The year is 2050, and Africa’s ecosystem is flourishing with life. Across the continent, lush forests, thriving wetlands, and abundant farmlands stretch for miles.
A major shift occurred in the early 2030s, when nations undertook ambitious projects to end deforestation and restore over 350 million hectares of degraded land.
Actually, what was envisioned here is part of the UNFCCC Climate Action Pathway. For this future to become a reality, the integration and adoption of regenerative agriculture will be our most viable path forward.
The Issues: Environmental Challenges in African Agriculture
Sub-Saharan Africa holds a quarter of the world’s arable land, yet contributes only 10% to global agricultural output (IFAD, 2021).
The explanation behind this imbalance is widespread land degradation that affects nearly half of all productive areas and over 650 million people. Unfortunately, this situation is worsened by a rapidly growing population that will drive up future food consumption.
Land degradation has already claimed nearly a third of the world’s arable land in the past 40 years, and Sub-Saharan Africa is bearing the heaviest brunt. If efforts to restore degraded land are not intensified, the region could face economic losses amounting to $4.6 trillion in the next 15 years.
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Therefore, the need for action is critical to prevent further damage and secure the future of African agriculture.
How will Regenerative Agriculture Contribute to Africa’s Food Production?
Source: Vivid Economics, IUCN
Africa needs agricultural systems that are affordable, scalable, raise incomes, and are capable of safeguarding biodiversity while achieving multiple yield benefits.
Regenerative agriculture offers a proven pathway toward these goals. Its approach seeks to restore and improve the health of the soil, ecosystems, and communities.
To achieve this, it integrates practices like cover cropping, reduced tillage, and agroforestry to build soil fertility, capture carbon, and boost overall farm resilience.
The results are higher crop productivity, improved soil fertility, better water retention, and the creation of vital ecosystem services. In turn, these practices generate massive economic, environmental, and social benefits.
According to reports, regenerative farming could add over $15 billion to Africa’s Gross Value Added annually by 2030, with the figure rising to $70 billion by 2040.
To put this in perspective, it is nearly one-fifth of the current agricultural GDP in sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, it is forecasted to create 1 million new full-time jobs by 2030, with employment numbers reaching 5 million by 2040.
Though initial adoption may require more time and labour, the rewards outweigh the cost, with yield improvements ranging from 68% to 300%. Regenerative practices not only restore soil health but also reduce the need for artificial fertilisers and pesticides.
In short, regenerative agriculture is about achieving more with less.
Business Case Studies of Regenerative Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa
It’s exciting to see companies adopting regenerative agriculture to restore soil health and productivity. The agricultural and food processing sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are using these strategies to achieve more resilient and higher-yielding crops.
Here are five case studies showing the benefits of regenerative practices:
1. Cereal (AB InBev)
AB InBev is driving efforts to enhance resilience and improve crop management through regenerative agriculture and crop variety development. The company’s 2025 sustainability goals aim to promote climate-smart agriculture, delivering benefits such as:
- Higher crop yields and improved quality
- Greater resilience to climate change
- Reduced input costs for farmers
AB InBev’s focus is on cereals like barley and sorghum, as well as local tubers like cassava in Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Key initiatives include:
- Engaging more than 15,000 farmers in sustainable practices
- Direct partnerships with 10,000 smallholder farmers in Uganda
- Collaboration with 3,000 smallholder farmers in Tanzania
- Working with 2,500 smallholder farmers in Zambia.
2. Cocoa (Touton)
Touton is enhancing cocoa yields in Ghana while simultaneously safeguarding forests and improving local livelihoods. Regenerative agriculture is central to their efforts, particularly in the Bia-Juabeso region.
Key initiatives include:
- Applying regenerative agriculture techniques to cocoa production
- Offering local training and community engagement
- Establishing Farm Business Schools for teaching regenerative practices and farm-level investment planning
- Creating Rural Service Centres as information hubs for farmers.
These initiatives benefit a growing network of farmers economically and ecologically. Currently, 30,000 farmers are directly involved, with plans to expand to 60,000 in the near future (IDH, 2018).
3. Coffee (Nespresso)
Nespresso is working with coffee farmers in Ethiopia to enhance coffee yields, alleviate poverty, and strengthen long-term climate resilience. The business supports farmers through an academy that promotes sustainable and regenerative farming practices.
Key initiatives include:
- Training farmers in yield-enhancing techniques and sustainable business skills
- Deploying agroforestry practices to improve climate resilience on coffee farms
- Promoting stumping, which has led to a two- to three-fold increase in coffee yields
Plus, these efforts have contributed significantly to improved livelihoods, generating an additional $4.3 million in coffee income per year for 36,700 farmers.
4. Cotton (Olam)
Olam has seen an 80% increase in cotton yields in Côte d’Ivoire by training farmers in regenerative agricultural practices. The company sources cotton through its subsidiary, Société d’Exploitation Cotonnière Olam (SECO), which applies sustainable methods throughout the supply chain.
Key highlights include:
- Implementing the model since 2008, focusing on farmer partnerships and community engagement
- Involving over 17,000 farmers by 2019
- Training farmers in regenerative practices such as mulching and crop rotation to enhance yields and climate resilience
The approach has boosted cotton lint yields, expanded the supplier base, and improved farmers’ livelihoods.
5. Multi-crop integration (LEAF Africa)
LEAF Africa is driving the adoption of regenerative agriculture by combining productive farming and forestry techniques. Through demonstrations and farmer training, they aim to create profitable, diverse agricultural systems across Kenya.
Key initiatives include:
- Establishing pilot projects, such as transforming an abandoned flower farm into a productive site using agroforestry and integrated land-use management
- Enhancing soil productivity, sequestering carbon, and increasing biodiversity
LEAF Africa reports positive ecosystem impacts. Also, the initiative showcases the success of regenerative practices in restoring land and improving farm output.
How Will Farmers Benefit?
Hundreds of millions of smallholder farmers contribute around 80% of the food produced in Sub-Saharan Africa. Adopting regenerative agriculture could increase household incomes by up to $150 per year for these farmers.
With a 50% adoption of regenerative practices by 2040, farmers across Africa could experience:
- 30% reduction in soil erosion
- As much as a 60% improvement in water infiltration rates
- 24% increase in nitrogen content
- 20% increase in carbon content, or higher depending on the approach – and not just topsoil (this is huge as soil is the second-largest carbon reservoir after oceans).
Technological Integration in Regenerative Practices
Tools like drones, sensors, and satellite imagery can help farmers monitor soil health, optimise water usage, and manage crops more efficiently. Digital platforms also connect smallholder farmers with valuable resources, and offer real-time data on weather patterns and soil conditions.
To find more details on how technology is integrated with regenerative practices check here.
Wrap Up
Research reveals that land degradation continues to harm crop production and disrupt supply chains in Africa. In response, regenerative agriculture has emerged as a viable solution. It provides a cost-effective way to build supply chain resilience while generating high returns.
There is a strong business case for expanding its use in Sub-Saharan Africa. Though initial costs are involved, the long-term benefits far outweigh them. To encourage adoption, it will be important to provide farmers with access to finance, digital tools, and support systems. Essentially, this will help ensure that regenerative agriculture drives sustainable land restoration and directly benefits farmers and the society.
Reference
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). (2021). Regenerative agriculture in Africa: Report 2021. Retrieved September, 2024.
