On 27–28 January 2026, young agrifood system leaders from across Eastern and Southern Africa gathered at the CIFOR-ICRAF Campus in Nairobi for the Soil Health Knowledge Exchange Workshop.

The meeting marked the inception of a three-year initiative, Establishing an Ecosystem of Soil Data-Driven Services to Meet the Global Fertilizer and Soil Health Challenge, implemented by CIFOR-ICRAF in collaboration with the Varda Foundation and supported by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).

The workshop brought together researchers, policymakers, development partners, civil society, private sector actors, and farmer organizations from Kenya, Ghana, Malawi, and Tanzania to explore how soil data and knowledge can be better shared and used to advance sustainable land management, food security, and resilient agrifood systems. Within this diverse multi-stakeholder space, the YPARD played a visible and strategic role in championing youth-centered approaches to soil health action.

At UNEA‑7, soil was not just a technical topic — it was recognized as a strategic asset for people, nature, and climate. The side event “Scaling Soil Health for People, Nature, and Climate: From Resolution to Implementation” brought together UNEP, CIFOR‑ICRAF, CA4SH, WWF International, Solutions from the Land, Kenya National Farmers’ Federation and Emerging Ag to explore how global commitments are being translated into national policies and community‑level action and how these can be scaled to achieve more impact for people, nature and climate.