22 May 2025 | The CIFOR-ICRAF campus in Nairobi, Kenya welcomed two globally recognized leaders for a high-level listening session and field visit focused on climate justice, regenerative food systems, and innovation in African landscapes.

‍Among their long standing advocacy for women and the planet, Pat Mitchell and Rhonda Carnegie are co-founders of Project Dandelion, a women-led campaign for climate justice. Their visit to the CIFOR-ICRAF campus formed part of Project Dandelion’s global listening tour, which seeks to surface innovations in food systems, amplify women’s leadership, and strengthen connections between science, policy, and lived experience across regions.

Hosted by CIFOR-ICRAF, the session brought together researchers, early-career scientists, and technical staff working across soil health, tree biodiversity, seed systems, and spatial analytics.

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, rising food insecurity and declining soil health are placing increasing pressure on agricultural systems. While governments collectively invest billions of dollars annually to support agriculture, questions remain about whether these investments are delivering the intended results for farmers, productivity, and long-term sustainability.

Against this backdrop, experts, policymakers, researchers and development partners gathered at the CIFOR-ICRAF Campus in Nairobi for the Building a Soil Information Systems (SIS) Workshop, convened under the Repurposing Agricultural Support for Soil Health Impact Programme.