic rainfall patterns.

application, post-harvest loss reduction, and

dry-season farming using solar-powered

irrigation systems.


DEMAND 2

ADOPT INTEGRATED SOIL HEALTH

FRAMEWORKS


The Challenge:

Declining Soil Fertility and Barriers

to Affordable Farm Technologies

Poverty and insecure land tenure also play a role, as

farmers are reluctant to invest in novel approaches if

they lack resources and secure access to land.

Limited access to land and other natural resources

disproportionally affect youth amid the ongoing

reforms of the land tenure systems and the growing

Healthy soils are the foundation of healthy food

pressure by large investors to acquire African lands.

systems: they sustain crop productivity over time,

Younger generations will also be impacted by the

and they provide critical ecosystem services such as

increasing land fragmentation due to urbanization

carbon sequestration and above-and below-ground

and population growth. Furthermore, particularly in

biodiversity. Heavily depleted soils are hard to

SSA, patriarchal customs and inheritance laws

restore, meaning that all the fundamental functions

further discriminate against young women (12) (16).

of that ecosystem are lost, including protecting

storing carbon, and, of course,

biodiversity,

food. The poorer the health of the soil,

producing

more difficult it is for farmers to implement

the

strategies. Exhausted fields may take

adaptation

The Demand:

Adopt Integrated Soil Health

Frameworks

years to build up the biota that supports the plants’

beyond a threshold. Fragile landscapes

irreversible

by soil erosion, land compaction, and loss of

hit

are also more vulnerable to extreme

vegetation

events, such as floods or windstorms, with

weather

We, the BKMC Youth AgriChampions, call on

Ministries of Agriculture to develop national

frameworks for integrated soil health

management and capacity building, with a strong

emphasis on youth-led initiatives.

nutrient cycle, while desertification processes are

high risks for people’s lives and infrastructures. This

is because degraded soils have a reduced capacity

As the challenge highlights a systemic issue of

to absorb water, anchor vegetation, and buffer

against climatic shocks.

knowledge transfer and resource accessibility,

competent bodies need to establish comprehensive

The FAO estimates that desertification affects 45 per

national frameworks with clear targets on soil health

standards. These frameworks can coordinate efforts

cent of Africa’s land area, while up to 65 per cent of

productive land is degraded (11). Land degradation

across sectors and stakeholders, while clearly

defined targets help ensure coherence and an

is the result of many intertwined factors, including

deforestation, inappropriate landscape

alignment of actions at individual, community, and

national levels. Under these initiatives, the

management, and unsustainable farming methods

such as monocropping and the extensive use of

promotion of sustainable soil management

practices through technical and financial support

inorganic fertilizers that cause the progressive

decline of organic matter and negatively impact soil

should be integrated with scientific soil testing

services and farmers’ capacity building. Young

health.

farmers and youth-led farmers’ organizations should

be put at the center of the framework from the

Agroecological practices, like minimum soil

disturbance, crop rotation, and intercropping or the

inception and remain central to the activities and

the decision-making process throughout.

use of soil improvers such as compost, mulching,

and biochar, all help restore soil structure and build

up fertility. However, there is little adoption of such

To this aim, we call for the revitalization and the

expansion of agricultural extension services that can

practices. This is primarily due to limited extension

service reach, labor constraints, and low awareness

provide training on regenerative farming, such as

reduced tillage, mulching, cover cropping,

of the long-term benefits of soil health.


rotation and crop synergies, efficient grazing,

crop

well as on the use of organic fertilizers and soil

as

such as organic compost, manure, and

amendments

amongst others. Since these agroecological

biochar,

may be novel in certain areas, they must

solutions

included in the educational and training

be

of agrarian colleges, vocational schools,

curricula

technical centers. Good soil management

and

are often rooted in farmers’ local

practices

so it is important for agrarian students

knowledge,

extension officers to engage with farmers in

and

that bring this tacit knowledge to light.

ways

interventions should also be put in place

Targeted

expand the training offer for farmers and farmers’

to

Demonstration farms will play a

organizations.

role in disseminating knowledge and

crucial

while also raising awareness and building

practices,

within communities. In April 2025, the BKMC

skills

such as farm, WingFarms, with 30 people,

visited

together Youth AgriChampions alumni,

bringing

farmers, donors, scientists, and civil

smallholder

including representatives from CGIAR and

society,

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development

the

(FCDO). The demonstration farm practices

Office

and is led by Youth AgriChampion,

agroecology

Kamau Njoroge.

