Africa’s Food Future: Soil, Youth, and Climate Resilience Seize Center Stage
Dakar, Senegal recently hosted nearly 6,000 participants from 106 countries at the 2025 Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS Forum), signaling a pivotal moment for the continent’s agricultural transformation. The forum underscored a growing consensus: the future of food security in Africa hinges on prioritizing soil health, empowering youth, and building climate resilience.
The Soil is the Foundation
A central theme emerging from the AFS Forum was the critical importance of soil health. Commissioner for Agriculture at the African Union Commission, Moses Vilakati, framed soil health not merely as a technical issue, but as a strategic priority for food sovereignty, climate adaptation, and rural employment. With 65% of Africa’s land already degraded, the urgency of addressing this challenge is paramount.
Discussions centered on the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan, exploring how continental commitments can translate into tangible action at the country level. Restoring and mapping Africa’s soils is seen as essential, requiring robust data, sustained investment, and collaboration across science, policy, and farmer practice.
A farmer harvests rice, illustrating how research and policy discussions translate into practices that support food production and rural livelihoods. Photo by Axel Fassio / CIFOR-ICRAF.
Youth as Drivers of Change
The AFS Forum highlighted a shift in perspective regarding youth involvement in agriculture – from viewing them as beneficiaries to recognizing them as co-creators. Young professionals, like Jenice Achieng of YPARD Kenya, emphasized the power of soil data and digital tools (GIS mapping, mobile applications, drones, and artificial intelligence) to empower young farmers, reduce costs, and increase profits.
The need for innovative financing and inclusive policies that support youth-led agricultural ventures was a recurring message. The forum underscored that youth leadership is not just desirable, but fundamental to building resilient food systems.
Bridging Science, Policy, and Finance
The Forum showcased successful examples of how science, finance, and governance can converge to scale proven solutions. Case studies included the IsDB Food Security Response Program and Uganda’s Local Economic Growth support program, demonstrating the impact of targeted public investment.
AfricaRice presented climate-resilient rice varieties yielding up to nine tonnes per hectare in the Senegal River basin. CIFOR-ICRAF highlighted its Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF), deployed in 45 countries to provide actionable soil health data for decision-makers and farmers.
Multilateral Partnerships for a Sustainable Future
Speakers consistently emphasized the importance of multilateral partnerships and co-investment frameworks to accelerate innovation in key value chains, including millet, sorghum, potato, and livestock. The IsDB–CGIAR partnership was cited as a model for aligning science, policy, and finance in support of resilient food systems.
Looking Ahead: A Call for Action
The AFS Forum 2025 in Dakar represents a turning point, signaling a collective commitment to translate ambition into action. The focus on soil health, youth empowerment, and climate resilience is not merely a set of priorities, but the fundamental pillars upon which Africa’s future food systems will be built.
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