Op-Ed: The Role of Young People in Defending Soil Health
By: Roël D. Houdanon, Founder & Chief Technical Advisor, Land and Health Association
Credit: Land and Health Association
Since the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals and subsequently the Sustainable Development Goals at the United Nations level, a true paradigm shift has occurred worldwide. A significant portion of today's youth was born during this paradigm shift, which has shaped their childhood and transformed them into environmentally responsible individuals. The current youth are increasingly sensitive to issues of economic development linked to environmental integrity and respect for life. Just as in other areas, the issue of sustainability has been introduced in agriculture, where the two primary factors of production, "human" and "soil," constitute the foundation for transitioning to sustainable agriculture.
From considering soil merely as a factor of production, usable and exploitable at will until exhaustion, scientific studies, experiences of practitioners, and the growing voice of rural communities have shifted the soil's status from an "inert factor of production" to a "living factor of production." Soil health is not only important for agricultural production but also for humans and the biodiversity it sustains. Worldwide, agriculture employs the largest portion of youth (around 60% in Africa, for example), making soil health central to youth empowerment and food security in developing countries where agriculture's contribution to GDP exceeds 20%.
Avenues for youth to defend and promote soil health:
Education and awareness: Young people can play a crucial role in raising awareness among their peers, families, and communities about the importance of soil health. They can educate others about the vital role soil plays in food security, biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and overall ecosystem health.
Innovation and technology: Young people are often at the forefront of innovation and technology. They can develop and implement innovative solutions and technologies aimed at improving soil health, such as precision agriculture techniques, soil monitoring devices, and sustainable farming practices.
Advocacy and political influence: Young people can advocate for policies and regulations that support sustainable land management practices and soil conservation efforts. They can collaborate with policymakers at local, national, and international levels to promote policies that prioritize soil health and encourage sustainable agricultural practices.
Community engagement: Young people can get involved in community initiatives and projects focused on soil health and conservation. They can participate in community gardens, urban agriculture programs, and restoration projects aimed at improving soil quality and promoting local food production.
Research and education: Young scientists and researchers can contribute to advancing our understanding of soil health through academic research and scientific studies. They can research soil management practices, soil biodiversity, and the impact of climate change on soil ecosystems. Additionally, they can share their findings through educational outreach programs and workshops.
Youth engagement and activism are essential worldwide for raising awareness, stimulating innovation, and advocating for policies and practices that prioritize soil health and sustainability. By actively participating in efforts to protect and restore soil ecosystems, young people can contribute to building a more resilient and sustainable future for current and future generations.
Credit: University of California
How I Became a Soil Health Advocate
My passion for issues related to soil health and sustainable agriculture began during my university years. I am originally an agricultural engineer, and during my training, the focus was largely on conventional agriculture. In rural areas, conventional agriculture was the norm, characterized by the use of chemical inputs. However, deep down, farmers acknowledged that at some point, the land became depleted and they adopted the practice of fallow for 10 years, which over time has decreased to 5 or even 3 years due to demographic pressures on land. The depletion of land is evident in agricultural statistics in Benin. Agricultural production has increased over time. Simultaneously, the proportion of cultivated agricultural land has also increased, but agricultural production is not due to optimized production and increased yields per hectare, but rather due to an expansion of agricultural land. This fact was further emphasized with agricultural policies focused on certain crops, with cotton being the primary example. The consequences of these agricultural practices include land degradation, with estimates showing that roughly 60% of agricultural land is degraded. Consequently in 2017, Benin established its Sustainable Land Management Plan (SLM-Plan).
When I was completing my thesis in soil microbiology (Mycology) in 2020, 2 to 3 years after the implementation of the SLM-Plan, I was curious to know how it was operationalized. It was difficult to obtain more information by approaching the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (the ministry responsible for environmental issues and land degradation) because no operational framework had been put in place. Faced with this existing gap, I initiated a national dialogue with stakeholders. This initiative was challenging to establish due to my status as a young person and a civil society member. To make it happen, I decided to create a national committee to organize a workshop aimed at creating a framework for dialogue on the SLM-Plan and evaluating the activities carried out in its implementation. I met with various authorities from sectoral ministries (Agriculture, Environment, UN Convention to Combat Desertification Focal Point, Ministry of Government Action Coordination) who were convinced by the initiative and subsequently integrated ministry agents into the workshop organizing committee. With the financial and technical support of the European Union Delegation in Benin and the ProSol project of the German Cooperation GIZ, this workshop was successfully conducted. This was truly the beginning of my national engagement in favour of soil health.
