Africa’s Journey Towards Soil Sustainability
By Jasper A. Kwayu, Communications Consultant
Contact: jasper.kwayu@gmail.com
Originally printed in The East African
HIGHLIGHTS
According to a study by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global food production must increase by 70% by 2050 to adequately feed the growing population, and soil degradation compounds this challenge by diminishing crop yields, making it even more difficult to meet the increasing demand for food.
In Africa an estimated 180 million hectares of land, roughly equivalent to 40% of the continent's entire agricultural area, grapple with soil degradation.
CA4SH focuses on integrating soil health in policy across various domains, expanding research and development on soil health practices, significantly increasing the adoption of healthy soil practices, and amplifying investments in soil health.
This platform fosters partnerships and knowledge exchange, facilitating a coordinated and coherent response to the critical issues of soil health and sustainable agriculture.
CA4SH calls upon the global community to recognize soil as the common thread weaving through complex challenges such as food and nutrition security, poverty reduction, climate change, and biodiversity loss
“The imperative to define Africa’s strategy for sustainable soil management cannot be overstated. Soil health is the linchpin of agriculture, and our approach underscores the importance of preserving this vital resource. It is a call to action, a recognition that we must prioritize sustainable practices that safeguard soil health while boosting agricultural productivity.”
Beneath Africa's diverse farming methods and ecosystems lies a common foundation: the vital importance of soil health. Healthy soils are the backbone of agriculture, providing essential nutrients, supporting strong crop growth, and enhancing overall ecosystem vitality. However, beneath the surface, African soils face significant challenges such as degradation, erosion, and declining fertility—serious threats that undermine the foundation of food production. These issues are exacerbated by the spectre of climate change, marked by unpredictable rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and an increase in extreme weather events. In this context, adopting sustainable soil health practices and using fertilizers wisely is no longer a choice; it's a necessity to ensure agricultural resilience in the face of a changing climate.
The Significance of Soil Health
At an Africa Food Systems Summit Side Event, Dr. Leigh Ann Winowiecki, Global Research Lead for Soil and Land Health at CIFOR-ICRAF, emphasized that "Healthy soil hosts more biodiversity in one teaspoon than there are humans on Earth,". She added, "Yet today’s soils face an unprecedented crisis. Over one-third of the Earth’s surface is degraded, negatively affecting over 3.2 billion people." “The urgency of breaking away from business as usual is paramount to securing the well-being of both humanity and the planet,” she continues.
Globally, data from the United Nations paints a troubling picture, revealing that 33% of the world's land is already degraded, primarily attributed to erosive forces, compaction, soil sealing, nutrient depletion, and various other factors. The situation is especially dire in Africa, where an estimated 180 million hectares of land, roughly equivalent to 40% of the continent's entire agricultural area, grapple with soil degradation. This widespread issue results in an alarming annual loss of 36 billion tons of topsoil on a global scale, with global cropland erosion at 17 billion tons, resulting in USD $300 Billion in lost agricultural production annually.
Africa's commitment to sustainable soil management is a call to action—a recognition that the path to a prosperous future lies in nurturing the very soil that sustains us all. According to a study by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global food production must increase by 70% by 2050 to adequately feed the growing population, and soil degradation compounds this challenge by diminishing crop yields, making it even more difficult to meet the increasing demand for food.
Panel from the Plenary on Defining a Soil Health Strategy. Picture | Credit John Kameka
Case for East Africa
Closer to Home, East Africa grapples with a looming agricultural crisis, as soil degradation, erosion, and dwindling fertility relentlessly challenge the region's farming sector. Soil health is the linchpin of sustainable agriculture, underpinning the vitality of East Africa's diverse ecosystems. These healthy soils not only nourish crops, providing essential nutrients, but also serve as nature's buffer against climate change impacts while preserving vital biodiversity.
The recent emergence of Panama disease, linked to poor soil management, rings alarm bells. A comprehensive survey across the region revealed high incidences of banana Fusarium wilt, or Panama disease, impacting more than half of all farms, with Tanzania experiencing the highest rates. With millions in the region reliant on agriculture for their livelihoods and East Africa ranking among the world's top consumers of bananas per capita of 400 to 600kg, these soil challenges are far-reaching.
A Comprehensive Strategy for a Sustainable Future
"The imperative to define Africa's strategy for sustainable soil management cannot be overstated. Soil health is the linchpin of agriculture, and our approach underscores the importance of preserving this vital resource. It is a call to action, a recognition that we must prioritize sustainable practices that safeguard soil health while boosting agricultural productivity," states Dr. Leigh Ann Winowiecki. CIFOR-ICRAF’s Soil and Land Health aims to address the multiple challenges of climate change, food and nutrition insecurity, land degradation and biodiversity loss, from the soil up.
Dr. Anthony Anderson Kimaro, The World Agroforestry, Country Representative for Tanzania adds, "Our efforts must represent an opportunity for Africa to lead in sustainable agriculture. It must align soil health with climate resilience and environmental conservation. We must recognize that this approach is not just about agriculture; it's about securing a sustainable future for our continent. It requires a collective effort that transcends borders and disciplines, and it is a journey worth embarking on."
There is a growing momentum to address soil health issues, exemplified by the upcoming African Union Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit on November 5-7, 2023 in Nairobi. During this event, a 10 year action plan for a continental framework for soil actions will be launched
Panel from the Plenary Session on Defining a Soil Health Strategy at the Africa Food Summit 2023 - Pre AGRF Picture | Credit John Kameka
A United Effort with CA4SH
This collaborative effort aligns with the objectives of the Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH), a global initiative committed to catalyzing investments in soil health for human well-being and climate resilience. This initiative provides a valuable framework for addressing Africa's soil health and fertilizer management challenges.
CA4SH focuses on integrating soil health in policy across various domains, expanding research and development on soil health practices, significantly increasing the adoption of healthy soil practices, and amplifying investments in soil health. This platform fosters partnerships and knowledge exchange, facilitating a coordinated and coherent response to the critical issues of soil health and sustainable agriculture.
CA4SH calls upon the global community to recognize soil as the common thread weaving through complex challenges such as food and nutrition security, poverty reduction, climate change, and biodiversity loss. It urges private investors to embrace soil as a valuable capital asset, moving beyond limited commodity-focused investments, such as coffee, cocoa, and palm oil. It rallies all public and private stakeholders to unite in closing the soil health investment gap and incentivizing farmers to implement practices that enhance soil health. Its vision is to adopt a holistic approach, one that not only revitalizes soil but also yields co-benefits for production, the environment, climate resilience, and the economy. To achieve this, CA4SH calls for alignment among growers, investors, financial markets, and value chain actors to collectively tackle the social, economic, and technical barriers faced by farmers in adopting soil-healthy practices. It urges us to shift our focus from context-specific actions to evidence-based outcomes delivered through flexible, agronomically sound approaches.
“It is our shared responsibility to safeguard soil health for generations to come.”
