Top 3 Strategies for Driving Sustainable Agriculture in East Africa

Lauren Milligan By Lauren Milligan|6 June 2025

As East Africa navigates the dual pressures of climate volatility and escalating input costs, the agricultural sector stands at a strategic inflection point. Advancing sustainable practices is no longer optional—it is essential for long-term resilience, food security, and economic development. Drawing on deep regional expertise, Benjamin Gass, Business Development and Marketing Manager at Éléphant Vert, outlines three core strategies for enabling scalable, high-impact transformation in the region’s agri-food systems.

  1. Align High-Value Crop Production with Climate-Smart Innovation

Income-generating crops such as horticultural produce, maize, coffee, and floriculture exports are central to East Africa’s rural economies. However, these crops are disproportionately affected by climate stressors, pest pressure, and soil degradation.

A strategic path forward combines precision agronomy with next-generation biological inputs—biostimulants and biocontrols—that enhance plant resilience and reduce environmental and residue risks. Innovations like virus-based biocontrol agents targeting Helicoverpa armigera are redefining crop protection in maize and tomatoes, delivering measurable yield benefits while safeguarding export integrity.

  1. Redefine Sustainability as a Driver of Farmer Profitability

To accelerate adoption, sustainable solutions must deliver clear economic value to the end user—farmers. The integration of cost-effective, biologically derived inputs can reduce dependency on synthetic chemicals, stabilize yields, and mitigate volatility in input markets.

Field data across the region confirm that targeted biostimulants can optimize nitrogen efficiency and enhance crop performance under stress, translating sustainability into a competitive advantage. In this model, biologicals serve not merely as substitutes but as catalysts for more profitable and resilient production systems.

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  1. Strengthen Local Ecosystems Through Capacity Building and Strategic Partnerships

True transformation hinges on more than inputs—it requires localized infrastructure, technical empowerment, and multi-stakeholder collaboration.

Developing regional manufacturing hubs for biological inputs increases supply chain stability and cost efficiency, while farmer-centric training ensures effective use and stewardship. Equally critical are cross-sector alliances—spanning agribusinesses, NGOs, and policymakers—that enable coordinated, scalable impact. In markets like Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, such partnerships are proving instrumental in mainstreaming sustainable practices and shaping a shared vision for agricultural development.

 

Lauren Milligan is Content Specialist for AgriBusiness Global. Before joining Meister Media Worldwide in 2022, she received a bachelor’s degree in English from Kent State University in 2017 and has worked on newspapers local to Portage and Summit Counties in Ohio.  See all author stories here.

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