The following case study is one of 20 that illustrate the Food Systems Call to Action in motion. Each story demonstrates innovative solutions and collaborative efforts across sectors, geographies, and communities, highlighting how food systems are being transformed to support people, nature, and climate. Together, these examples underscore the global momentum towards resilient, equitable, and sustainable food systems.

Smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa are already witnessing the devastating impacts of climate breakdown on their soils and crop yields, and by extension their livelihoods and wellbeing. 

This issue isn’t unique to sub-Saharan Africa. Across the globe smallholder farmers are contending with ever more erratic temperatures and weather patterns as a result of the climate emergency. In the face of failing harvests and limited income, most smallholders lack the means to build resilience to these climate shocks.

Why is climate finance important?

What's the cost of building climate resilience for smallholder farmers?

Learn more and access campaign assets here

As a continuation of the organization’s first symposium this year in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the center’s 50th anniversary, the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) hosted a second symposium, “Future Proofing: Unified Action for Soil Health and Food Security,” on November 4 at KIT in Amsterdam.

The event brought together global agriculture experts, policymakers, leaders, and stakeholders to explore pathways for strengthening soil health and enhancing food security amidst a rapidly evolving landscape of environmental and economic challenges, in addition to the challenges of a growing population.

Read the full story and watch the event recordings on the IFDC website

14-18 October 2024: The World Food Forum (WFF) was held at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Italy. It served as a powerful platform, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders to leverage the power of intergenerational collaborations, partnerships, and action across policy, science, innovation, culture, and investment. 

CA4SH members joined a series of youth-led dialogues, workshops, and networking events to highlight the transformative potential of soil health as the foundation of sustainable, resilient food systems. With over 200 members - including farmer organizations, youth, policymakers, scientists, and NGOs - the Coalition is committed to translating science into action, fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration, and amplifying the vital role of youth in global soil health initiatives. 

Watch this Food Systems Call to Action endorser network webinar to hear from expert speakers on insights and expectations of the 3 Rio Convention Summits in 2024 – CBD COP16, COP29, and CCD COP16 – and discuss a set of high-level food systems messages and asks, building on the Food Systems Call to Action.

The Food Systems Call to Action raises the urgent need to take action on food systems to deliver for people, nature, and climate. Launched at COP28 by the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions and endorsed by hundreds of food systems actors, it will remain open until COP30. The Call to Action outlines a shared vision and priority set of actions from a broad and diverse multi-stakeholder community.

The Stars in Our Soil is a 6-part series highlighting the scientific and social elements of the soil that are synonymous to the stars; each of them unique but when they are together, they light up the universe. 

In this article, Sussana Terieza Phiri (#Youth4Soil, YPARD Zambia, CA4SH Intern) explores the physical properties of soil, and some of the implications for agricultural growers.

23 October 2024: The Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH) co-hosted a virtual side event with CIFOR-ICRAF and the International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) at the Norman A. Borlaug Dialogue of the World Food Prize (WFP). The event highlighted the critical importance of leveraging robust soil health monitoring methodologies to answer key knowledge gaps on the impact of land management and landscape restoration practices on soil health and to translate this information into policy.

Launched today at the EU Soil Observatory Stakeholder Forum, the 2024 State of Soils in Europe report assesses the state of soil degradation across the EU and other countries in the European Economic Area, including Ukraine, Türkiye, and the Western Balkans. The report shows alarming status and trends, with soil degradation getting much worse in recent years, and highlights the need for immediate action to reverse this trend.

Cownomics® Technology, rooted in ancient Indian Vedic sciences focuses on the resurrection of native ecology in soil, water and air. Madhukar Swayambhu, Founder & Research Head, Vaidic Srijan LLP, shares a case study of the transformation of crops by enriching the health of Soil, Water and Air by creating a farm-level microclimate transforming the farm to chemical-free practices that are disease, pest and weather resilient. This is the story of the Lanky Tomato Saplings. 

From 19-26th September 2024, the inaugural cohort of the Youth Academy on Climate Adaptation & Leadership met in Nairobi, Kenya to strengthen their skills around youth leadership and climate adaptation.

The Academy was officially launched via a partnership between the Global Centre on Adaptation, the University of Nairobi, and the University of Groningen. The University of Nairobi hosted the 62 students, government officials, youth organizations, and other youth stakeholders who were selected to join the Academy. Among them was #Youth4Soil member Eliseus Bamporineza who shared some reflections in a Q&A with CA4SH.

Biopesticides offer the UK an unparalleled opportunity to address critical challenges in agriculture, from pest resistance and environmental degradation to public health concerns. By advocating for regulatory reforms, raising awareness, and providing financial incentives, the UK government can support the widespread adoption of biopesticides, ensuring a sustainable and resilient future for its agricultural sector.

Learn more from Dr Minshad Ansari, CEO, Bionema Group, Wales, United Kingdom

22-29 September 2024: Delegates gathered for New York Climate Week to discuss the way forward for mitigating and adapting to the climate crisis.

Soil4Climate CEO Seth Itzcan shares his reflections in a 6-minute video on the organization’s Facebook.

Ramon Garcia is a farmer from near Marcos Juárez city, southeast Córdoba Province, Argentina, and a member of the Carbon Gap Network or Red de Brechas de Carbono (RBC) project from the Argentine No-Till Farmers Association (Aapresid).

Learn more about Ramon’s experience with the RBC project, and the approach as a whole in a new brief co-produced by CA4SH and Aapresid to highlight approaches to scale global soil health.

On 13 September 2024, the Allure of Soil Campaign was officially launched in Nairobi, Kenya, with sights set on the global stage!

The Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH) was excited to join CIFOR-ICRAF, the African Wildlife Foundation and more in celebrating the official launch of the campaign.

The IFRC Limitless Innovation Challenge is a chance for youth around the World to showcase their innovations for climate and the environment. Daniel Chavo Kisekka of the #Youth4Soil Initiative has submitted his climate solution Nurtavest to support smallholder farmers in Uganda, and the World over.

We are calling on the CA4SH network to help support him by engaging with his pitch video, which could place him in the top 100 innovations!

Upendra Bhusal is a student of Agriculture at the Agriculture and Forestry University, Nepal. He is a member of the CA4SH #Youth4Soil initiative, IAAS, YPARD, FAYI, Leo Club, and more.

Learn about his unique approach to scaling soil health in his community, and his plans to scale this approach in 2024/2025.

Samuel Bamidele has served as a member and mentor for the last 6 months at Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health. Samuel was accepted into the 2025 class of the Soil and Water Conservation Society’s (SWCS) Emerging Leaders Program. Recognized as the premier international organization for professionals shaping the future of natural resource conservation, SWCS has chosen Bamidele for his outstanding commitment to the science and art of conservation. He will join a group of up-and-coming leaders in conservation that are spread across several countries and disciplines. 

2-6 SEPTEMBER 2024: More than 3000 people from around the world attended the Africa Food Systems (AFS) Forum in Kigali, Rwanda to reflect on progress and a way forward for food security on the continent.

Eliseus Bamporineza is an East African Community Youth fellow, writer, poet, and staunch advocate for youth empowerment. He is a dedicated and visionary leader committed to driving positive change in the fields of education, climate resilience, agribusiness and diplomacy across Africa. Through different initiatives, such as Feed2Care where he advocates for quality food for all, and #Youth4Soil where he gives voice to life under our feet, he is committed to raising concerns about soil health threats and the need for its protection.

More than 12 thousand attendees, 450 speakers in 160 talks and more than 150 exhibitors in the lastest edition of the event organized by the Argentine No-till Farmers Association, held for the first time in the City of Buenos Aires.