The world faces an unprecedented food crisis, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict, and worsening climate conditions. However, Africa bears the brunt, with 61% of its population experiencing moderate to severe food insecurity in 2022. Yet, as the need for effective solutions becomes ever more pressing, policymakers are once again turning to the flawed belief that increasing the use of mineral and synthetic fertilizers holds the key to enhancing agricultural productivity and eradicating hunger across the continent.
This approach finds its roots in the Abuja Declaration on Fertilizer for the Africa Green Revolution, endorsed by African Union leaders in 2006. The aim was to reverse the continent’s low yields by substantially raising fertilizer usage within a decade. Spearheading this initiative was the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), supported by major donors including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Working closely with large agribusinesses like Yara, AGRA promoted the notion that distributing synthetic nitrogen fertilizers would tackle Africa’s agricultural challenges.
However, this relentless emphasis on synthetic fertilizer overlooks the intricate realities of farming in Africa. Recent evaluations of AGRA’s projects in Burkina Faso and Ghana found no tangible evidence that providing chemical inputs and high-yield seeds led to increased production and higher incomes for smallholder farmers. Instead, many farmers find themselves more vulnerable and indebted, relying on costly synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, the prices of which surged following Russia’s invasion. Consequently, they are trapped in a cycle of dependency, while companies like Yara profit substantially.
Zambia serves as a poignant example. Despite being one of Africa’s largest consumers of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer, the country hasn’t witnessed a corresponding decrease in hunger and malnutrition. The simplistic notion that more fertilizer equals less hunger fails to tackle the systemic obstacles to food security, such as affordability, and exacerbates existing challenges like soil degradation.
Synthetic nitrogen fertilizers disrupt the delicate balance of the soil ecosystem, which forms the bedrock of sustainable agriculture. Studies reveal their adverse impact on beneficial microorganisms like mycorrhizal fungi, crucial for nutrient cycling and plant vitality. Such disruption leads to a decline in soil resilience and fertility, contributing to Africa’s annual loss of approximately 3% of GDP due to nutrient depletion and overall soil degradation, according to the World Bank.
Beyond compromising crop productivity, excessive fertilizer usage poses severe environmental repercussions. It fosters nitrogen pollution in water bodies, precipitating biodiversity loss and surpassing safe thresholds for human well-being. Moreover, research indicates that the production and application of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers contribute around 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions. To counter this, companies like Yara are transitioning to “green fertilizers,” derived from hydrogen produced via renewable energy sources. This shift allows them to perpetuate the narrative of synthetic fertilizers as a solution to African food insecurity while expanding their market, despite mounting evidence of its inadequacy.
While green hydrogen-based fertilizer production mitigates emissions, it remains energy-intensive. Application can still release significant amounts of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, contributing to soil degradation and water pollution irrespective of production methods. By endorsing “green fertilizer” as a panacea, the industry engages in greenwashing, leveraging sustainability optics to safeguard its interests.
This week, the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit in Nairobi, inclusive of industry giants like Yara and organizations like AGRA, signals continued adherence to a flawed model. This approach, criticized by the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa, representing over 200 million stakeholders, has consistently fallen short in alleviating hunger and malnutrition. Instead of fixating on short-term soil fertility boosts and endorsing the fertilizer industry’s self-serving narratives, the summit should prioritize longer-term goals. These include enhancing soil health and biodiversity, bolstering farming community resilience, and ensuring food system sustainability.
Evidence from long-term trials across Africa demonstrates that productivity can be maintained without relying on industrial nitrogen fertilizers. Alternatives such as crop diversification, organic fertilizer production, and legume cultivation offer promising avenues. Policymakers and stakeholders must transcend simplistic endorsements of synthetic fertilizers, including those branded as “green,” and adopt a transparent, evidence-based approach. Only then can we effectively tackle the underlying causes of hunger and malnutrition in Africa and globally.
