Solutions for Africa’s Food Security Crisis: Farmer-Led Regenerative Agriculture
The world loses 0.3% of fertile soil every year primarily due to mismanagement and soil erosion. Cumulatively, over the last 200 years, the planet has lost more than 30% of its fertile soil. If we continue to go in this direction, we’ll face a global food crisis. Farmer-led regenerative agriculture is a growing movement with a mission of reversing the damage done to the world’s farmlands and forests. In previous articles, I’ve shared results-driven regenerative farming projects. Growers are radically transforming the agricultural landscape, increasing crop yields that ensure a healthy food supply for the surrounding communities. Of all the continents globally, Africa may be the most in need of a farmer-led regenerative movement. Fortunately, it’s happening.
Africa Faces a Food Security Crisis
Africa is exceptionally vulnerable to environmental dynamics, including droughts, locust outbreaks, and flash floods. Traditional farming practices have resulted in erosion, low crop yields, anemic soil, and biodiversity loss. The possibility of food shortages is genuine, wiping out any gains the continent has made.
The World Wide Fund for Nature says Southern Africa will need to produce 50% more food by 2050 to feed a population of almost 73 million people. Without immediate action, Southern Africa confronts a food security crisis, with 45 million people facing hunger.
It’s Time for Farmer-Led Regenerative Agriculture
“When led by farmers, regenerative agriculture offers the potential to create a new farming future for Africa that addresses multiple social and ecological challenges.” (Institute for Global Prosperity[IGP])
According to research, Africa contributes to 33% of the world’s soil degradation and 60% of global terrestrial biodiversity loss. Furthermore, 25% of soil in Africa suffers from aluminum toxicity.
Time is of the essence. Africa’s agricultural paradigm requires a radical disruption to reverse the damage caused by non-native and chemical-based farming practices. Regenerative agriculture offers proven methodologies to restore ecosystem biodiversity, improve soil health, increase crop output and create pathways to sustainable agrarian markets. But to succeed, the movement must include local farmers as partners. A recent collaborative report produced by IGP, the African Assembly, Transforming Tomorrow Initiative, and the Downforce Trust emphasizes the need for a scalable and replicable regenerative agriculture paradigm co-designed with farmers.
Seeking Measurable Results
“There can be no life without soil and no soil without life; they have evolved together.” (Charles Kellong, UN Department of Agriculture)
The West Cape Department of Agriculture implemented two studies in 2019 to examine the feasibility of regenerative agriculture and to measure its impact on improving food security in Southern Africa. The results are exceptionally positive when farmers use native crops, increase biodiversity and fertilize with manure from local farmers.
The One Planet Business for Diversity coalition launched a sustainable agriculture project in the Ivory Coast in May of 2020 with plans to scale up until 2025. The objective is to regenerate natural ecosystems, restore biodiversity, develop forestland capability to serve as large-scale carbon sinks, and test a new drone-seeding innovation.
Conclusion
We need to monitor the progress of Africa’s regenerative farming movement. It offers the best hope for reversing decades of damaging agricultural practices that have placed Africans on the cusp of a massive food security crisis. As effective altruists, it’s encouraging to see initiatives that are measurable, replicable, and scalable. It’s the only way to ensure a sustainable movement across the continent.
