Themes

The future of agriculture is at stake as soil health continues to degrade. Practices like monoculture, plowing, and overuse of chemical inputs have depleted soil nutrients and structure, prompting farmers to explore alternative soil management strategies. While upscaling these solutions shows promise, policy, and financial support remain insufficient.

Soils are vital to our survival. They store greenhouse gases and water and are home to at least a quarter of all living creatures on earth.  In Kenya over 40% of soils are affected by land degradation, high proportions are acidic and saline.

Soil to plate: Kenya's mandatory fortification policy aims to tackle hidden hunger, but true nutritional security lies in restoring soil health and embracing diverse diets for lasting solutions.

Kenya's worsening soil degradation poses a serious threat to its agricultural future. Redefining soil health through policies that support site-specific solutions is essential for meaningful change in soil management.

Kenya's diverse soils face interconnected challenges that require tailored solutions for sustainable productivity. Simply increasing the use of synthetic fertilisers is not enough.

  Soil degradation poses a global crisis as it jeopardises food security, livelihoods, and ecosystem health. The situation is worse in East Africa, where over 40 percent of soils are degraded, threatening the region’s agricultural foundation and resilience.

Nairobi, Kenya, November 19, 2024– Kenyan civil society organizations, led by the Centre for Environment Justice and Development (CEJAD) and Heinrich Böll Foundation Nairobi, have urged African leaders to unite in demanding for decisive action to reduce production of plastics and eliminate hazardous chemicals in plastics throughout their lifecycle. 

The recent debate in the Kenyan Parliament advocating for a ban on HHPs is a vital step towards ensuring food safety. However, this discussion needs to be followed by concrete action. Dr. Harun Warui emphasized the need for policies that safeguard both human health and the environment.

On July 25th, 2024, the Heinrich Böll Foundation in partnership with the Young Women's Leadership Institute (YWLI) hosted a pivotal Gender Forum at the Heinrich Böll Foundation's Nairobi office to raise raising awareness about femicide in Kenya