Enhancing Food Security in Africa: TAAT and VACS Partner for Sustainable Agriculture and Soil Health

A cassava research center in Zambia. Cassava is one of the crops targeted for increased food production by the Bank’s TAAT program and the U.S. State Department’s VACS program. On the sidelines of the African Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit in Nairobi, leading development organizations have pledged to forge partnerships aimed at expanding the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS). This initiative focuses on building resilient African food systems through the cultivation of diverse, nutritious, and climate-adapted crops in healthy soils.

The African Union’s Commissioner for Rural Development and Agriculture, Ambassador Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, African Development Bank Group Vice President Dr. Beth Dunford, and other leaders have called for African countries to join the VACS strategic partnership. This partnership aligns with the African Development Bank’s flagship initiative, Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT). Both TAAT and VACS target five priority crops: cassava, orange-fleshed sweet potato, sorghum, millet, and high-iron beans. These crops were identified as essential for food security and climate resilience in Africa.

TAAT Initiative and VACS Partnership

Launched by the U.S. Department of State, the African Union, and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in February 2023, VACS seeks to advance agricultural practices that improve soil health and crop productivity. Dr. Beth Dunford emphasized the importance of this collaboration, noting how the TAAT initiative, the United States Department of State, the African Union, IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development), and CGIAR centers are working together to support VACS. This collaboration also extends to initiatives like Feed the Future and the African Union’s Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan, along with the Soil Initiative for Africa.

TAAT, part of the African Development Bank Group’s Feed Africa strategy, provides heat-tolerant, drought-resistant, and climate-smart certified seeds to millions of smallholder farmers across Africa. The goal is to produce 120 million additional tons of food and lift 130 million people out of poverty by enhancing agricultural productivity and resilience.

Soil Health and Productivity

The Soil Initiative for Africa, mandated by the African Union Commission, aims to systematically improve soil health and productivity across the continent. This initiative addresses the critical need for sustainable agricultural practices, as highlighted by the stark statistics shared by U.S. Special Envoy for Food Security Dr. Cary Fowler. According to Fowler, only 25% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s agricultural production growth since 2000 has come from crop yield improvement, while 75% has resulted from the expansion of cropland areas, a trend deemed unsustainable. Projections suggest that over half of the currently arable land may become unusable by 2050 if current practices continue.

Calls for Action

During the summit, leaders stressed the urgency of implementing concrete actions to address these challenges. Commissioner Sacko voiced frustration with the lack of tangible outcomes from numerous meetings, expressing strong support for the VACS initiative due to its potential for delivering real results.

Participants in the summit’s side event, titled “Advancing the Soil Initiative for Africa through the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soil,” included notable figures such as Lindiwe Sibanda, Chair of the CGIAR System Board, Malawi’s Minister for Agriculture Sam Kawale, IFAD Vice President Dr. Gerardine Mukeshimana, and Italy’s Ambassador to Kenya, Roberto Natali. Additionally, Mildred Pita, Head of Public Affairs, Science, and Sustainability for Africa at Bayer, announced a $1 million donation in kind to support VACS.

Building Consensus and Collaboration

Wole Fatunbi, Agriculture Director of Research and Innovation with the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa, moderated the side event. The African Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit, organized by the African Union in collaboration with AUDA-NEPAD, regional economic communities, and other partners, concluded with leaders endorsing the African Union’s Soil Initiative for Africa framework statement and the Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan. These documents aim to address the widespread decline in soil quality across African farmland and promote sustainable agricultural practices.

By fostering partnerships and aligning strategic initiatives, these development organizations are taking significant steps towards enhancing food security and agricultural sustainability in Africa. Through efforts like TAAT and VACS, Africa is poised to build resilient food systems that can withstand the challenges posed by climate change and ensure a prosperous, food-secure future for its population.