The Contributions of the ARES AGRO-ECO Project
In response to the growing challenges of intensive agriculture, climate change, and the degradation of natural resources, agroecology is emerging as a sustainable and locally adapted solution.
It is within this framework that the AGRO-ECO project was launched, led by the Genetics, Biotechnology, and Seed Science Unit (GBioS) of the University of Abomey-Calavi, in collaboration with University Nazi Boni and National Center for Scientific and Technological Research (Burkina Faso), University of Louvain and University of Liège (Belgium) and non-academic partners, Louvain Cooperation, Eclosio, Association Nationale des Femmes Agricultrices du Bénin (Benin), Autre Terre and Confédération paysanne du Faso (Burkina Faso).
A Project at the Heart of the Agroecological Transition
Entitled « Scaling Up Agroecological and Ecological Practices (PAEs) at the Territorial Level in Atacora (Benin) and Houet (Burkina Faso) », the AGRO-ECO project was implemented from 2019 to 2025. Its main goal was to support the agroecological transition by identifying, disseminating, and promoting sustainable practices based on local knowledge and scientific innovation.The project stood out for its integrated approach, combining research, awareness-raising, training, technical support, and knowledge capitalization. It placed strong emphasis on enhancing local value chains, particularly that of mung bean (Vigna radiata), a legume with high agronomic and nutritional value.
Tangible Actions and Results
The AGRO-ECO project led to numerous impactful initiatives on the ground:
- Nighttime awareness campaigns for farmers, using video screenings on agroecological practices (PAEs) and sustainable land management.
- Establishment of agroecological model fields, particularly to promote mung bean cultivation.
- Support for compost production using local organic materials (rice straw, poultry manure, cow dung), yielding promising results: nearly 15 tons produced at the burkinabe BAMA composting platform with a financial return rate of 5.21%.
- Training of trainers and farmers on the production of biopesticides, natural fertilizers, and neem oil. Around thirty trainers were integrated into the burkinabe partner network.
- Support for farmers: in 2024, 173 producers were supervised, 38% of whom were women, over a total area exceeding 33 hectares.
- Acquisition of a motorized grinder made available to a service provider for processing coconut shells into agroecological inputs.
- Development of a monitoring and evaluation tool for tracking agroecological transition progress.
A Project Focused on Sharing and Knowledge Capitalization
The project also excelled in bringing stakeholders together around key events:
Organization of the Agroecology Week in 2023, a pivotal moment for exchange among researchers, farmers, policymakers, and civil society organizations.
Active participation in both local and international conferences and fairs, such as the West African Conference on Organic Agriculture and events organized by CNABio in Burkina Faso.
On the academic front, the project facilitated the training and completion of three PhDs, the completion of twelve master’s theses in various fields (soil science, socio-economics, plant pathology, etc.) and the production of research papers, technical documents and policy briefs.
Towards the Sustainability of Achievements
The end of the project does not signify the end of its ambitions. Several ongoing and planned actions aim to ensure the sustainability of its outcomes:
- Updating the PAE directory in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture.
- Strengthening the IRSAT bio-input platform for continuous training.
- Expanding research networks through reinforced partnerships between scientists, farmers, and NGOs.
With AGRO-ECO, GBioS has demonstrated that an agroecological transition is possible, realistic, and beneficial for farmers, the environment, and local territories. The project embodies a participatory and scientific field-based agroecology, where traditional knowledge and innovation meet in service of a more resilient agricultural future.
Its example deserves to be replicated, scaled up, and supported more widely.