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Soil mapping for resilient agrifood systems (SoilFER)

In Central America and sub-Saharan Africa, the Soil Mapping for Resilient Agrifood Systems (SoilFER) project stands out as a unique framework aimed at unearthing valuable information from soils to guide policymaking and fertilizer recommendations at national and field scale. This project directly addresses the fertilizer crisis driven by supply-chain shocks and current conflicts, affecting global agricultural production and food security, particularly in regions heavily dependent on imported inputs, such as Africa. Faced with the challenges posed by climate change, soil degradation and the misuse of inputs, SoilFER uses a holistic approach, from soil sampling in the field to advanced laboratory analysis and digital soil information systems as well as decision support tools. The project's emphasis on strengthening capacities as well as empowering stakeholders with full ownership and control over the data and tools underscore its long-term ambition to sustainably equip both participating governmental institutions and farmers.

IMPACT AND OUTCOME

The SoilFER Project will improve agricultural livelihoods and build the resilience of agrifood systems, based on soil data and knowledge, in Central America and sub-Saharan Africa. The project will generate measurable impacts across multiple communities particularly rural populations, smallholder farmers and local institutions and will include policymakers, governments, and researchers. Gender equality will also be an important indicator to measure the specific impact of the project on male and female farmers. Beneficiary countries will have improved knowledge and technical capacity for data-driven integrated soil nutrient management at local and national scales.

To achieve its objective, the project will focus on the delivery of the following three main outputs.

• Output 1. National soil information systems are fully operational. Output 1 aims to establish fully operational National Soil Information Systems (NSIS), which are essential for making informed soil management decisions that improve soil health and fertility. 
• Output 2. Decision support systems to boost soil fertility and soil health established. Output 2 will mainly build on the data and systems generated by Output 1. It focuses on the creation and implementation of national decision support systems (DSS) to improve soil fertility and soil health. Activities include developing DSS, building government capacity on the use of digital soil maps and DSS, and creating applications for farmers that provide guidance on sustainable soil and fertility management.
• Output 3. Sustainable soil management adopted and scaled up nationally. This output aims to promote sustainable soil management practices by utilizing data and insights from previous outputs to identify local sustainable soil management (SSM) practices, encourage alternative fertilizer sources, improve fertilizer efficiency, strengthen national capacities in fertilizer analysis, validate SSM practices through field trials, and conduct economic assessments of these practices.