Geoffrey

stress the benefits of using cascade methods,

We

as Farmers Field Schools (FFS) or Training of

such

(ToT), where young ‘Soil Health Champions’

Trainers

their peers in novel soil conservation

train

thereby ensuring wide reach and

techniques,

ownership.

effective

also envisage the provision of affordable and

We

soil testing services, making education on

timely

to read the soil’s biological and chemical

how

accessible to extensionists and farmers.

properties

learning how to assess nutrient levels and pH

By

farmers would better know how to choose

status,

appropriate amendments and fertilizers, and

the

the precise amount needed for targeted,

calculate

demand that policymakers implement a

We

incentive system for farmers who

comprehensive

regenerative soil and land management

adopt

that meet soil health targets as set by the

practices

Incentives can be financial, such as

Framework.

subsidies, or preferential access to organic

grants,

as well as non-financial in nature, for

inputs,

targeted technical support. In some cases,

instance,

example, under certified organic farming

for

rewards can be issued to producers who

schemes,

funding should be allocated to start-ups and

Seed

businesses that specifically address the

innovative

identified by young farmers. For instance, this

needs

include suppliers of light machinery and other

could

that ease the labor burden, or

technologies

of organic inputs and soil amendments,

producers

as black soldier fly farming, vermicomposting,

such

farming, or biochar that rely on locally

azolla

biomass residues. These innovations

available

costs for farmers, improve soil health, and

reduce

adaptation strategies more accessible. Several

make

of youth business accelerators focused on

examples

already exist, including the World

agroecology

Institute (WRI) Land Accelerator, the

Resources

Fund’s specific Regional Agroecology

Agroecology

in Eastern and West Africa, Biovision and

Fund

Neycha Accelerator & Fund, and the 11th

Shona’s

Project Agroecology Venture Accelerator.

Hour

demand special support for youth-led initiatives

We

incubators, innovation bids, seed funding

through

donors and 4Ps, and local universities and

by

centers. With adequate support, young

research

can act as ‘Soil Health Champions’ in

agripreneurs

respective communities, running

their

plots, community compost hubs, and

demonstration

peer-to-peer learning and exchange

stimulating

adopt healthy soil practices.

opportunities.

efficient soil management interventions.



Agroecology:

How AE Can Support the Adoption

of Healthy Soil Practices within an

Integrated Framework

African soils not just by prescribing a set of

of

and land management practices.

agronomic

– intended as a higher socio-economic

Agroecology

that guides food system transformation

framework

provides farmers, researchers, and policymakers

–

human, social, and institutional principles that

with

are as important as technical and agronomic

aspects. Soil Health Frameworks have to draw on all

It is widely recognized that agroecological practices

agroecological principles to lay the ground for a

restore and improve soil fertility, reduce

long-lasting, transformational perspective in

farmland management.

dependency on chemical fertilizers, and help store

carbon. In particular, the maintenance and

enhancement of soil's physical, chemical, and

biological properties through the use of

regenerative practices and organic inputs is key to

reinforcing farmers’ resilience to climate change (6)

(7). In fact, healthy soils are necessary to improve

and stabilize crop productivity and at the same time

provide critical ecosystem services such as carbon

sequestration and above- and below-ground

biodiversity.

