The project aims to develop, test and promote innovative sustainable agroforestry systems (arbo-market gardens) using participatory and transdisciplinary approaches in Senegal and Kenya.

Arbo-market gardens will produce healthy and nutritious fruits and vegetables in an agro-ecological and socially acceptable way to diversify the diets of local populations, transform horticulture into a resilient food system and improve the livelihoods of local communities. Agro-ecological intensification in arbo-market gardens in a “reinvented way” particularly seeks solutions that are low-cost and offer labour-saving technologies. It also promotes farm management and rural agro- entrepreneurship models that are attractive to rural youth.

In five work packages (WP) the project addresses the monitoring of sustainability challenges along selected value chains (WP1); performs scientist-led on-farm research of innovative agroecological practices (WP2) and farmer-led research through farmer field schools (WP3) in arbo-market gardens with solar-powered and digital technologies to increase productivity while reducing manual labour, production costs and use of agrochemicals. Co-learning and training on agroecological practices and innovations and South-South exchange will be disseminated through WP4, while the project coordination and cooperation is performed in WP5.