By Benjamin Abugri, Richard Kombat and Shaquille Pennaneach
February 20, 2025 – The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), in collaboration with the ORCaSa project and OCP Africa, successfully hosted a webinar on “Strengthening Collaboration on Soil Carbon: Roles and Opportunities for the Africa Chapter of the International Research Consortium (IRC-SC).” The event attracted about 200 participants from across the world, reflecting a growing global interest in soil carbon management and its implications for sustainable agriculture and climate resilience.
Moderated by Prof. Oluwole Fatunbi, Director for Research and Innovation at FARA, the webinar featured a distinguished panel of speakers, including Dr Aggrey Agumya (Executive Director, FARA), Dr Suzanne Reynders (ORCaSa Project), Dr Joseph Kugbe (OCP Africa), and Mathieu Nogues (ORCaSa Project). The discussions centered on the importance of soil carbon management and strategies to enhance Africa’s contribution to global efforts in soil health, climate change mitigation, and food security.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Aggrey Agumya emphasized four key points:
1. Soil Carbon Management is Fundamental: Dr. Agumya highlighted the critical role of soil carbon in processes essential to life, resilience, and sustainable development. He linked soil health to climate change mitigation, adaptation, food security, and nutrition security, stressing the urgency of addressing soil degradation.
2. Science and Capacity Building: Recognizing the importance of scientific research, he underscored the need for Africa to develop its own capacity in soil carbon management. He called for investments in generating new knowledge while also intelligently borrowing from global research advancements.
3. Overcoming Fragmentation: Dr. Agumya noted that fragmentation has been a significant barrier to Africa’s development, affecting political, economic, and scientific cooperation. He stressed the need for mechanisms that enhance coordination and cooperation, citing FARA and the ORCaSa project as critical initiatives driving collaboration and economies of scale.
4. Strengthening Africa’s Role in Global Initiatives: He acknowledged that while other continents have established their International Research Consortium (IRC) nodes, Africa is in the process of catching up. He emphasized that this webinar serves as a platform for strategizing how Africa can accelerate its engagement and contribute meaningfully to global soil carbon management efforts.
Dr. Agumya concluded by encouraging active participation from stakeholders, assuring that FARA will follow up on the discussions and ensure continuous engagement beyond the webinar.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Agumya extended his gratitude to the key stakeholders driving this initiative, particularly acknowledging the leadership and dedication of those leading the process.
“My first comment is to thank you for leading this process, for being the champion, for the passion that you put into this work, and for the intellectual leadership that you provide.”
Dr. Agumya also acknowledged Mathieu Nogues for his global efforts in establishing IRC nodes across different continents and leading the ORCaSa project and Dr. Joseph Kugbe’s enlightening presentation, highlighting Africa’s capacity in soil carbon management. However, he noted that while Africa has the expertise, it remains scattered and fragmented, emphasizing the need for mechanisms like the IRC to unify these efforts and create a critical mass for meaningful progress.
He further appreciated all participants for investing their time in this first engagement and recognized their valuable contributions to shaping the African chapter of the IRC on soil carbon.
“At FARA, we believe in inclusivity in continental initiatives, and this is one of them. This is just the beginning of a series of engagements, and we will continue to refine and build upon the insights shared today. We will share the key takeaways, and I invite you all to participate in subsequent discussions,” he added.
With these remarks, Dr. Agumya formally closed the webinar, reinforcing FARA’s commitment to following up on the discussions and ensuring continued engagement in improving soil carbon management in Africa.
The webinar marks a significant step in fostering international collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and policy advocacy for African soil carbon management. As discussions continue, this initiative is expected to catalyze tangible actions that contribute to improved soil health, sustainable land management, and climate resilience across the continent.
Kindly find the presentations by Mathieu Nogues and Dr. Joseph Kugbe below
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How can international collaboration be strengthened to enhance soil carbon sequestration in Africa?