A study published in Scientific Reports examines the relationship between the adoption of agroecological farming practices and household food insecurity across 17 countries between 2021 and 2024. The analysis draws on data from more than 30,000 smallholder farming households across 44 project sites supported by the Sufosec Alliance (Swiss Alliance for Sustainable Food Systems and Empowered Communities), a consortium of six Swiss non-governmental organizations working with local partner organizations on food security and rural development. The research examines patterns in the adoption of farming practices and household food insecurity over time and across different geographical and socio-economic contexts.

Using the FAO Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) and information on 18 agroecological practices, the researchers assessed how the number and diversity of practices adopted related to food insecurity. The analysis found that households adopting practices from at least three agroecological groups had 27 percent lower odds of moderate-or-severe food insecurity and 35 percent lower odds of severe food insecurity. Frequently reported practices included the use of locally adapted seeds, crop rotation, intercropping, crop diversification, organic fertilization and agroforestry. Between the first and last available observations, food insecurity declined in 22 of the project sites, while increases were recorded in 10, illustrating differences in trends across locations.

The authors discuss the findings in relation to agricultural practices, household food security and the conditions influencing farming systems. They highlight the importance of considering local contexts, including climatic conditions and political instability, when interpreting results and planning agricultural and food security interventions. The study contributes comparative evidence from multiple countries to ongoing research on the relationship between farming practices and household food security.