CANALLS

Driving agroecological transitions in the humid tropics of Central and Eastern Africa through traNsdisciplinary Agroecology LabS.

The humid tropics of Central and Eastern Africa hold great potential for improving food and nutritional security both within and beyond the African continent. With a rich variety of agroecological zones and diverse farming systems, these regions are home to a significant portion of the rural population and a wide range of living organisms. They provide essential ecosystem services and offer opportunities for sustainable development.

However, unlocking this potential requires addressing complex environmental, social, and economic challenges, which are sometimes intensified by conflict and high vulnerability.

In this context, the CANALLS project aims to drive agroecological transitions in the humid tropics of Central and Eastern Africa through multi-actor, transdisciplinary Agroecology Living Labs (ALLs).

We begin with eight ALLs in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Cameroon, and Rwanda. These labs work alongside and empower over 20,000 farmers and value chain actors to co-create and benefit from optimal combinations of agroecological practices focused on key subsistence and cash crops such as cocoa, coffee, cassava, rice, and maize.

At the same time, we engage in strong multi-actor collaboration with rural communities, advisory services, and governments to develop a holistic assessment framework. This framework will evaluate the socio-economic and environmental performance of the co-developed practices, considering trade-offs and synergies.

The comprehensive evidence generated through this process will support capacity-building and knowledge sharing (including practice abstracts, replication guidelines, and policy recommendations). Additionally, we will deliver fair, inclusive, and sustainable business models, along with services and tools that facilitate market access and increase demand for agroecological products.

Our vision is to build a growing network of ALLs that leverages EU-AU cooperation to conduct transdisciplinary research, provide scientific support, and drive coordinated action for delivering holistic solutions. These efforts will help create enabling conditions for successful agroecological transitions.

Concept & Objectives

Concept

The CANALLS project aims to drive agroecological transitions in the humid tropics of Central and Eastern Africa through multi-actor, transdisciplinary Agroecology Living Labs (ALLs). These ALLs serve as platforms for co-creating and implementing sustainable agricultural practices tailored to local contexts. By engaging over 20,000 farmers and value chain actors across eight ALLs in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Cameroon, and Rwanda, the project seeks to enhance food and nutritional security, promote biodiversity, and foster sustainable development.

Objectives
  • Establish and operate eight Agroecology Living Labs (ALLs) in Central and Eastern Africa.
  • Co-create and implement agroecological practices focusing on key crops such as cocoa, coffee, cassava, rice, and maize.
  • Develop a holistic assessment framework to evaluate the socio-economic and environmental performance of agroecological practices.
  • Build capacity and share knowledge through practice abstracts, replication guidelines, and policy recommendations.
  • Deliver fair, inclusive, and sustainable business models, along with services and tools to facilitate market access and enhance demand for agroecological products.
  • Leverage EU-AU cooperation to conduct transdisciplinary research and drive coordinated action for agroecological transitions.

Project Partner

 

  • Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD), France
  • International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria
  • Universität Hohenheim, Germany
  • Norsk Institutt for Bioøkonomi (NIBIO), Norway
  • Q-PLAN International Advisors PC, Greece
  • Rikolto International, Belgium
  • Université Catholique de Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Association Paysanne pour le Développement Intégré au Sud-Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Institut de Recherche Agricole pour le Développement (IRAD), Cameroon
  • Société Coopérative avec Conseil d'Administration pour le Manioc, Cameroon
  • Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi (ISABU), Burundi
  • Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), Rwanda
  • COPED Ltd, Rwanda
  • Maggot Farm Production Ltd, Rwanda
  • African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), Uganda
  • Naturland – Verband für ökologischen Landbau e.V., Germany
  • Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETH Zurich), Switzerland
  • African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), Kenya
  • Confédération des Associations des Producteurs Agricoles pour le Développement (CAPAD), Burundi
  • GASD Services SARL, Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Institut National pour l'Étude et la Recherche Agronomiques (INERA), Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Cameroon Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (CAMFAAS), Cameroon

Publications

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Participants

  • Carolin Callenius
  • Roman Spiegelsberger
  • Beatriz Soledad Herrera Sabillon
  • Hycenth Tim Ndah