2IPS

21
May

AUSO and SOILS4MED partner to advance soil health across Africa and the Mediterranean

18 May 2026 Two international soil health initiatives, the Africa Union Soil Observatory (AUSO) and the Mediterranean Soil Health initiative (SOILS4MED), have signed a letter of agreement to advance knowledge exchange on soil health indicators and soil information systems in support of food security and sustainable land management. AUSO is focused on building a comprehensive soil observatory for Africa, and

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20
May

Feeding 2.5 Billion Africans by 2050: FARA Calls for Anticipatory Governance in Food Systems Transformation

As Africa confronts the challenge of feeding a projected population of nearly 2.5 billion people by 2050, the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) has called for a shift from reactive food systems management toward anticipatory governance systems capable of helping institutions prepare for long-term risks, uncertainties, and structural transformation. Speaking during the High-Level Roundtable on Science, Innovation, and

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20
May

FARA and AICS Explore Partnerships for Agrobiodiversity and Opportunity Crops in Africa

written by ‘Wole Fatunbi The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) hosted a partnership brokerage discussion with the team from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), Accra Office, on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, to explore strategic collaboration for advancing agricultural transformation in Africa. Welcoming the delegation, FARA’s Executive Director, Dr. Aggrey Agumya, reflected on the longstanding cooperation between

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11
Mar

Can Africa Truly Produce Enough Rice to Feed Itself? Insights from the 10th CARD General Meeting in Madagascar

 By Wole Fatunbi, PhD The 10th General Meeting of the Coalition for African Rice Development (CARD) is taking place from 9–12 March 2026 in Antananarivo, Madagascar, bringing together governments, research institutions, development partners, and private-sector actors committed to transforming Africa’s rice sector. At the opening of the meeting, Prof. Wole Fatunbi, Acting Director of Research and Innovation at the Forum

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3
Feb

Perspectives on Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization in Africa: a Potent Pillar for Resilient Agriculture and Food System

By ‘Wole Fatunbi, PhD The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) is participating in the FAO-led Africa Conference on Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (ACSAM) at the Johari Rotana Hotel in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania, from 3 to 6 February 2026. The conference reawakened a deep reflection on the pathway to Africa’s mechanization through supportive policies and the

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12
Dec

AUC Commissioner Calls for the Mainstreaming of Foresight in Africa’s Food Systems and Policy Frameworks

Nairobi, Kenya – 10 December 2025 By Bridget Kakuwa, Benjamin Abugri &  Molalet Tsedeke  Africa has taken a decisive step toward strengthening the resilience and long-term sustainability of its agrifood systems with the official opening of the Africa Continental Foresight Consultations for Resilient Agrifood Systems in Nairobi. The high-level consultations convened policymakers, researchers, development partners, and practitioners from across the

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5
Dec

World Soil Day 2025 – Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities: The Change Starts from You

By ‘Wole Fatunbi PhD  Ag. Director of Research and Innovation, FARA  “The world is nothing but change; our life is only perception.” — Marcus Aurelius This timeless wisdom is fitting for World Soil Day 2025, celebrated under the theme “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities.” As Africa’s cities expand and evolve, it becomes increasingly clear that their sustainability depends on an

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30
Oct

How do we measure Soil health in Africa? Imperative for the implementation of the Soil Initiative for Africa

By Wole Fatunbi Another bold step was taken in translating the vision of the Soil Initiative for Africa (SIA) and the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan (AFSH-AP) into measurable Action and Impact. A two-day expert group meeting was held at the International Convention Center, Kigali, Rwanda, to discuss and agree on the definition of Soil health in Africa

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20
Oct

Brokering Partnerships with USA Land Grant Universities: a step to leverage advanced Science for implementing the Soil Initiative for Africa and AFSH-AP.

By ‘Wole Fatunbi Between October 13th to 15th 2025, the Africa Agricultural Research Innovation and Education Institutions (AARIEI), led by FARA, organized an engagement meeting with land-grant Universities in the USA to broker a partnership to support the implementation of the Soil Initiative for Africa (SIA). The three-day workshop was held at the Agronomy complex of the Kansas State University, Manhattan,

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6
Oct

African Union Soil Observatory Project Officially Launched to Close Africa’s Soil Data Gaps for Sustainable Agriculture

By Benjamin Abugri, Richard Kombat & Shaquille Pennaneach Nairobi, Kenya — October 6, 2025 The African Union Soil Observatory (AUSO) Project was officially launched today at the Trademark Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, in a high-level event bringing together African and European partners, policymakers, scientists, and development stakeholders. Running from October 6 to 8, 2025, the launch and inception meeting mark

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