Experts advocate for tree planting to enhance food security in Africa

Kenya’s Principal Secretary of Foreign Affairs Dr. Korir Sing’oei and Ambassador Gertrude Angote, Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme celebrated World Food Day with CIFOR-ICRAF.

By Sarah Ooko

Trees contribute immensely to improved food security and nutrition across African communities. They provide nutritious fruits, nuts, and edible leaves while also supporting agricultural productivity by enhancing soil fertility, water retention, and erosion control.

The importance of trees in strengthening Africa’s food security was the focus of the 2024 World Food Day celebrations, commemorated by CIFOR-ICRAF in collaboration with the African Orphan Crops Consortium (AOCC) and Roots of Peace.

The event was attended by Dr Korir Sing’oei, Kenya’s Principal Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Gertrude Angote, Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Dr Éliane Ubalijoro, CEO of CIFOR-ICRAF, and other dignitaries and staff members.

Speaking at the event, Dr Sing’oei emphasized the essential role that trees play in building climate resilience and improving agricultural productivity. He applauded Kenya’s 15-billion-tree initiative, which aims to increase the country’s tree cover from 12% to 30% by 2032.

“But a key factor for the success of this initiative is supporting Kenyans to plant the right trees, in the right place, at the right time,” he noted.

Ambassador Angote highlighted the importance of collaboration to enhance Kenya’s tree cover and expressed gratitude to CIFOR-ICRAF for its dedication to this cause.

“Our organization’s initiatives align closely with Kenya’s ambitious 15-billion-tree agenda,” added CIFOR-ICRAF’s Dr Ubalijoro. “Our science and action on the ground is committed to supporting this vision by supporting scientific expertise and practical solutions to restore landscapes, enhance biodiversity and combat climate change.”

As part of the celebrations, Ambassador Angote and Dr Sing’oei planted Marula and Jackfruit trees, respectively. Both are classified as orphan crops, valued for their high nutritional content by the AOCC, whose secretariat is hosted by CIFOR-ICRAF.

Since its inception in 2011, the AOCC has worked to address malnutrition in Africa—particularly hidden hunger—through the promotion of local, nutritious crops known as orphan crops. These crops are often under-researched but are rich in vitamins, essential minerals, and other micronutrients.

During an interview on the sidelines of the FAO-AOCC workshop, convened shortly before World Food Day, Heidi Kuhn, the 2023 World Food Prize Laureate and founder of Roots of Peace, emphasized the need to conserve the environment to strengthen food security across Africa and beyond.

Kuhn highlighted the challenges faced by heavily mined regions in Africa and warned that, “if we continue mining the earth so cruelly, without nurturing and caring for it, soon we will have no food to sustain us.”

Her organization, Roots of Peace, has been instrumental in transforming former minefields into thriving vineyards and orchards through the ‘Mines to Vines’ initiative. Beyond clearing landmines, the initiative has restored food security and livelihoods to over a million farmers and families, with more than seven million fruit trees planted in once war-torn areas.

Video by Kelvin Muchiri/CIFOR-ICRAF