Money Flows Report
What is holding back investment in agroecological research for Africa?
This report, co-developed by Biovision, IPES-Food and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), zooms in on the all-important financial flows in food system research to sub-Saharan Africa, with a view to understanding more about how the industrial model is perpetuated and where the opportunities lie for sparking agroecological transition.
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From the Green Revolution onwards, international development agencies, governments, philanthropic organisations and research institutes have invested heavily in agricultural development in the Global South. The present study seeks to answer the following questions: Where does AgR4D funding go? What agricultural development trends are funded over others? Is agroecology overlooked? How can we make a shift? The report concludes with 6 recommendations and specific steps for decision-makers to contribute to Food System Transformation through research for development.
Executive summary
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Discover the 3 Case Studies
The Money Flows report shines a light on some of the most contentious flows of all. The findings of this report are unsurprising: 63% of the flows we tracked are focused on reinforcing and tweaking existing systems. Our analysis shows that most investments by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Kenyan research institutes reinforce industrial models, in effect “locking out” funding for more sustainable, regenerative agriculture – or ‘agroecology’. But, there are also some surprising and highly encouraging signs: 51% of Swiss-funded programmes and 13% of Kenyan research now supports agroecology, while concerns like gender equity and sustainable livelihoods are increasingly widespread. We may be turning a corner — albeit very slowly, and with plenty of new challenges coming into view.
Factsheets
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Explore the Agroecology Criteria Tool (ACT) to analyze the contribution of agricultural projects and programs to agroecology.
Press release
With the compound challenges of climate change, pressure on land and water, food-induced health problems and pandemics such as COVID, we need change now. And this includes money flowing into research for agroecology.
Hans R. Herren
Biovision and IPES-Food
Other case studies on Money Flows
- The share of agroecology Belgian official development assistance: an opportunity missed and Yes2Agoecology by Coalition contre la faim
- Finance for agroecology: more than just a dream? An assessment of European and international institutions’ contributions to food system transformation. Background report by CIDSE and Coventry University
- Agroecology in Danish Development Assistance as part of the publication Sustainability Starts from the Ground by DanChurchAid
- Une recette à la française: une pincée d’agroécologie pour une louche d’agro-industrie by Action contre la Faim, le CCFD-Terre Solidaire et Oxfam France
- Development aid funds for agroecology. Support for agroecology of Dutch ODA spending by Profundo and commissioned by Both ENDS
- Absent agroecology aid: on UK agricultural development assistance since 2010 by Pimbert and Moeller. Sustainability
- Investing in the transition to sustainable agriculture by Delonge et al. Environmental Science & Policy
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