Endogenous knowledge in a context of promoting agroecology and organic farming in Senegal (West Africa)

In Africa, agriculture is the main source of income and daily food. However, the modernization of this sector tends to steer producers towards conventional practices, leading to excessive use of chemical inputs. This trend has negative consequences for both human health and the environment. Faced with this worrying situation, many farmers are turning to more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices, particularly through the application of agroecological methods.

In this context, the mobilization of knowledge in favor of the promotion of organic and agroecological agriculture represents an essential lever for effective control of production issues. Local communities, which hold endogenous knowledge, play a crucial role in this approach. 

• The challenges of agriculture

Agriculture faces several challenges, the two (2) main ones being: food security and sovereignty, and the preservation of natural resources.

Agriculture must ensure food security by maintaining sufficient quality and quantity of production to feed the world. It must also preserve the natural resources on which it relies and adapt to climate change and its negative impacts. This means reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and maintaining ecosystem services, i.e. the benefits that nature provides, such as climate regulation, crop pollination and improved soil health.

• The impacts of advances in agricultural research

In Africa, agriculture has always been practiced by people using traditional means and techniques. Since the Green Revolution of the 1960s, with the advancement of agricultural research, production techniques aimed at replacing these means and techniques have emerged. The impacts of these research programs as well as the agricultural training courses put in place have notably led to a frequent devaluation of traditional agricultural knowledge.

• The valorization of endogenous knowledge

The term endogenous knowledge is often confused with local knowledge, or traditional knowledge, and its definition is not the subject of scientific consensus.

Traditional agricultural knowledge has always played a role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems.

This knowledge, described as endogenous, nevertheless represents territorial resources that can potentially be activated to stimulate forms of frugal innovation in agriculture and support the establishment of so-called agroecological systems.

In Senegal, holders of endogenous knowledge agree to share their knowledge with agroecology stakeholders. 

The sharing of endogenous knowledge is supervised by local authorities. Once the knowledge has been collected, it is returned in the presence of the holders and local authorities.

The restitution of knowledge allows the knowledge holder to confirm the knowledge he has given and make amendments to it, but also its validation by the entire community in the presence of local authorities.

Once validated, the name of the knowledge bearer will be referenced as recognition and copyright.

The endogenous knowledge that has undergone all the validation processes is put into appropriate formats (videos, technical sheet, etc.) in several languages ​​depending on the targets (users).

In Senegal, during training to strengthen the capacity of producers on topics such as pest management, soil health, etc., this knowledge, capitalized on by communities and put into a specific format, is used.

This inclusive approach creates a climate of trust between communities and development actors, particularly promoters of agroecology, and encourages the adoption of agroecological practices on farms.