New guns are trained on farming targets

Agriculture has long been the stepchild of Africa’s green economy. It matters greatly to climate action, yet has so far received proportionately little investment or attention.  

• 250 million small-hold farmers produce 70% of all food on less than a hectare each.

• And agrifood systems generate about 30% of emissions globally.

The news: Approaches to sustainable agriculture in Africa are undergoing a belated revolution. The focus is no longer just on addressing the impact of climate change but has expanded to offering innovative remedies.

New champions: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) is now urging the sector to see itself as a solution in the climate crisis. 

• Kaveh Zahedi, director of FAO’s Office of Climate Change, speaks of “energy-smart agriculture”.

• He says, “Farms don't just have to be producers of food. They can be generators of renewable energy… for the greenhouses, for pumping water, for irrigation, or energy that can be shared into the grid, or better using agricultural waste, turning it into fuels, into biofuels.”

Beyond farming: Smart agriculture is far from limited to traditional fields and stables. 

• An example is the use of biochar, carbonised biomass obtained from organic waste, sequestered in soils to enhance their agricultural and environmental value. 

• Startups like Biosorra, which launched its biochar production facility last November, and Bio-Logical, which secured $1 million to build its own facility, plan to transform agricultural waste into biochar in Kenya, eventually sequestering thousands of tonnes of CO2. 

Tech transfer: Some innovation arrives from outside the continent.

• An example is “enhanced rock weathering”. The technology, using mineral-rich rock such as basalt, can sequester carbon in fields and return nutrients to tired soil.

• Basalt is waste produced in extractive industries. UK company UNDO is beginning trials in East Africa. 

Oldies but goldies: In other areas, well-known but forgotten ideas are making a return.

• The U.S. global food security envoy is pushing to bring back traditional African crops that American policies helped to sideline.

Missing investment: While 5% of global renewables funding goes to Africa, in agriculture it’s only 1%. And that’s not necessarily focused on what’s sustainable. Why? 

The missing part: Innovations must get closer to working farmers. 

• WFP says, “There has been a lack of incentives in supporting isolated farmers to change their behaviour.”

• One promising approach, pioneered by Boomitra, is to involve farmers improving soil in carbon markets. 

• Capital also needs to be patient, such as what’s done at ARAF.

The change: Substantial amounts of new money are becoming available this year to find solutions.

• The World Bank has committed $100 million to climate smart agriculture (through CGIAR, the world’s largest publicly funded agricultural research network). 

• The Green Climate Fund, associated with the UN, has announced $100 million for agriculture to improve African smallholder access to technology and more. 

• The Global Resilience Partnership has created a well-funded innovation challenge.