In 2020, I co-founded the NGO Land and Health Association like-minded young people to deliver on-the-ground actions to improve agricultural practices. As a result, I was selected to accompany the Benin delegation to COP15 of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification as a soil science expert and to COP28 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change as a climate change expert in agriculture. At these COPs, I had the opportunity to interact with other young actors in the field of soil health and sustainable agriculture, such as Aisha Hassan and Gloria Agyare, as well as other prominent actors, notably CIFOR-ICRAF. I participated in panels organized by the Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health where I shared my experiences and the activities of young people in Benin in support of land restoration and soil health.
I believe that many young people should truly improve their engagement strategies in favour of soil health. They need to move away from social media and engage directly in rural communities where the real challenges of transitioning from conventional agriculture to sustainable agriculture based on soil health are evident.
From my experiences, I have learned that:
Policy-makers are willing to support youth initiatives if they are well-founded and aligned with the implementation of national policies;
Young people need to become competent in the subjects that they are passionate about and develop the ability to mobilize stakeholders and financial resources;
Determination inevitably yields results if appropriate strategies accompany action toward a goal.
About the Land and Health Association
Credit: Roël D. Houdanon
I started LHA in 2020. At that time, I was conducting numerous floristic inventories in the forests of northern Benin for a biodiversity conservation project. In the data collection area, agriculture is the main activity, occupying nearly 90% of the workforce. What intrigued me the most was that on the second day of the inventory, I was astonished and outraged to observe a hectare of forest where the trees were completely charred. The same observation was made on the third day: this time, the trees were on fire. The farmer had just committed his crime. Fortunately, we were able to catch up with him as he fled upon seeing us. When asked why he committed such an atrocious act against nature, his response was striking and still resonates in my mind: "I must feed my family, and the lands outside the forest have become unproductive. We make a lot of effort for meager harvests. Agriculture represents my only source of income, and if I don't cultivate the forest to achieve substantial production, we risk facing a great family famine and continuing to languish in poverty." This story deeply sensitized me and made me understand the urgency of the situation: the need to change paradigms in agricultural practices. If nothing is done, we risk losing the meager forest resources we have in northern Benin, resulting in the loss of biodiversity, forest microclimate, increased vulnerability of populations to the effects of climate change, and exacerbated poverty. Thus, the Land and Health Association was born, with its mission clearly expressed as "Working to address land degradation issues and their impacts on human health."
Case Study from LHA
To achieve our goals in the field of land restoration, we employ a combination of two approaches: the Farmer Leader - Plot Approach (FLPA) and the Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) approach. The first approach (FLPA) involves establishing demonstration plots in villages, where we collaborate with community farmer leaders to implement sustainable land management techniques. This approach demonstrates to small-scale farmers the impact of sustainable land management on water conservation, reduced use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and increased production, and utilizes farmer leaders as advocates and ambassadors for our organization among other farmers. The second approach, FMNR, entails creating a movement of farmers to locate, prune, and maintain existing tree shoots, providing them with the space and protection needed to quickly regrow into trees. At a large scale, this technique effectively transforms semi-arid and arid landscapes into lush and productive environments. FMNR has been promoted because Benin's agricultural policies require farmers to leave at least 25 plants per hectare, facilitating the promotion of this technique among farmers.
Credit: Land and Health Association
In 2021, we trained 30 Zinvié farmers on the manufacture of biochar and compost (organic fertilizer) to improve the health and fertility of their land and crop yields. Zinvié is a semi-urban town in the commune of Abomey-Calavi in southern Benin. The session took place in two stages: the Co-construction of production materials (barrels for biochar production) and the co-production of biochar and compost with farmers. Feedback received after the training showed that farmers gained new knowledge in sustainable agricultural land management through the manufacturing of biochar, and compost and their use in the fields for better soil health. Today this method is used in the area by 51 farmers for better agricultural yield and soil protection and mostly for the production of vegetables. Some farmers have become biochar and compost micro-entrepreneurs since they use the surplus of their production for sale in market gardens in the town of Cotonou.
