Recognizing the critical importance of soil health and fertilizer, the African Union Commission, through the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (DARBE), in collaboration with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), Regional Economic Communications (RECs), and partners, is set to host the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health (AFSH) Summit at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya, from May 7-9, 2024.
The AFSH Summit will bring together global and African public and private sector leaders to address the crucial challenges and opportunities related to soil health and fertilizer.
The Summit will focus on revitalizing the fertilizer sector, aiming to catalyze economic growth and enhance the overall well-being of the rural population in Africa, whose livelihoods are intricately tied to agriculture.
The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) is honored to be a sponsor of the upcoming Summit and aims to contribute to the discussions and initiatives that will define the role of fertilizer in building soil health on the African continent.
Similar to how various policymakers from the High-Level Roundtable on Fertilizers in Lomé, Togo validated the Fertilizers and Soil-Health Roadmap for West Africa and the Sahel, the AFSH Summit promises to be a pivotal moment for shaping the future of agricultural practices in Africa, expecting key documents to be endorsed during the Summit which aims to outline actionable steps for African leaders and stakeholders over the next decade to enhance fertilizer efficiency and improve soil health for resilient food security.
Key documents include:
- A 10-year Action Plan: The Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan will serve as a solution-focused roadmap until 2034, creating a more dynamic fertilizer market by addressing primary soil health constraints on the continent.
- The Soil Initiative for Africa (SIA): The Soil Initiative for Africa (SIA) is a long-term framework designed to facilitate sustainable soil management across all agricultural sub-sectors in Africa through partnerships with stakeholders and investments at continental, regional, national, and local levels.
- The Nairobi Declaration: Building on the Soil Health Action Plan and the Soil Initiative for Africa framework, this Declaration emphasizes commitments on fertilizers, soil health, financing, creating an enabling environment, and capacity enhancement to support implementation and the Call to Action.
The Summit will serve as a platform to reshape Africa’s agricultural narrative, foster collaboration among stakeholders, and pave the way for sustainable agricultural practices. For more information about the Summit, please visit the African Union Commission’s website.