The complex web of factors that discourage the

adoption of more sustainable soil and land

management practices is hard to unravel. There is a

need to provide smallholder farmers with technical

support and access to finance and affordable inputs

and technologies. Anecdotal evidence shows that

when effective solutions are available, young

farmers embrace agroecology and become

successful innovators of agroecological practices

themselves (15).

Most of all, however, there is a need for behavioral

change and a shift in mindset regarding the role of

farming communities: to see them not just as one

link in the food value chain but as stewards of

landscapes and ecosystems. This is why engaging

the next generation of farmers in this transition is

key. As suggested by the FAO-HLPE agroecology

framework (see Figure 1), behavioral change has to

be supported by Knowledge Co-creation as well as

through Social and Human Values, Participation,

and, in particular, – we can safely add – youth

engagement.

Therefore, agroecology can support the restoration


is a Zambian researcher and agricultural

Dora

with a passion for helping

practitioner

farmers thrive in the face of a

smallholder

climate. Through her

changing

and community outreach activities,

research

shares knowledge on some sustainable

she

to enhance farmer resilience and

practices

production and productivity. Her

improve

focuses on the prevention and

research

of invasive insect pests and

management

of key crops in sub-Saharan Africa by

diseases

Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

using

also works on a project called ‘Village-

Dora

Control of Fall Armyworm (FAW) in rural

Based

Together with the team, she trained a

Zambia.

cooperative in Siavonga District on how

youth

produce tea manure, a liquid fertilizer also

to

as compost tea, made by steeping

known

or livestock droppings in water. Just

compost

any other organic fertilizer, tea manure

like

healthy soil by improving its structure,

builds

retention, and microbial activity,

moisture

supports long-term plant health and

which

Mixed with neem leaves, this

sustainability.

fertilizer also helps in repelling pests,

organic

as FAW, hence reducing the need for

such

interventions. Since it uses readily

chemical

raw materials at no or low costs, tea

available

offers an additional advantage for

manure

with limited financial resources to

youths

soil fertility and plant health without

enhance

expenses.

significant

Youth AgriChampion

Experience:

Integrating Soil Health into

Agricultural Resilience Projects

Dora Shimbwambwa, Research Officer,

Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience

International (CABI)


DEMAND 3

MAINSTREAM AGROFORESTRY INTO

YOUTH-CENTERED TRAINING PROGRAMS


approaches such as agroforestry are

Agroecological

knowledge-intensive, as crop and tree

highly

need to be combined differently depending

species

the local pedoclimatic and agroecological

on

Therefore, to shift agroforestry from

conditions.

to thriving practice and unlock widespread

theory

smallholders and other practitioners need

adoption,

to knowledge and technical skills. As a first

access

agroforestry has to be integrated into national

step,

and agricultural training curricula and

extension

amongst farmers through peer-topeer

disseminated

and experiential learning approaches,

tailored for younger farmers. This requires

especially

government to work with other public and

the

actors to implement a combination of

private

across capacity building, policy support, and

actions

demand comprehensive training curricula on

We

principles and practices to be made

agroforestry

for agricultural students, extension

available

and farmers alike. These should include

officers,

syllabi and materials for agricultural

innovative

and agronomic faculties, but also practical

colleges

on how to use field demonstrations,

training

training, and peer-learning

participatory

for long-term farmer engagement.

approaches

education and field-based demonstrations

Farmer

key in promoting knowledge-intensive practices

are

as agroforestry. Engaging farmers through

such

The Challenge:

Degraded Rural Landscapes Expose

Communities and Ecosystem

Fragility

The Demand:

Mainstream Agroforestry into

Youth-Centered Training Programs

degraded landscapes are highly susceptible

Fragile,

erosion and to the impacts of climate change.

to

agriculture and, in particular,

Conventional

systems make soils vulnerable to

monocropping

In many places, deforestation driven by

depletion.

