Cultivating a Prosperous Sustainable Future

Africa’s agricultural potential is undeniable. Unlocking this potential requires focusing on the very foundation on which crops grow – healthy soils.  

The upcoming Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health (AFSH) Summit, which will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, from May 7^th to the 9^th, 2024, is a pivotal moment for the continent to improve food production while building healthy soils and charting a course towards a more secure and prosperous future.  

The Summit is a timely opportunity to recalibrate strategies. In June 2006, the Heads of State and Governments of the African Union endorsed the Abuja Declaration on Fertilizer for the Africa Green Revolution, marking a pivotal moment in the continent’s efforts to address poor soil productivity. Fast-forward two decades, Africa’s agriculture and food security landscape has undergone significant transformation. While progress has been made since the Abuja Declaration, the continent faces a critical juncture in refocusing on and recommitting to soil health. 

Transformation necessitates the collective engagement of all stakeholders. The Summit serves as a platform to redefine Africa’s agricultural narrative and set the stage for sustainable farming practices. The ten-year Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan is central to these efforts, which offers a solution-focused roadmap until 2034. By addressing primary soil health constraints and fostering a more dynamic fertilizer market, this plan aims to drive agricultural productivity across the continent. Furthermore, the Soil Initiative for Africa (SIA) provides a long-term framework for sustainable soil management. Through partnerships with stakeholders and investments at various levels, the SIA seeks to promote soil health across all agricultural sub-sectors in Africa. 

Building on the foundation laid by the Soil Health Action Plan and the SIA framework, the AFSH Summit Nairobi Declaration should emphasize commitments to fertilizers, soil health, financing, enabling environments, and capacity enhancement. This comprehensive approach underscores the collective resolve to support implementation and catalyze action for soil health and agricultural sustainability. 

Through a dedicated focus on soil health, embracing innovation, and promoting inclusive growth, Africa holds the key to unlocking its vast agricultural potential, cultivating a future abundant with opportunities for generations to come. 

Join Emerging ag alongside CA4SH, AGRA, CIFOR, NEPAD-AUDA, SNV, Farm Radio on Day 2 of the AFSH Summit for the “Soil Matters: Cultivating Change for Africa’s Food Systems Transformation through Evidence-based Policy and Practice” side event. 

Date:  Wednesday 8 May 2024

Time: 15:30 - 17:00 EAT   

Venue:  Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Aberdare Hall, Lower Ground Floor, Nairobi, Kenya 

The side event will highlight the critical role of soil health in driving comprehensive transformation within Africa’s food systems. Through a lens of evidence-based policy and practice, the event will underscore the profound impact of soil management practices on agricultural productivity, environmental sustainability, and food security across the continent. The event aims to galvanize stakeholders from diverse sectors to prioritize soil health within broader agricultural agendas by highlighting innovative approaches and success stories in soil stewardship. Participants will be empowered to forge pathways towards resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems that prioritize the cultivation of healthy soils as a cornerstone for lasting change.