Let’s secure Africa’s soils to tackle climate change and hunger
Soils hold 70 percent of the planet’s land-based carbon — three times the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. Not only is carbon-rich soil a crucial tool in mitigating climate change, it is also essential to meet the food needs of Africa’s population, which is set to grow by 1.3 billion by 2050.
When soils are managed sustainably, they store organic carbon that locks in soil moisture and increases soil fertility; they also remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Conversely, if they are poorly managed, soils release carbon into the atmosphere in the form of CO2, which can contribute to climate change.
By Alice Ruhweza