Producing food, securing livelihoods, protecting human and animal health, and managing natural resources can no longer be viewed and approached in isolation. To achieve these interconnected goals, holistic approaches that include systems-thinking are required. Only comprehensive, integrated strategies that uphold human rights will be able to end poverty, eradicate hunger, promote inclusive growth, sustainably manage the planet’s natural resources, and address climate change and biodiversity loss.
AEEs represent an attractive investment opportunity that is in line with this systemic approach and which generates multiple positive impacts:
- Agroecology offers a holistic and systemic approach, addressing the root causes of food systems failure and enabling a real transition towards equitable, resilient and sustainable food systems.
- Agroecological enterprises offer opportunities for superior risk-adjusted returns that will increase in the long term due to climate change and stricter regulations.
- The global investment environment is changing, and increased regulation and changing consumer demand will increase pressure to move away from traditional investments. The time to become a future-proof investor is now.
- With climate change being the biggest threat to investments in agriculture, investing in AEEs can boost the long-term resilience of investments.
AEEs further build capacity for broader social and environmental change and can alter people’s perceptions and understanding of the value of local food production. They are a key ingredient to transform the agricultural sector, which is one of the main drivers of economic growth and job creation in the Global South. In order to shift away from conventional agriculture, we need innovators and a diversity of tactics at the local, regional, national and global level. Forward-thinking, innovative businesses that look beyond business as usual and try to redirect food systems towards agroecology already exist.