Land degradation is a major threat to productivity across the African continent affecting more than 485 million people. Food produced in nutrient-depleted soil lacks available nutrients for the people who eat it, and for most of the 33 million smallholder farms in Africa, growing food in degraded soil is the norm, not the exception. These trends are further exacerbated by the climate crisis. Only through collaborative, cohesive soil health monitoring efforts can AU Member States ensure that interventions are based on evidence to maximize impact. For example, such a monitoring framework can be used to prioritize, track and adapt locally revelant interventions. In turn these data can be used to inform policy and financial investments. This policy brief outlines the case for African policymakers to scale soil information systems (SISs) and integrate them into continental, regional and national policy frameworks.
Publication year
2025
Authors
Language
English
Keywords
land degradation, food production, soil conservation, soil quality, information systems, policy
