Lobby calls for plans to revise fertiliser, soil health

A continental food security lobby is leading calls for revision of plans of the African Union (AU) on fertiliser and soil health in the wake of this week’s Africa’ Fertiliser and Soil Health Summit in Nairobi.

The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), representing a coalition of 41 African civil society organizations, have launched a call for revision of the African Union’s proposed 10-year Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan 2023-2033.

The lobby argues that as a voice for over 200 million stakeholders across Africa, including smallholder farmers, pastoralists, indigenous peoples, and agroecological entrepreneurs, it expresses reservations about the approaches endorsed in the proposed 10-year Action Plan.

Dr Million Belay, AFSA General Coordinator, said that civil society movements  have a significant role to play as they can help in challenging narratives that threaten seed diversification.

Soil health debate

“Civil society has a pivotal role in the fertilizer and soil health debate, not only by linking actors across the value chain but by challenging narratives that threaten seed diversity and pushing back against the productivist agenda that prioritizes yields over nutrition, health, and environmental integrity,” said Belay.

According to Belay,  it’s disconcerting that African civil society was not consulted in the planning of the African Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit nor in the formulation of its 10-year plan.

“The AU action plan’s strong emphasis on the extensive use of mineral fertilizers, hybrid seeds, and agrochemicals is seen by AFSA as a continuation of outdated and potentially harmful practices,” added Belay.

In his explanation, these methods misinterpret the real challenges of soil health and risk exacerbating soil degradation, threatening food security, public health, and crucial seed diversity in Africa.

AFSA advocates for a shift towards agroecology, which integrates local knowledge with scientific innovation to restore biodiversity and build resilient food systems. However, the current plan marginalizes these sustainable approaches, misleadingly presenting agroecology as supplementary rather than a standalone solution capable of addressing Africa’s food security challenges comprehensively.

Ferdinand Wafula of Bio Gardening Innovations said that the plans being formulated currently about fertilisers should take care of our soils for future generations.