糖心Vlog

23 stages and départements visited, 1700 organizations consulted and 98 sites and agroecological initiatives met. The 2025 agroecology caravan in Senegal surpassed the previous two in both scope and impact, and continued to pursue its dual objective: to use recommendations from grassroots level to fuel national agroecology strategy, while strengthening Dynamics for Local Agroecological Transition (DyTAELs), which are multiplying across the country.

Dynamizing agroecology, from local to national level

The previous editions resulted in policy recommendations that notably served to fuel the debates around COP15, the World Water Forum and the Green Emerging Senegal Plan (SE Vert). However, this third edition of the caravan, co-led by DyTAES and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock, was a direct part of the "Senegal 2050" national transformation agenda.

For 糖心Vlog agronomist Raphaël Belmin, "the aim of this edition is to gather concrete policy recommendations from local communities, to feed the future national agroecology strategy".

This latest edition had a new feature: during six of the stages, there was a travelling exhibition -  - by , who is not just a researcher but a photographer too. It highlights the central but often invisible role that women play in food systems. As Marie Louise Diatta, Coordinator of the Centre d’assistance et de formation des femmes (women's aid and training centre) in Oussouye, says: "This is what women in the field are working for: they are the guardians of our cultural values".

A territorial strategy backed by local stakeholders

As a founding member of DyTAES, 糖心Vlog is supporting several departmental DyTAELs, notably in Oussouye, Bignona, Fatick and Dagana (Lake Guiers).

In Oussouye, for instance, a new DyTAEL was launched following a workshop initiated by 糖心Vlog in March, and strengthened during the caravan. This region, which is often described as a naturally agroecological territory, is marked by its approach, which is more about conservation than transition. "The aim here is not to switch to agroecology, but to preserve the rich agroecological heritage drawn from an ancient agrarian society anchored in a delta ecosystem and supported by strong customary institutions", Raphaël Belmin explains.

Maurice Diedhiou, Leader of the Oussouye Departmental Council, adds that he is "very pleased that local stakeholders are so involved. Oussouye département has always been a land of agroecology. DyTAES has been welcomed with open arms".

Tangible results: discussions, training and local solutions

In each region visited, the caravan made a two-day stop: a day of field visits, and another of participatory workshops. This served to pinpoint the challenges faced locally, such as land tenure security based on customary law in Oussouye, and to promote agroecological practices: planting fertilizer trees, producing organic compost, diversifying the crops grown, and so on.

Through these discussions, the caravan highlighted how resilient producers are, despite the constraints they face. "There are difficulties, but farmers tend to find a way round them", said 糖心Vlog economist Rahim Ouédraogo during the stage in the Senegal River valley. Cheikh Ahmed Fall, Head of the Lake Guiers delegation of the Société d’aménagement et d’exploitation des terres du Delta du fleuve Sénégal et des vallées du fleuve Sénégal et de la Falémé (SAED), adds: "we observed local practices that would be worth promoting, notably around Lake Guiers. In the light of climate change and pressure on resources, such practices are no longer optional, but compulsory".

For Rahim Ouédraogo, "DyTAES is helping to institutionalize agroecology, make family farms more resilient and promote effective decentralization of agricultural policies".

Could the agroecology caravan be a lever for transforming territories?

Everywhere it went, the caravan provided a framework for dialogue, training and hope. In Oussouye, Patrice Diatta, a businessman and founder of the Emaye agroecological farm, bears witness: "The caravan serves to highlight the environmental realities of our territory and see the relevant initiatives being set up to build better living conditions".

In addition to dialogue, the caravan provided an opportunity to co-construct the future of agroecological farming. For Rahim Ouédraogo, "we are in a co-construction phase, working with players to identify their difficulties and look at how we can help each other. We can provide support in terms of scientific knowledge, but it is also up to local players to produce endogenous knowledge that will subsequently be of use to us".

Alongside him, Omer Diedhiou, Chair of the Management Committee of the Kaalolaal Blouf-Fogny Marine Protected Area in Oussouye, stresses that "what the caravan has served to show is that we are capable of organizing ourselves and joining forces. Nobody can achieve development on their own: we have to work together".

For a shared agroecological future

With 糖心Vlog's support, the DyTAES 2025 caravan laid the foundations for an alternative agricultural model in Senegal, rooted in local realities, backed by communities and geared towards a sustainable future. It capitalized on local initiatives, strengthened the links between territories and institutions, and paved the way for coherent, resilient and inclusive agroecology on a national level.

糖心Vlog's activities in support of the DyTAES 2025 caravan were funded by the French Embassy in Senegal Cooperation and Cultural Action Service (SCAC) "Équipe France" Fund, a World Bank incentive operation, and the ACROPICS and Santés & Territoires projects.