This is a priority area that will help build up the body of scientific data supporting EOA. The main target will be to conduct as many research projects on ecological Organic agriculture to populate data, knowledge and practice that will help transform agriculture in Africa in favour of EOA. Led by actors in research and training institutes5 and universities; participatory, interdisciplinary, multicultural research will be conducted to inform stakeholder training. Knowledge, innovations and technologies will be co-developed with rural communities, extension and advisory services. By involving farmers in the research, existing indigenous knowledge will be harnessed and scientifically tested to produce empirical data that can be used for validation and further innovation. The pillar will ensure that gender aspects in every innovation are considered so that farming technologies and practices consider the active participation of women and marginalized groups (youth) in farming. There are currently several regional research projects and programs on EOA including FiBL led research programs in West and East Africa and the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) activities. Further synergy with these programs should be encouraged.

This pillar serves as the pathway through which the EOA Initiative reaches out to a vast majority of stakeholders in the continent. The pillar use diverse Information and Communication platforms to design, package and disseminate EOA information materials to its audience in Africa. Working closely with all the priority areas of this initiative, a formidable brand for EOA will be developed, national information and communication strategies designed and information packaged in appropriate formats to be communicated to various audiences and stakeholders on the value and practices of EOA.

Advocacy and lobbying are relevant strategies of communication in reaching policy makers and governments. This priority area will be the one that will gather relevant information for advocacy and lobbying policy makers.

Achieving economic growth that reduces poverty requires focusing not only on access to markets, inputs, technology, and a whole range of services for the smallholder farmers, but also on the performance of industries in which large numbers of the poor participate, as workers and entrepreneurs. Enterprise development can create wealth in poor communities by sustainably linking large numbers of micro- and small enterprises (MSEs) into international, national and/or local value chains, while addressing the systemic constraints MSEs face in taking advantage of market opportunities. The structures, systems and relationships that define the value chain can be influenced to enable MSEs to improve (or upgrade) their products and processes, and thereby contribute to and benefit from the chain’s competitiveness.

Under this pillar, EOAI efforts focus on four key areas identified for EOA product value chains:

• Stimulating the breeding and production of seed and breeds that respond to and have available organic farm inputs (especially fertilisers and biopesticides) so that farmers can access and grow more produce for target markets.
• Encouraging value addition to EOA products so as to earn higher profit margins and provide employment for quality processing and packaging between production and the market.
• Developing sustainable markets to increase trade in EOA high value products both at domestic and export levels.
• Encouraging consumer participation throughout the entire value chain process.

This priority recognizes that the EOA initiative does not have dedicated staff in every country and community to implement policies and plans and therefore will rely heavily on partners and networks already in the industry. Engagement will be done through Partnership Agreements (PAs) and Memoranda of understanding (MOUs) between implementers of EOA and potential and willing partners. Networks and movements in Africa such as the Forum of Agricultural Research for Africa (FARA), African Organic Network (AfrONet), national organic movements, regional organic movements, and partners such as governments, farmers, private sector, civil society among others will be engaged to maximize impact, leverage experiences and expand geographic reach and influence of EOA activities.