Five in the morning. Don Juan wakes to the sound of roosters in Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca—the same routine he's followed since he was six years old. Sixty-eight years ago, he would walk with his father to the foot of El Picacho mountain, through fields thick with alfalfa, corn, beans, and squash. The morning dew would fall on his head. The air smelled like earth. "I remember it used to rain very well," he says. "My father planted twice a year. Back then, the rains began … [Read more...] about Agroecology Works Even Under Climate Pressure: What Our Partners Showed Us in 2025
Agroecology
Bridging the Gap: Appropriate Farming Technology for Scaling Agroecology in West Africa
In West Africa, around 80% of the population relies on agriculture, with smallholder farmers producing most of the food consumed locally. Many are turning to agroecology to improve resilience and food security, but the heavy labor demands of agroecological farming limit its adoption. One critical solution lies in what development practitioners call "appropriate technology"—not expensive electronics or AI, but simple, affordable tools designed for local conditions that farmers can use, maintain, … [Read more...] about Bridging the Gap: Appropriate Farming Technology for Scaling Agroecology in West Africa
Agroecology Pays Off in Burkina Faso: New Study Shows 77% Yield Gains and Strong Financial Returns Despite Extremely Dry Conditions
A new study from Groundswell International, Altus Impact, and the Burkinabè NGO Association Nourrir Sans Détruire (ANSD) offers compelling evidence that agroecology works and is ready to scale. The study analyzes data from more than 400 farming households in Burkina Faso’s eastern region, collected between June 2023 and June 2024. The results show a clear progression: as farmers adopt more agroecological practices, their incomes, yields and wellbeing improve. Indeed, farmers using several … [Read more...] about Agroecology Pays Off in Burkina Faso: New Study Shows 77% Yield Gains and Strong Financial Returns Despite Extremely Dry Conditions
Scaling Agroecology in West Africa with Community-Led Agroecology Committees: Lessons for Facilitators
Partnerships that leave communities strong, self-reliant, and resilient have been at the core of the work of Groundswell International and its partners in West Africa. A key part of this work is training field teams to facilitate community-led approaches and strategies to scale agroecology, combining learnings from different countries. Earlier this year, member organizations from Burkina Faso and Ghana participated in a series of trainings and pilot programs aimed at helping communities … [Read more...] about Scaling Agroecology in West Africa with Community-Led Agroecology Committees: Lessons for Facilitators
Semillas expandidas: Exploraciones sobre mercados locales en América Latina y el Caribe
Expanded Seeds: Exploring Local Market Dynamics in Latin America & The Caribbean
Expanded seeds: Exploring local market dynamics in Latin America and the Caribbean This multimedia story takes you to Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Haiti, where peasant and Indigenous organizations show how strategies like grain reserves, seed conservation, agroecological fairs, and rural microenterprises strengthen food sovereignty and turn markets into engines of resilience and community well-being. Available in English and Spanish. Enter keywords … [Read more...] about Expanded Seeds: Exploring Local Market Dynamics in Latin America & The Caribbean