Undoubtedly, working with local communities is as fascinating in the forest as it is in the fields. In the forest, you encounter a wealth of indigenous knowledge related to plants, their uses, and ecology. In the fields, you engage in passionate discussions about crop pest control, agricultural practices and their negative impacts, and perceptions of soil fertility based on observations of the weeds that grow there. Local communities are aware that the agricultural practices they use are degrading, but they continue to use them due to a lack of knowledge of alternative agricultural practices and inadequate training to implement them.
Monitoring agricultural communities is crucial in any attempt to transition agriculture. Indeed, communities may receive training from the best possible experts with the best financial support. However, to have a real impact, it is essential to accompany and monitor agricultural transition for at least two years for a lasting impact. Many projects fail, for example, in Africa because post-training or post-project support and monitoring are neglected in project design and budgeting. It is also important now for the private sector or any other actor to support part of this assistance. For example, for the establishment of stone lines to slow down and stop soil erosion, the adoption rate of this practice would be higher if there was an actor (private or non-profit) supporting the collection and transportation of stones to the sites. The same applies to the adoption of biochar or compost. Yes, from our interventions, this is becoming increasingly evident. Therefore, a holistic approach to interventions, projects, and programs in rural areas is necessary for the successful transition from conventional agriculture to sustainable agriculture. The Land Accelerator program is an interesting approach to the solutions needed, involving many young people. Indeed, this approach offers many perspectives to young people in rural areas who, depending on their skills and abilities, can integrate themselves into agricultural value chains and empower themselves.
Conclusion
For a long time, soil has been considered merely as a factor in agricultural production, with its importance being marginal. What mattered most to farms were investments in equipment, water supply, certified seeds, and labour organizations. However, new challenges have emerged. We are currently facing a global environmental crisis: biodiversity loss, desertification, and climate change are prominent issues. It is no coincidence that the Rio Convention addressed these pressing environmental concerns. Over time, what lies beneath our feet, often overlooked and taken for granted, is increasingly being recognized as a key component in solving environmental crises.
Soil contains 25% of biodiversity and serves as the foundation for the rest of biodiversity. In the new global biodiversity framework, Kunming-Montreal, soil health is clearly highlighted in target 11 as contributing to the maintenance and preservation of biodiversity and indirectly linked to other targets such as target 10.
In the fight against climate change, recent studies have shown that the mitigation potential projected in agriculture is comparable to the mitigation potential of wind energy through the soil. If we manage soils intelligently, they can become an important ally in our fight against climate change, both in terms of mitigation and adaptation. Indeed, soil that contains more carbon is better able to retain water, mitigate flooding (like a sponge), provide more nutrients for crops, and thus ensure food security.
While soil is not explicitly mentioned in the final text of COP28, discussions surrounding soil health have gained momentum since COP27 in Charm el-Cheikh, Egypt, with several decisions concerning soil and land health within the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture. In Dubai for COP28, the issue of soil was highlighted in the final text of the food and agriculture declaration.
Whether in one or the other of these texts, farmers at all levels are on the front lines and at the heart of climate change and the fight against biodiversity loss. To address many of these needs, proximity to the agricultural population is important. What is even more important is the number of farmers affected by these new challenges who need support and solutions and who must necessarily participate in the implementation of resolutions on soil health, agriculture, food security, climate change, etc.
Undoubtedly, there is a need to utilize information technologies to reach the largest number of farmers or other stakeholders in the agricultural ecosystem, a role that young people could play effectively. In the context of climate change adaptation, for example, and more specifically for early warning systems, a significant portion of the solutions is digital, and this ecosystem is conducive to the empowerment of youth. Many applications are also developed, providing technical training on sustainable land management but requiring translation and transmission by young people for them to be useful to the predominantly illiterate agricultural community (in the African context for example).
