Starting Points of Agroecological Transitions in Africa: Why and How Farm Structure Matter

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dc.creatorGirard, Pierre
dc.creatorMercandalli, Sara
dc.creatorBerre, David
dc.creatorAndrieu, Nadine
dc.creatorBezner Kerr, Rachel
dc.creatorCoe, Richard
dc.creatorDedieu, Benoît
dc.creatorMadsen, Sidney
dc.creatorScopel, Eric
dc.creatorAsnake, Woinishet
dc.creatorMekuria, Wolde
dc.creatorDembele, Catherine
dc.creatorFrija, Aymen
dc.creatorHaule, Yohana
dc.creatorMagaju, Christine
dc.creatorMengistu, Dejene Kassahun
dc.creatorOrounladji, Boko Michel
dc.creatorRaharimalala, Sitrakiniaina
dc.date2026-11-01
dc.date2026-06-19T14:21:53Z
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-27T18:38:53Z
dc.descriptionIn sub-Saharan Africa, dominant agricultural models such as the Green Revolution have shown limitations, and agroecology is emerging as an alternative. Yet, empirical evidence remains scarce on who adopts agroecological practices and on what types of farms. A widely accepted narrative suggests that smallholders are more rooted in agroecological systems, while larger, better-endowed farms follow “conventional” models. This paper challenges that dualistic view by providing evidence of a wider set of relationship between farm structure and the diversity of agroecological practices across multiple African contexts. For this purpose it informs the diversity of existing patterns of farms structure and starting points of agroecological transition (AET) – defined as current state of agroecological principles implemented by farms along their trajectories. By situating these starting points within the socio-technical context of national and regional AET, we gain valuable insights into which farm structures support different agroecological principles, how socio-technical regime influence these dynamics, and what policy options emerge to foster AET. Using harmonized data from 2721 farms across nine study areas in six African countries, the article shows that starting points of agroecological transitions are highly diverse and influenced by farm structure. Three patterns emerge: smallest farms mostly combine autonomy and income diversification while larger farms tend to combine conventional intensification with crop-livestock integration. Other small to medium scale farms are characterized by more land allocated to legume contributing to soil health. Future agricultural policies should consider this diversity of patterns in providing locally-relevant support to promote sustainable transitions.
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/183415
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/161660
dc.languageen
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.rightsOpen Access
dc.sourceGirard, Pierre, Sara Mercandalli, David Berre, et al. 2026. “Starting Points of Agroecological Transitions in Africa: Why and How Farm Structure Matter.” Ecological Economics 249: 109117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2026.109117.
dc.subjectagroecological transition
dc.subjectfarm structure
dc.subjectagriculture
dc.subjectpolicies
dc.subjectsustainability
dc.subjectcase studies
dc.titleStarting Points of Agroecological Transitions in Africa: Why and How Farm Structure Matter
dc.typeJournal Article

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