Civil society groups from across Africa have set the tone for the upcoming Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health (AFSH) Summit, for a complete overhaul of the recently formulated 10-year Action Plan.
In a statement, the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) is instead rooting for a focus on policies that "genuinely" empower farmers, protect biodiversity, and build resilient food systems through agroecological and locally adapted practices.
"It is only through such transformative changes can we ensure the long-term sustainability and sovereignty of Africa’s food systems," the statement reads.
Kenya, in partnership with the AU, is set to host the summit beginning May 7-9 at Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi.
The objective of the summit is to gather stakeholders to emphasize the importance of fertilizer and soil health in promoting sustainable productivity growth in African agriculture.
The action plan focuses on increasing investments in local manufacturing and distribution of various types of fertilizers and aims to triple fertilizer use by 18 kg/ha in 2020 nutrients to 54 kg/ha in 2033.
But, according to the lobby, the action plan lacks input from farmers, civil society groups, and agroecology practitioners, sidelining those directly involved in sustainable farming.
This exclusion, it has been noted, will result in disconnected policies that overlook local culture, indigenous knowledge, and the right to food, failing to address the real needs of communities.
While recognizing, the AU's commitment to tackling soil degradation and addressing hunger, malnutrition, and poverty, AFSA poked holes into its vision and strategies.
It has termed them as misinterpretations of soil health challenges and reliance on outdated "Green Revolution" solutions.
"These approaches risk further endangering food security, deteriorating public health, and depleting our crucial seed diversity, which forms the cornerstone of food sovereignty and resilience," Million Belay, the General Coordinator of AFSA observed.
The action plan, they added, misses a chance for transformative change by not prioritizing a shift towards agroecology.
As part of its recommendations, the lobby has urged African nations to embrace agroecology for sustainable food security, poverty reduction, and biodiversity conservation.
Agroecological systems, it said, have the potential to rival industrial agriculture, particularly in tough environmental conditions while supporting diverse diets and improved health.
"We call upon governments and policymakers to recognize and value its enormous potential," AFSA said, referring to agroecology.
It has called for the promotion of biofertilizer production and the phasing out of imported chemical fertilizers.
This shift, it says, can be an opportunity for African countries to promote domestic production of bio/agroecological fertilizers instead of increasing debt by relying on imported chemical fertilizers.
Policymakers, on their part, have been urged to invest in agroecological research and extension services to foster sustainable farming practices, conserve biodiversity, and enhance climate resilience.
"This includes promoting participatory research methods that engage farmers in co-creating knowledge and adapting agricultural techniques to local contexts," it states.
AFSA is a network of civil society groups dedicated to advancing the causes of food sovereignty and agroecology across the African continent.
It has 41 member organizations active in 50 African countries, impacting approximately 200 million individuals.