Setting the Soil Health and Fertilizer Scene

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East in February 2026 has triggered a major supply shock, severely disrupting global energy and fertilizer trade. The resulting spikes in oil, gas, and fertilizer prices have particularly severe implications for sub-Saharan Africa, where many countries depend heavily on imported fertilizers.

Higher prices and supply constraints threaten to further limit fertilizer use in a region where application rates are already among the lowest in the world, with potentially significant consequences for agricultural productivity, soil nutrient depletion, and food security.

Despite some progress, fertiliser use in Africa remains among the lowest in the world. According to the African Union (2024), average application rates are estimated at around 18 kg of nutrients per hectare, far below the 50 kg/ha target set by the 2006 Abuja Declaration, which more than 40 African countries have yet to meet.

The 2024 Nairobi Declaration on Fertilizer and Soil Health seeks to address these challenges by improving access to fertilisers and promoting integrated soil fertility management, including a commitment to triple domestic production and distribution of organic and inorganic fertilisers by 2034.

Many farmers across sub-Saharan Africa face high fertiliser costs, inadequate transport infrastructure and limited market access. These longstanding challenges are compounded by the region’s heavy dependence on imported fertilisers, leaving farmers particularly vulnerable to global supply disruptions and price fluctuations. Moreover, fertiliser production is concentrated in a few countries, while most countries in the region depend on imports to meet their needs.

From Scientific Evidence to Policy Action

SASI-SPi objective is to bridge the gap between scientific research and policymaking, ensuring that policy decisions and investments are informed by the best available evidence and respond to the needs and priorities of EU partner countries.

This process brings together researchers, technical experts, and policymakers to identify key challenges, assess available evidence, explore possible policy responses and translate findings into actionable recommendations. Through consultations and exchanges, scientific analysis is confronted with policy priorities, practical constraints and stakeholders’ perspectives. This dialogue helps identify feasible solutions, assess their potential implications and inform policy and investment decisions.

The Soil Health and Fertiliser Policy and investment prospects in subsaharan Africa is a joint technical brief resulting from a SASI collaborative science-policy dialogue involving the European Union (EU), the African Union (AU), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and Agrinatura. It contributes to ongoing efforts to improve fertilizer access, restore soil health, and strengthen the resilience of African agricultural systems and builds on the commitments made at the 2024 Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit in Nairobi and subsequent discussions on their implementation, including those held at the 2025 Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar.

Key events:

•2006 Abuja Declaration: Focused on increasing mineral fertilizer use to 50 kg/ha by 2015.

•2014 Malabo Declaration: Reaffirmed commitments to agricultural productivity and called for “smart subsidies.”

•2024 Nairobi Declaration (Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit): its Action Plan (2024–2034) prioritizes Integrated Soil Fertility Management and sustainable soil and water management.

•2025 Kampala CAADP Declaration: Embedded soil health and Integrated Soil Fertility Management into the  Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme  (CAADP) agenda for 2026–2035, reaffirming investment in soil fertility as a cornerstone of sustainable transformation.

Key messages from the Soil Health and Fertilizer brief

The technical brief was released in June 2026. It provides a roadmap for both immediate crisis response and long-term transformation, making it highly relevant for policymakers, practitioners, and investors today. It highlights the need for:

Policy making: Four priority areas are identified: (1) improving soil health and fertility, (2) increasing fertilizer availability (including local production), (3) improving access and affordability, and (4) strengthening producer incentives.

Investment in Infrastructure and Knowledge: Calls for investment in rural infrastructure, soil testing, extension services, and research and development.

Regulatory and Institutional Reform: Stresses the importance of enabling environments, quality assurance, and public-private partnerships.