Supporting smallholder farmers in Africa
The EU-funded PrAEctiCe(opens in new window) project is developing a digital tool to improve smallholder farmers’ farming practices in East Africa. Through the decision support tool (DST), the project aims to shed light on agro-ecological practices in the region and help local farming communities tackle threats such as climate change, food insecurity and biodiversity loss.
A tool for sustainability
The DST will facilitate the agro-ecological transition of local farmers by introducing ecological principles and new management approaches for sustainable farming suited to the region. Although PrAEctiCe has mainly focused on East Africa, and in particular on Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, the DST’s commercialisation – as announced at a recent workshop held on the opposite side of the continent – is being undertaken by Nigerian partner Apodissi. The workshop, which took place in Lagos, Nigeria, in June 2025, explored how PrAEctiCe and another EU-funded research project, INCiTiS-FOOD(opens in new window), are using sustainable practices to address agricultural challenges in Nigeria. The country is currently experiencing severe food insecurity, with millions facing severe hunger and malnutrition. Speaking at the event, Oyebola Olusegun from Nigeria’s University of Ibadan discussed the challenges the country faces in achieving its food production targets. “Our population may increase to about 400 million by 2050, and we are still far from achieving the Sustainable Development Goals related to food security,” he was quoted(opens in new window) as saying in the Nigerian daily newspaper ‘The Guardian’. “If we continue with our current systems, we will not be able to feed ourselves, let alone produce raw materials for local industries or export. We must address this now.” Olusegun outlined how PrAEctiCe is dealing with food security through its living labs in Ibadan, a city located north-east of coastal Lagos. Strategies adopted include circular agri-food technologies, cascade funding, co-creation activities, healthy food production and biofertiliser production. During her presentation at the workshop, Apodissi Managing Director Margherita Trestini explained that the DST under development will provide farmers with real-time data monitoring and analysis of key parameters such as water quality, soil conditions and crop health. Through the DST mobile app, users will have access to relevant and timely information about their production process, enabling them to deal with specific problems they are facing at any given time. “The PrAEctiCe decision support tool is under development in the form of three applications and is currently at TRL(opens in new window) 7, aiming at TRL 8 by Q1 of 2026,” remarked Trestini, later adding that Apodissi will be collaborating with three Nigerian digital innovation hubs as well as with cooperatives, farmers’ associations and chambers of commerce to make the DST known across the country. On 28 May, PrAEctiCe (Potentials of Agroecological practices in east Africa with a focus on Circular water-energy-nutrient systems) also signed a memorandum of understanding with CaReFoAfrica(opens in new window), a project co-funded by the EU. Aiming to foster sustainable agriculture, climate resilience and food security in Africa, the collaboration includes the development of training curricula targeting different stakeholders in the agricultural sector. Resources will also be combined to train students, farmers and extension workers on sustainable agro-ecological practices, climate-smart agricultural practices and value chain development through the PrAEctiCe living labs. For more information, please see: PrAEctiCe project website(opens in new window)
