On 10th July 2025, Rwanda Organic Agriculture Movement (ROAM), in collaboration with Rwanda Climate Change and Development Network (RCCDN), AGRIRESEARCH UNGUKA Ltd, and Youth in Agroecology and Business Learning Track Africa (YALTA) organized the 2nd National Agroecology Symposium under the theme: “Fostering Dialogue on Building Resilient and Sustainable Food Systems Through Agroecology in Rwanda.” The event brought together over 367 participants 80 in-person and 287 participants attended virtually, including policymakers, researchers, academia, farmers, youth organizations, civil society, private sector actors, and development partners, both in-person and virtually, to explore sustainable strategies for Rwanda’s food systems.

The symposium was officially opened by Dr. Patrick Karangwa, Director General of Agriculture Modernization at the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI). He highlighted agroecology as a key pathway to build resilient and sustainable food systems in Rwanda, aligning with national priorities to improve productivity, market access, and climate resilience. He mentioned that agroecology integrates ecological principles, traditional knowledge, and scientific innovation, supporting Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) and Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA5).

Dr. Million Belay (AFSA General Coordinator) about The role of Agroecology as a sustainable solution to enhance food security and food sovereignty in Africa. He mentioned that African agriculture and food systems were pushing for industrial farming, chemical inputs application, export crops and processed food as a sign of progress. He mentioned that agroecology shows how science works with nature through the integration of diverse knowledge systems generated by food system practitioners and focus on 13 principles (recycling, inputs reduction, soil health, biodiversity, synergy, efficiency, resilience, human and social values, culture and food traditions, co-creation and sharing knowledge, circular and solidarity economy, responsible governance, autonomy and adaptability).

Hon. Francoise Uwumukiza (Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), she talked about Institutional and policy opportunities for unlocking potential of agroecology in transforming National agrifood systems. The fully integration of women and youth into agri-food system for a bright future for the generation to come. The EALA has a commitment to support agroecology and organic agriculture as strategic practices for sustainable food systems transformation across East African community. Agroecology has been identified as one of the most important pathways for to climate resilience and a transformative approach to sustainable food systems transformation for the African continent. EALA through the committee on agriculture Tourism and natural resource in partnership with FAO, a resolution was endorsed officially to recognize agroecology as a strategic priority for formulating and recommending sustainable policies in agriculture tourism and natural resources management across the East African region and through the same committee we have started to build the capacity of legislators of EAC Member States to understand the urgency of agroecology in the region with the aim of ending hunger by 2030 which is the African Union aspiration agenda 2063 and all EAC members have signed to this commitment. There is overwhelming evidence that agroecology works. There is a high political will and we should soon come up with a policy that can harmonize agroecological practices in the community, we need to look at already existing policies and strategies to come up with a concrete direction that will help implementation of principles of agroecology especially among small holder farmers and most of them being women and youth in the region.