Background
The Agroecology Coalition Bangladesh (ACB) is a national strategic alliance officially launched on November 7, 2024. It represents a unified front of seven non-governmental development organizations, one research institution, and one farmers’ organization, all committed to a systemic shift in the nation’s food systems. WAVE Foundation serves as the Secretariat of this coalition, providing the administrative framework and strategic leadership necessary to drive the agroecological movement in Bangladesh.
Context: From the Green Revolution to Agroecological Transition
Since independence, agriculture has remained the bedrock of Bangladesh’s economy, currently employing approximately 45.33% of the national workforce. For decades, progress was propelled by the “Green Revolution” model, which relied heavily on synthetic chemicals and monocultures. While this approach effectively secured high yields, it ultimately precipitated several critical crises:
- Broken Production Cycles: The natural “circular logic” of the ecosystem has been replaced by a dependency on external synthetic inputs, leading to heavy metal, chemical, and microplastic contamination of soil and water.
- Soil Degradation: By failing to treat soil as a “living ecosystem,” its natural fertility has been depleted. There is now a critical shortage of organic matter and beneficial microorganisms.
- Biodiversity Loss: Chemical-intensive monocultures have destroyed ecological diversity, leading to the extinction of indigenous fish species and local seed varieties, while increasing vulnerability to pest outbreaks.
- Erosion of Social Values: A “top-down” approach has often ignored the indigenous wisdom and knowledge of local farmers, dismantling community-based food cultures and human-centric agricultural values.
Addressing climate vulnerability, ACB leads Bangladesh’s transition to agroecology, restoring natural cycles and soil fertility to build a resilient, food-sovereign nation.
Vision
To build a To build an equitable and resilient food system Bangladesh where a transformed agro-food system ensures the dignity of farmers, fishers, and livestock practitioners, and where the youth are empowered to lead a sustainable agricultural future.
Core Objectives
Major Activities
To achieve its objectives, ACB carries out the following core activities:
- Evidence Generation & Action Research:Establishing on-farm demonstration plots and conducting field-level action research to document the productivity, economic benefits, and climate resilience of agroecological practices compared to synthetic models.
- Capacity Building: Organizing specialized agroecology training for farmers, development workers, and students from agricultural colleges and universities.
- Youth & Technology Integration: Encouraging educated youth to adopt agroecology by blending modern technology with traditional eco-friendly practices.
- Strategic Policy Advocacy: Identifying policy gaps and presenting evidence-based recommendations through structured “Policy Dialogues” with national and international institutions.
- National Campaigns: Executing nationwide awareness and lobbying initiatives to promote sustainable food systems.
- Regional & International Networking: Collaborating with WHH on regional projects in India and Nepal while building strategic networks across Sri Lanka, Brazil, and China.
Flagship Initiative: Agroecology Learning and Tourism Center (ALTC)
As a cornerstone of its strategy to promote sustainable lifestyles, ACB established the Agroecology Learning and Tourism Center in Chuadanga—an initiative of WAVE Foundation supported by PKSF
Promoting Agroecology: A hands-on training hub where farmers and youth master soil restoration, organic matter management, and biodiversity preservation.
- Green Tourism: Merges agroecology with eco-tourism to create local economic opportunities and connect visitors with sustainable food systems, fostering environmental appreciation.
Organizational Structure and Composition
The coalition brings together nine founding members—seven development organizations, a research entity, and a farmers’ organization—balancing grassroots action with evidence-based advocacy. Led by WAVE Foundation as Secretariat, the network is expanding to champion a food-sovereign and ecologically balanced Bangladesh.
Resources
Network Members
