The challenges and potential of small farmers in driving an agroecological food system transition: a study of collective grassroots actions in Gilgil, Kenya

The recent debate on agricultural development revolves around two main models, whose relevance extends from the theoretical to the political level and which support the industrialization of production or smallscale agriculture as a key to food sovereignty and sustainability. This work contributes to this debate by building on a study conducted in Kenya on grassroots collective action in rural areas conducted by small farmers. After an overview of the relevant literature, the coordinates and main findings of the study are presented and their implications for the interpretation of today’s agricultural issue are discussed. Particularly, the three case histories provided confirm the interest of small farmers in an agroecological transition to strengthen their autonomy as producers and improve their ability to cope with environmental and economic risks. These experiences, it is argued, offer a viable alternative to technology-driven top-down development programmes focused on improving the competitiveness and integration of small farmers into global markets.