MEDIA ADVISORY

AFRICA FERTILIZER AND SOIL HEALTH SUMMIT

INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

What:  Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit

When: 7-9 May 2024

Where: Nairobi, Kenya, Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC)

Media opportunities:

The opening session will be open to the media. The official programme includes:

• The opening session will be open for media. The official programme includes:
• Opening statements by African Union Heads of State and Governments
•  Chairperson of the AU, Chairperson of the AU Commission (AUC);
• Invited high level dignitaries, among others.
• Group photo
• Media interview

Who: In response to the recommendation of AU policy organs, the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Environment (DARBE) of the African Union is organising the AFSH summit in collaboration with AUDA-NEPAD, RECs and Partners.

Background Information:

The Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health summit will be held to deliberate on Africa’s recent widespread decades-long decline in soil quality of farmland - a phenomenon that continues today and negatively impacts the agricultural production capacity and food security in the continent.  In June 2006, the Heads of State and Governments of the African Union endorsed the Abuja Declaration on Fertilizer for the Africa Green Revolution, a continental strategy to reverse the worrying trend of poor productivity of the African soils. The Declaration focused on key targets required for agricultural growth, food security, and rural development in Africa, with a focus on the role of fertilizers. It recommended raising the use of fertilizers from 8 kg/(nutrients)/ha to 50 kg (nutrients) /ha in 10 years and the establishment of an African Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM) with the objective of improving agricultural productivity by providing financing required to boost fertilizer use in Africa to achieve the target of 50 kg of nutrients per hectare, as mandated by the Abuja Declaration.

Fifteen years after the Abuja Declaration, Africa’s agriculture and food security narrative has evolved significantly. The fertilizer market itself has changed, including the roles that private and public sector actors are playing. Another major change since Abuja, is the increased recognition of the critical role of sustainable soil management. The decline in soil health has hindered the efficiency of fertilizer use and hampered agricultural productivity growth, food security, and environmental sustainability across the continent. As a result, economic growth and well-being—particularly for the rural population, who derive their livelihoods directly from agriculture – in the continent have been hampered.  It is therefore, timely to review the state of Africa’s soil health to recalibrate the strategies being deployed for boosting the productivity of soils towards higher and sustainable gains in crop yields as well as economic growth and transformation, and overall well-being. 

Objectives of the Conference

The Objective of the Summit is to bring together all relevant stakeholders to highlight the crucial role of fertilizer and soil health in stimulating sustainable pro-poor productivity growth in African agriculture and to agree on an African Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan, as well as the Soils Initiative for Africa.

Expected Outcomes

It is expected that a 10-year Action Plan, to be endorsed, which will deliver concrete recommendations for steps to be taken by African leaders and stakeholders over the next 10 years. The Action Plan will provide a focus for new policies and investments that will enable farmers to work toward re-building soil health and ultimately increase yield responses and profitability of fertilizers. It is also expected that the Action Plan will be endorsed by leading private and public sector partners across all African countries, with the following:

1. Nairobi Declaration
2. 10-year Action Plan
3. Soil Initiative for Africa (SIA)
4. Mechanism to finance the Action Plan (post-Summit implementation process).

Participants:

The summit  is expected to bring together the African Heads of State, high-ranking government officials, senior policy makers, private-sector players and civil society organizations. Other participants will include representatives of farmer organizations and development agencies, including NGOs, scholars and scientists, and representatives of leading donor organizations.

 For further information, please contact:

1. Dr. Janet Edeme,– Head of Rural Development Division and Ag. Head of Agriculture and Food Security, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission Email: EdemeJ@africa-union.org
2. Ms. Etsubdink Tekalign Mamo - Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission; Email Email: etsubdinkt@africa-union.org

For media inquiries, please contact:

1. Ms. Peace Lydia Mutuwa, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission; Email mutuwap@africa-union.org
2. Mr Molalet Tsedeke, Information and Communications Directorate; AU Commission Tel: 0911-630631; Email: molalett@africa-union.org

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org
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