We, the BKMC Youth AgriChampions, call on

Agricultural Ministries and Technical Cooperation

Agencies to mainstream agroforestry into

extension and agricultural training programs, with

a special focus on young farmers and youth-led

organizations and cooperatives.

agricultural expansion and the uncontrolled

collection of wood further exacerbate the

environmental impacts of land degradation.

Agroforestry is an agroecological practice that

integrates trees into the farming system to create a

more sustainable, diverse, and productive system. If

well-managed, it brings multiple environmental,

economic, and social benefits, providing one of the

most effective climate-resilient farming approaches.

Agroforestry systems are more resilient, as crop

diversity and plant synergies enhance soil fertility,

increase tolerance to unpredictable weather, and

strengthen resistance to pests and diseases. Trees

also provide shelter for livestock and crops from

extreme climatic events, while roots prevent land

degradation. Finally, farmers’ resilience is

strengthened by the diversification of livelihood

stakeholder engagement.

and income sources coming from forestry-related

activities and the sale of fruit and other products,

including honey, mushrooms, wood, and fodder.

Yet, in SSA, agroforestry represents a ‘missed

gateway’ to agroecology: smallholder farmers rarely

adopt it effectively due to several factors. Limited

technical capacity and insecure land tenure are

major barriers. Low adoption of agroforestry

systems is also due to their complexity, the

perceived intensity of labor and high upfront costs,

and generally poor knowledge about its benefits.

Finally, inadequate support from extension officers

and insufficient access to resources like seeds,

seedlings, and other planting materials further

community workshops, hands-on training, and

discourage uptake.

19


systems tend to prioritize household

Extension

as the main point of contact, reflecting

heads

top-down communication models

conventional,

may overlook the perspectives of other

that

members. Increasing attention has to be

household

to targeting women and youth as both

paid

and providers of extension and advisory

recipients

as well as to understand how to effectively

services,

them through innovative initiatives, such as

engage

like Shamba Shape Up in East Africa,

platforms

helps to overcome informational barriers and

which

expand youth engagement in agrifood systems

help

demand that local policymakers and

We

organizations build knowledge

development

and communities of practice to facilitate

platforms

exchange and invest in digital tools that

this

youth’s active engagement and leadership

support

these fora. Run by extension services or CSOs,

in

platforms can also support sensitization

these

on the benefits of agroforestry and the

campaigns

of secure land and tree tenure amongst

importance

wider audience.

a

practical field demonstrations allows them to

directly assess the challenges as well as the benefits

of agroforestry.

Considering the leadership role that youth play in

promoting innovative practices and their higher

awareness of sustainability issues, we suggest that

targeted support, such as seed funding and grants,

should be given to youth-led hubs and

cooperatives that manage agroforestry

demonstration plots, start tree nursery businesses,

and promote hands-on learning and technology

adoption. In rural areas, community-led initiatives,

(16).

such as school-run fruit tree nurseries and native

tree restoration projects, can foster a tree planting

culture and raise awareness of the benefits of

agroforestry.

To ensure effective, widespread upscaling of

agroforestry practices, agricultural training and

extension programs should draw upon knowledge

co-creation and exchange at different levels and

across different actors: farmers, technicians,

researchers, development practitioners, and policy

makers.



Agroecology:

How AE Can Unlock the Potential of

Agroforestry to Sustain Farmers’

Livelihoods and Climate Resilience

agroecological farms, the yields of individual

In

are not necessarily higher, but the total

crops

is optimized over time because farmers rely

output

a diversified pool of crops and livestock. Thanks

on

the recycling of waste and biomass, they also

to

internal animal fodder, soil amendments,

produce

and other inputs. If the provision of ecosystem

services is economically rewarded (for example,

with carbon credits issued for reforestation

Agroforestry practices embrace fundamental

interventions), the overall value of agroecological

farming is even higher (13).

agroecological elements such as Synergy, Diversity,

and Resilience (see Figure 1) that help sustain

Finally, agroecological principles rooted in Fairness,

farmers’ livelihoods while also providing key

ecosystem services. Beyond enhancing biodiversity

Responsible Governance, and Social Justice (see

Figure 1) should guide land and forest tenure

and providing new habitats for plant and animal

species, agroforestry helps mitigate the impacts of

reforms to secure smallholders’ rights to forest

resources, while challenging potentially harmful

climate change by sequestering carbon, stabilizing

cultural and gender unbalanced norms. These

the microclimate, and building up organic matter.

