CEFROHT Ignites Regional Momentum for Agroecology Through Policy and Advocacy at the 2nd East Africa Agroecology Conference

At the 2nd East Africa Agroecology Conference, held from 25th to 28th March in Nairobi, Kenya, the Centre for Food and Adequate Living Rights (CEFROHT) made a significant intellectual and advocacy contribution to the regional agroecology movement. As a legal and policy-focused organisation dedicated to transforming food systems through a rights-based lens, CEFROHT took centre stage by presenting two groundbreaking papers that sparked critical conversations and influenced regional discourse on the future of agroecology in East Africa.

Through the voices of two of its programme managers, CEFROHT presented scholarly and advocacy-driven research papers aimed at grounding agroecology not only as a scientific and ecological model but also as a justice-centred framework rooted in law, rights, and governance.

1. “East African Legal, Institutional, and Policy Opportunities for Unlocking Agroecology’s Potential in Agri-Food Systems” – Presented by the Programme Manager for Sustainable Livelihoods and Agri-Food Systems.

This paper offered a comprehensive legal and institutional analysis across East African Community (EAC) member states, highlighting the gaps and opportunities for embedding agroecology into regional agricultural governance frameworks. It made a compelling case for the formulation of a Regional Model Law on Agroecology, which would serve as a guiding legal and policy instrument for member states to harmonise their agroecological practices and policies, protect and promote farmers’ rights—including seed sovereignty—integrate agroecology into national climate action, biodiversity, and food security strategies, and support a transition away from chemical-intensive agriculture toward more sustainable, community-led agri-food systems.

The presentation emphasised the urgency of using legal tools to create enabling environments for agroecology and to push back against the dominance of industrial farming models promoted through trade agreements, development finance, and national extension systems.

2. “The Role of Advocacy and Social Movements in Advancing Agroecology as a Pathway to Justice and Dignity” – Presented by the Programme Manager for Advocacy and Campaigns.

This second contribution explored the transformational power of advocacy, legal activism, and movement-building in shifting the agroecology agenda from the margins to the mainstream. The paper underscored the vital role that civil society, grassroots movements, and youth-led initiatives play in elevating agroecology as a people-centred solution to hunger, climate change, and social inequality. It highlighted the need to hold governments accountable to their legal and policy obligations under regional and international human rights instruments, amplify the voices of smallholder farmers, indigenous communities, and women—who are often excluded from policymaking processes—and advocate for the legal recognition of agroecology within trade, environmental, and food system governance frameworks.

Furthermore, it called for structured participatory mechanisms, such as agroecology councils and public barazas, to facilitate meaningful engagement between duty-bearers and rights-holders, especially at the local government level.

Through these two well-researched and powerfully delivered presentations, CEFROHT demonstrated its deep commitment to positioning agroecology not merely as a farming method but as a holistic, rights-based approach to restoring justice, dignity, and sustainability in food systems.

Agroecology is a legal, ecological, and ethical obligation. It is the pathway to a future where food systems nourish both people and the planet, and where smallholder farmers—particularly women and youth—are no longer invisible but are respected as knowledge-holders, food providers, and environmental stewards.

CEFROHT’s contributions were widely received and sparked regional interest among conference participants, including policymakers from East African governments, researchers, academics, farmers’ movements, and agroecology practitioners. The call for a Regional Agroecology Model Law triggered discussions on the possibility of forming an East African Agroecology Policy Coalition, comprising civil society organisations, legal experts, and regional institutions.

CEFROHT’s participation at the 2nd East Africa Agroecology Conference was a milestone in its ongoing mission to anchor agroecology in law, policy, and people’s lived realities. By presenting evidence-based research and advocacy frameworks, the organisation contributed to shaping a collective regional vision for agroecological transition.

CEFROHT remains committed to leading legal and policy research on agroecology and seed justice, training communities and young lawyers in agroecology law and advocacy, building alliances for regional agroecology governance, amplifying farmer voices in legislative reform processes, and ensuring that agroecology is recognised not only as a sustainable farming system but also as a human right and a justice agenda.

As we look ahead, we call upon all stakeholders—governments, civil society, regional bodies, and development partners—to rally behind this vision and join the movement to legally institutionalise agroecology across East Africa.