Africa and the Americas solidify partnership to restore soils, under initiative led by AGRA and IICA

Key Facts

, /PRNewswire/ -- (IICA) – The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) launched the "Living Soils" initiative, which, based on its successful implementation in the Americas, will seek to restore degraded soils, increase agricultural productivity and improve climate resilience in African agrifood systems.
Meeting Zoom Participating in the launch event were Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana and Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM); Rattan Lal, recipient of the 2020 World Food Prize; Manuel Otero, Director General of IICA; and the ministers of Agriculture of 11 African countries, AGRA officials and private sector representatives.
Lal, who is also an IICA Goodwill Ambassador, called for replicating in Africa what he described as "the miracle of the Brazilian Cerrado", in reference to the biome that covers almost a quarter of Brazil's land area.
The President of Guyana remarked that the Living Soils program recognizes Africa's potential to position itself as a key player in feeding the world, and also highlighted IICA's work.