Between 2019 and 2021, FiBL Switzerland coordinated the Food Systems Caravan project, which disseminated agroecological practices in Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria and Benin. During the project, a contest was organized to award the most successful student initiatives related with agroecological practices. One of the winning teams was the Agroecological Community cooperative (AEC), that was founded by five young agronomists who now run an experimental farm in south Benin and train farmers in different areas of that part of the country. Besides working with farmers, AEC has worked to raise awareness in schools, contributing to promote the principles of agroecology and organic farming among the new generations.
With this project, FiBL intends to support AEC in consolidating the work developed so far, by intensifying the trainings with farmers in different parts of south Benin and following up those farmers in the implementation of the techniques. Furthermore, FiBL will provide its expertise and experience through a series of online training sessions on agroecological practices such as intercropping, biopesticides, cover crops, agroforestry and other organic practices.
The objectives of the project are the following:
