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Economic benefits through agroecology: ProSoil’s scientific evidence for farmers and society

HFFA Research, Germany

Abstract

The potential of agroecological practices to improve soil quality and sustainability in agricultural systems is increasingly recognised. Evidence of economic efficiency, on the other hand, is still rare. This brief assesses the economic impact of agroecological practices by reviewing scientific evidence from Benin, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Madagascar, and Tunisia in the context of the Programme “Soil Protection and Rehabilitation for Food Security (ProSoil)” implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The key questions were whether agroecological practices are economically viable for the individual farmers, and whether they contribute to broader societal benefits.

The review shows that the implemented agroecological interventions significantly benefit farmers economically, with positive returns observed in all surveyed regions and across almost all investigated case studies. Soil and water conservation measures such as the creation of vegetation strips or dams not only enabled the expansion of arable land in the intervention areas, but in some cases also led to yield increases, which resulted in higher incomes for farmers. Also integrated soil fertility management, in which liquid manure or organic fertilisers were used, led to major financial benefits in the studies examined. Agroforestry and intercropping as part of sustainable land management methods generally resulted in increased crop yields and greater net benefits in the majority of instances. The implemented practices also showed positive effects on a societal level and could be associated with reduced public health costs, carbon sequestration, or climate change mitigation.

The impact of agroecological practices varies depending on local conditions and sometimes requires higher labour input compared to conventional practices. For this reason, tailoring implemented practices to specific regional conditions to maximise economic and societal benefits is crucial. To enhance these benefits, it is further important to provide policy support and capacity building for the dissemination of practices that can improve soil remediation. Agroecology provides a long-term solution for productive and sustainable agriculture if prioritised and equipped with the necessary resources.

Keywords: Agroecology, agroforestry, economic analysis, environmental resilience, food security, integrated soil fertility management, intercropping, soil and water conservation, soil management, sustainable agriculture, sustainable land management

Contact Address: Juliane Kaufmann, HFFA Research, Bülowstraße 66, 10783 Berlin, Germany, e-mail: juliane.kaufmannhffa-research.com