Authors: Alejandra Arce (CIP), Raphael Belmin (CIRAD), Sarah Freed (Alliance Bioversity International and CIAT), Maria-Claudia Tristan (Alliance Bioversity International and CIAT), Rachel Voss (Alliance Bioversity International and CIAT)

Agroecology is widely recognized today for its multiple dimensions, and its origins and trajectory as a science, set of practices, and social movement. Its local definitions and applications depend on the context and scale of application (Wezel et al., 2009). Over the last three years, the CGIAR Agroecology Initiative (AE-I) has supported agroecological transitions in eight target countries through a transdisciplinary, participatory, and action-oriented approach. As part of this effort, researchers set out to understand how the three roles of agroecology manifest and contribute to the transition process in different settings.

To explore the agroecological transition through science, practice, and social movements, AE-I country teams organized workshops in India, Peru, and Senegal. Senior experts in agroecology, long-time practitioners, and social movement leaders were invited to contribute to rich discussions on the history and future of the agroecological transition process in their country.

These conversations highlighted the protagonism of social movements in driving agroecological transition processes, although these movements look different across geographies and social contexts. They have also occurred at different times. In India and Peru, for example, social movements have coalesced around agroecology and natural farming over decades. In Peru, these movements were linked to peasant movements and have vindicated farmer rights, natural farming methods, and sovereignty around food and seed production. In India, farmers organizations, village organizations, youth organizations, and NGO/advocacy groups have long mobilized producers around farmer rights and sovereignty. The transition process in Senegal began through decentralized projects and farmer organizations promoting agroecological practices, and in recent years, a broader, multi-stakeholder social movement has emerged.

Agroecological science, in some cases, has taken place somewhat isolated from social movements. In other cases where scientific and local knowledge were brought together, the efforts were often localized and not visible in the wider network of scientists and practitioners. Participants therefore underscored the need to better connect and make visible the integration of academic research with indigenous and traditional knowledge. In still other cases, such as Senegal, researchers have worked in an integrated way with development actors and social movements.

"In recent years in Senegal, the agroecological movement called DyTAES has profoundly transformed the ways in which researchers, development workers and farmers work and exchange knowledge, by breaking down the barriers between professional spheres. DyTAES now forms a new framework for work and interaction between researchers and non-researchers, based on the pooling of the financial and human resources of the various member organisations for the benefit of a common action plan". Raphael Belmin, CIRAD Senegal.

Farmer-scientist exchange in Ucayali, Peru. Credit: María-Claudia Tristán

Social mobilization for seeds in Andhra Pradesh, India. Credit: Sarah Freed

During a national caravan organized by DyTAES in 2022, a woman leader of a farmers' organization expresses her policy recommendations to decision-makers. Raphael Belmin / CIRAD.

Agroecological science, practices, and social movements clearly play a role in each country's transition process. However, how and to what extent they dialogue with each other is not so clear-cut. Discussions with collaborators also touched on the emergence and scaling of markets for agroecologically produced goods, the integration of agroecological principles and frameworks in public policy, and the driving role of transnational dynamics in the sociotechnical changes taking place at national and local levels. These factors were recognized as influential in agroecological transitions and key to address in future efforts.

"The law and policies should be practical management tools that serve to strengthen local capacities, support farmers in added-value processes for their products, and enable markets. For instance, in the National Plan for Family Agriculture, agroecology and Participatory Guarantee Systems for certification should be front and center".
Eusebio Vásquez, President of National Association of Organic Producers of Peru, ANPE-PERU.

These discussions and continued engagement over the coming year may provide a clearer understanding of the roles of science, practice and social movements, as well as markets and policies in the agroecological transitions underway and a roadmap to their future. These understandings can, to guide research and development approaches and interventions, such as in the Multifunctional Landscapes Science Program launching in 2025.

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