Indeed, with adequate institutional support,

include, for instance, simplifying processes for land

registration, formalizing customary land

agroforestry may become a core tool for climate

adaptation and mitigation.

governance where appropriate, and establishing

clear guidelines for tree ownership on farmlands.

This is critical in encouraging long-term investments

However, in order to promote a transformational

approach to farmers’ resilience, agroforestry needs

by farmers in tree planting and integrated farm

management systems.

to be mainstreamed not only through incentives

and capacity building. As discussed in the previous

section, a more profound mindset shift is needed

from an exploitative vision towards a regenerative

approach where agricultural productivity is defined

by the aggregate value of all the products and the

services, including ecosystem services, produced at

the farm.


21

Youth AgriChampion

Experience:

Upscaling Agroforestry through

Hands-on Training and Peer-to-

Peer Learning

Christine Muriuki, Founder and CEO,

ZuphiFarm

a highly practical, field-based

through

Demonstration plots showed realtime

approach.

examples of farming systems that are

cost-effective, and climate-aware,

productive,

as agroforestry rows that integrate fastgrowing

such

trees with crops like beans or kales.

learned to plant Grevillea and

Farmers

trees among their vegetable

Calliandra

gardens to improve shade, prevent erosion,

provide fodder, and support bee pollination.

ZuphiFarm is a pioneering agricultural venture

Intercropping high-value fruit trees with

in Kenya that aims to empower local farmers

seasonal crops like vegetables, onions, and

and young agripreneurs with knowledge, tools,

beans has been endorsed as a way of

and innovative technologies that enhance

improving nutrition and diversifying income

productivity and environmental sustainability.

streams.

As the firm’s founder, Christine is committed to

empowering farmers to build resilience against

Beyond training, ZuphiFarm facilitates

climate change through climate-resilient

exposure visits to model farms, encouraging

practices such as regenerative farming,

agroecology, and organic waste management.

hands-on, experiential learning and peer-topeer

exchange. Expert support continues after

So far, over 3,500 farmers have benefited from

training, ensuring farmers receive timely

their training and extension services on

guidance throughout the season and,

innovative agroecological approaches, such as

eventually, are ready to pursue opportunities

the integration of poultry and dairy farming,

to link with local markets.

agroforestry, soil and water management and

conservation techniques, composting, and

Through agroforestry, Zuphifarm has helped

Black Soldier Fly farming.

smallholder farmers increase overall

productivity and gain access to alternative

Christine led the execution and

livelihoods, while at the same time improving

implementation of an agroforestry

soil health and reducing pressure on fragile

rehabilitation program in Mount Kulal and

ecosystems, ensuring long-term adaptation to

Mukugodo West, where she worked with local

climate change.

communities to restore degraded forest areas.

The program provided intensive training on

sustainable farming practices and the benefits

of this hybrid type of farming, along with

expert support in planting and maintaining

high-value fruit trees, medicinal trees, and

fodder trees.

The initiative helped combat deforestation

while offering farmers economic opportunities

and resources to enhance food security.

