Held on June 27, 2025, in Rome at the FAO headquarters, the conference brought together ministers from all 55 AU member states and the EU to discuss:

– Investment and Financing in Agri-Food Value Chains
– Sustainable Practices and Climate Resilience
– Research, Innovation, and Technology
– Market Access and Trade Facilitation
These themes reflect a push for transformation, but critics argue they still lean heavily toward industrial models.

Civil Society’s Counterpoint: A People’s Agenda

In response, a broad coalition of African and European civil society groups released a statement titled “Food Sovereignty through Agroecology: A People’s Agenda for AU-EU Cooperation”. Their demands include:

– Redirecting finance from fossil-fuel-based industrial agriculture to agroecological, people-centered systems
– Protecting farmer-managed seed systems and rejecting restrictive IP regimes like UPOV
– Ending land and ocean grabbing, especially where it displaces women and youth
– Reforming trade agreements to protect local markets and informal economies

This agenda is rooted in food sovereignty, not just food security—emphasizing the right of communities to define their own food systems.

The Global Gateway Dilemma

The EU’s Global Gateway strategy, while framed as a development initiative, has raised concerns. Critics argue it risks:

– Prioritizing European exports and private sector interests
– Undermining local food systems and traditional knowledge
– Reinforcing neocolonial dependencies through tech-heavy “innovation” that excludes smallholders

The Reality on the Ground

– Nearly 300 million Africans face food insecurity—a staggering 1 in 5 people
– EU Official Development Assistance dropped by 8.6% in 2024, weakening support for transformative change
– The new CAADP 2026–2035 strategy, while ambitious, has been criticized for insufficient emphasis on agroecology

What’s Next?

The conference concluded with a commitment to deepen AU-EU cooperation, but the real test lies in implementation. Will funding shift toward agroecology? Will trade policies be restructured to protect local economies? Civil society is watching—and pushing.

If you’re thinking about how to amplify this message or explore solutions like hydroponics or AI-driven agroecological planning, I’d be glad to brainstorm with you. This moment is ripe for innovation that serves people and planet alike.

The Global Gateway Dilemma

The EU’s Global Gateway strategy, while framed as a development initiative, has raised concerns. Critics argue it risks:

– Prioritizing European exports and private sector interests
– Undermining local food systems and traditional knowledge
– Reinforcing neocolonial dependencies through tech-heavy “innovation” that excludes smallholders

The Reality on the Ground

– Nearly 300 million Africans face food insecurity—a staggering 1 in 5 people
– EU Official Development Assistance dropped by 8.6% in 2024, weakening support for transformative change
– The new CAADP 2026–2035 strategy, while ambitious, has been criticized for insufficient emphasis on agroecology

What’s Next?

The conference concluded with a commitment to deepen AU-EU cooperation, but the real test lies in implementation. Will funding shift toward agroecology? Will trade policies be restructured to protect local economies? Civil society is watching—and pushing.

If you’re thinking about how to amplify this message or explore solutions like hydroponics or AI-driven agroecological planning, I’d be glad to brainstorm with you. This moment is ripe for innovation that serves people and planet alike.