March 3, 2026 – February 26, 2026 will remain a historic date for sustainable agriculture in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Muhindo Nzangi Butondo, signed Ministerial Order No. 2/CAB/MINETAT/AGRI-SA/MNB/RMM/2026 establishing the National Service for Agroecological Security and Protection (SNSPA). This new, ambitious and innovative national technical service aims to protect crops, agricultural infrastructure, and processing units, while promoting agroecological practices across the country.
The SNSPA replaces the former Conservation Agriculture Unit and includes several specialized divisions: agricultural monitoring and protection; security coordination and early warning; agricultural conservation and biodiversity; rapid response; as well as administration and finance. A dedicated technical unit, the National Agroecological Monitoring and Protection Shield (BNSPA), will oversee agroecological practices, prevent degradation of agroecosystems, and coordinate with conservation services.
This initiative addresses a dual challenge: strengthening the resilience of farms in the face of security threats and protecting biodiversity in sensitive agricultural areas, particularly within the Kivu–Kinshasa Green Corridor. The SNSPA will benefit from a three-year transitional phase, in collaboration with the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) and the Virunga Foundation, to gradually structure and deploy its field units.
Josué Aruna Sefu, Executive Director of the Congo Basin Conservation Society and President of the Environmental Civil Society, a leading figure in agroecology, immediately welcomed the initiative as a major step forward. In a statement issued on March 3, 2026, representatives of environmental and agricultural organizations from the Congo Basin described the decision as “a historic victory.” They emphasized that this technical service finally provides a direct and committed partner for promoting agroecology, protecting green corridors, and enhancing the knowledge and practices of Indigenous peoples who have preserved forests for generations.
For these stakeholders, Minister Nzangi’s initiative represents a crucial alignment between agricultural policies, biodiversity conservation, and global commitments to combating climate change. It paves the way for the nationwide implementation of sustainable farming practices, fostering food sovereignty, local seed production, and reducing the importation of GMO seeds and chemical fertilizers.
By combining ecosystem protection, support for small-scale producers, and food security, the SNSPA symbolizes a decisive step in Congo’s agroecological transition. Civil society and local communities have expressed their readiness to support the service, participate in national collaboration workshops, and strengthen the visibility of agroecology as a government priority.
With the creation of the SNSPA, the DRC affirms that agricultural development can go hand in hand with the conservation of its natural wealth, climate resilience, and the food autonomy of its population. This milestone marks a tangible victory for agroecology, which is now becoming a concrete public policy backed by the State.
By Kilalopress