In Laikipia, ZuphiFarm has continuously trained

and engaged the community in agroforestry

22


provides a valuable framework for reorienting

Agroecology

farming systems in a way that prioritizes

farmers’ adaptation amid the urgency

smallholder

preserving and restoring the natural resources on

of

believe that youth engagement with the

We

framework is key to accelerating this

agroecological

and advancing climate adaptation in

transformation

As the next generation of farmers and

agriculture.

they are uniquely positioned to lead the

innovators,

towards more sustainable food

transition

systems. Younger generations are quick

production

and capable users of digital tools, and they

learners

an open attitude towards innovation and

have

knowledge. In addition, they are more

exchanging

of issues related to the environment,

conscious

change, and social justice.

climate

to the FAO, a ‘broad-based

According

of agrifood systems is needed to

transformation

three critical outcomes: expanding the

advance

of decent jobs, improving the food security

supply

nutrition of youth, and strengthening their

and

to shocks (16). We – as the BKMC Youth

resilience

– argue that the adoption of more

AgriChampions

agricultural practices within the

sustainable

framework, as presented in this

agroecological

paper, will help achieve these three

demand

systems grounded in agroecological

Agrifood

provide youth with entrepreneurship and

elements

opportunities in new value chains. For

employment

to reap these opportunities, they need access

them

knowledge and resources, in addition to an

to

policy environment, including technical

enabling

positive legislation, and economic

support,

that reward farming as an income-

incentives

opportunity that also delivers social and

generation

functions.

environmental

this shift to be achieved, public, private, and

For

investments are needed to boost local

philanthropic

revitalize extension and advisory services,

research,

make seed funding available for youth-led

and

Peer-to-peer exchange, participatory

innovations.

and experimentation should be facilitated

learning,

digital platforms and communities of

through

At a higher level, programs and initiatives

practice.

promote AE have to integrate agronomic,

that

and environmental objectives under the

social,

principles of intergenerational equity and

guiding

justice. We trust that policymakers and other

social

stakeholders will progressively embed

agricultural

fresh perspectives in their action plans and

these

the success of youth-led initiatives

recognize

concrete support.

through

this demand paper, we aim to make young

With

and agripreneurs’ voices heard in the

farmers’

and climate policy arena globally. The

agricultural

Agrichampions initiative has allowed us to

Youth

increase our awareness of agroecology and

further

potential to foster smallholders’ adaptation while

its

the same time contributing to a necessary

at

towards more sustainable and inclusive

transition

systems. Here, we adopt a pragmatic

agrifood

to address specific challenges.

approach

this consultation process with 18 Youth

Throughout

and topic experts from the FAO and

AgriChampions

Agroecology Coalition, we proposed tangible

the

that can be implemented with the

actions

of expanding solar-powered irrigation,

objectives

the adoption of good soil management

promoting

and mainstreaming agroforestry amongst

practices,

smallholders.

African

Conclusion

which they depend, as advocated by SDG2.

fundamental outcomes.

Our hope is that our suggestions will be

translated into concrete initiatives that will pave

the way to scaling up targeted actions towards

building smallholder farmers’ resilience.

Undersigned,

Baafi, Blessing, Christine, Damaris, Derefaka, Dora,

Gabriel, Geoffrey, Godfred, Grace, Israel, Kogola, Mastura,

Mhlangeni, Osborn, Patience, Stephanie, Wendy-Yam


Access to

Limited

Water Sources

Reliable

the Use of

Expand

Irrigation

Solar-powered

Soil Fertility and

Declining

to Affordable Farm

Barriers

Integrated Soil

Adopt

Frameworks

Health

Rural Landscapes

Degraded

Communities and

Expose

Agroforestry

Mainstream

Youth-Centered

into

Summary

Water Management System

The Youth

AgriChampions

Challenge:

Baafi Kwaku Boye, Ghana, 24

Blessing Clement, Nigeria, 29

Christine Muriuki, Kenya, 30

Demand:

Damaris Mukuhi, Kenya, 28

Derefaka Derefaka, Nigeria, 30

Dora Shimbwambwa, Zambia, 31

Gabriel Itote, Kenya, 24

Geoffrey Njoroge, Kenya, 29

Soil Health

Godfred Kingsley Kwofie, Ghana, 28

Grace Waithaka, Kenya, 27

Israel Smart, Nigeria, 23

Challenge:

