SAN
JOSE, Costa Rica, May 6, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- (IICA) – The Alliance for a Green Revolution
in Africa (AGRA) and the
Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)
launched the "Living Soils" initiative, which, based on its
successful implementation in the Americas, will seek to restore
degraded soils, increase agricultural productivity and improve
climate resilience in African agrifood systems.
Participating in the launch event were Mohamed Irfaan Ali,
President of Guyana and Chair of
the Caribbean Community (CARICOM);
Rattan Lal, recipient of the 2020 World Food Prize; Manuel Otero, Director General of IICA; and the
ministers of Agriculture of 11 African countries, AGRA officials
and private sector representatives.
Living Soils links science and public policies to rehabilitate
and protect soils, whose degradation is threatening global food
security.
The initiative is spearheaded by IICA and Rattan Lal,
Director of the Rattan Lal Center for Carbon Management and
Sequestration at The Ohio State
University.
Lal, who is also an IICA Goodwill Ambassador, called for
replicating in Africa what he
described as "the miracle of the Brazilian Cerrado", in reference
to the biome that covers almost a quarter of Brazil's land area.
The scientist stated that, although African production systems
are increasing their productivity, they are doing so at a slow
pace. Therefore, he considered it necessary to take a leap by
"improving soil management practices, to overcome soil challenges
associated with erosion, droughts, nutrient depletion,
salinization, reduction of organic carbon in soils, urbanization
and climate change".
The President of Guyana
remarked that the Living Soils program recognizes Africa's potential to position itself as a key
player in feeding the world, and also highlighted IICA's
work.
"In this developing world in which we are working to build a
resilient, viable and competitive food ecosystem, IICA and its
Director General are carrying out commendable work, and I would
like to acknowledge this leadership", he said.
In Africa, Living Soils will
receive support from AGRA and will prioritize 11 countries in
three regions: the Guinea savanna
zone, which includes Ghana,
Nigeria, Mali and Burkina
Faso; highlands in the Eastern region, which include
Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania; and the Miombo woodlands, which
include Malawi and Mozambique.
Media Contact: Randall.cordero@iica.int
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SOURCE Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture
(IICA)