Kogola David Odongo, Kenya, 27

Mastura Bello, Nigeria, 30

Technologies

Mhlangeni Chiiko, Zambia, 30

Demand:

Osborn Opoku Aning, Ghana, 21

Patience Kpeda, Ghana, 35

Stephanie Meltus, Nigeria, 21

Wendy-Yam Osman, Ghana, 23

Agroforestry

Challenge:

Fragility

Ecosystem

Demand:

Training Programs


Rocca, Senior Advocacy & Program Officer

Beatrice

Chao, Senior Project & Administrative

Roxanne

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

BKMC FACILITATORS

We sincerely thank all those who contributed to this

paper, including the workshop expert speakers,

whose expertise and dedication made it possible.

Associate

BKMC CONSULTANT

Celia del Campo Aragones, Agroecology and Food

Systems Specialist, FAO

Pierre Ferrand, Agricultural Officer (Agroecology &

Laura Silici, Italy

Protection Division (NSP), FAO

LAYOUT DESIGNER

Ecosystem Services), (Plant Production and

Oliver Oliveros, Coordinator of the Agroecology

Coalition and Head of the Coalition Secretariat

The photos in the demand paper were taken by

Zoomafrika’s Dan Muniu during a BKMC field trip

ILLUSTRATIONS

Katharina Choe, Senior Communications Lead

visit to WingFarms in April 2025.

Nzilani Simu, Kenya


https://www.ifad.org/thefieldreport/, visited on 10/08/2025

(1)

International Fund for Agricultural Development (2020).

(2)

for smallholder agriculture programme: ASAP.

Adaptation

IFAD. Retrieved from: https://www.ifad.org/

Rome:

b5a8c1f9-f908-

documents/38714170/40213192/asap.pdf/

4a68-ad30-e3d5eeb17c31

United Nations Environment Programme (2018). The

(3)

gap report 2018. Nairobi: UNEP. Retrieved from:

adaptation

https://www.unep.org/gan/resources/publication/adaptationgap-report-2018

https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal2#targets_and_indicators,

(4)

on 10/08/2025

visited

https://www.fao.org/agroecology/overview/en/, visited on

(5)

10/08/2025

Faure, G. et al. (2024). What agroecology brings to food

(6)

and ecosystem services: a review of scientific evidence.

security

Brief 4. Wageningen: DeSIRA-LIFT, retrieved from:

Knowledge

https://www.desiralift.org/wp-

content/uploads/2024/02/DeSIRA-LIFT-Knowledge-brief4-

Agroecology.pdf

Snapp S. et al. (2021). Agroecology and climate change rapid

(7)

review: Performance of agroecological approaches in

evidence

and middle-income countries. Wageningen: CGIAR

low-

Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food

Research

(CCAFS). Retrieved from:

Security

https://hdl.handle.net/10568/113487

High Level Panel of Experts (2019). Agroecological and other

(8)

approaches for sustainable agriculture and food

innovative

that enhance food security and nutrition. Rome: HLPE

systems

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on

Security, retrieved from:

Food

http://www.fao.org/3/ca5602en/ca5602en.pdf.

Geck, M., Hasse, D. and Robinson, T. (2024). How to…

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Rural Youth Employment through Agroecology. A

Leverage

Series for Rural Youth Employment. Bonn: Deutsche

Paper

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Gesellschaft

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ogy.pdf

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The Added Value(s) of Agroecology: Unlocking the

(2020).

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Potential

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Landscape Restoration in Africa. Accra. FAO and AUDA-

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https://doi.org/10.4060/cb6111en

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REFERENCES AND RESOURCES

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WEBSITES

FAO Agroecology Knowledge Hub:

https://www.fao.org/agroecology/overview/en/ Agroecology

Coalition: https://agroecology-coalition.org/

IPES Food: https://ipes-food.org/

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27

Ban Ki moon Centre Youth AgriChampions Demand Paper 2025 - Youth-Powered Agroecology: Building Climate Resilience for Smallholder Farmers

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