In Mali, as in many other African countries, sustainable soil management has become a critical issue. Climate change, rapid urbanization, and rising food demand are placing growing pressure on this vital resource. To mark World Soil Day in December 2025, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and its partners convened government officials, researchers, students and farmers. The aim was clear: soil health is central to food security, climate resilience and quality of life in both urban and rural areas. We spoke with Professor Bocar Ahamadou Touré, AGRA’s Country Director for Mali, about the implications of the event and the way forward.

Ecofin Agency: The theme for the 2025 edition of World Soil Day was "Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities." Why is this year’s theme particularly relevant for Mali?

Bocar Ahamadou Touré: I believe the theme is particularly relevant for Mali because it reflects a growing concern among policymakers and development actors: the need to better protect our soils, especially in urban areas. We often focus on rural land, but urban soils are equally important and face increasing pressure from urban expansion, land sealing, limited green space and pollution.

This reduces the soil’s ability to perform its essential functions, including supporting food production, regulating local temperatures, storing water, preserving biodiversity and contributing to quality of life. For Mali, the issue is closely tied to food security and climate resilience, as well as public health. Much of what is produced in rural areas is processed and consumed in cities, creating strong links between rural and urban ecosystems. When land is degraded or contaminated, it can affect food quality and increase health risks for the population.

World Soil Day 2025 therefore aimed to raise awareness among researchers, policymakers, local authorities, NGOs, the private sector and students that soil is a fragile, non-renewable resource. It needs careful management in both rural and urban settings. Healthy soils are fundamental to building resilient cities, fighting climate change and protecting ecosystems.

EA: How does the National Roadmap for Soil Fertility and Health relate to World Soil Day and the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan (AFSHAP)?

BAT: First, it is important to clarify that the Soil Health Roadmap is a strategic framework for AGRA. It sets out a shared vision, priority actions and coordination mechanisms for restoring, protecting and sustainably managing soils across the country. The objective is to address major challenges such as soil degradation, food insecurity, climate change and rapid urbanization, with strong government leadership and alignment with regional and continental commitments.

The aim of the strategic framework is to address major challenges such as soil degradation, food insecurity, climate change and rapid urbanization

The roadmap is intended to serve as a reference framework for all stakeholders working in agriculture and soil health, including government institutions, NGOs, the private sector and development partners. It builds on the momentum created by the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit held in Nairobi in 2023, which defined priority actions to restore soil fertility across the continent over the next decade.

This effort is rooted in earlier African commitments, including the 2003 Maputo Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security, the 2004 Sirte Declaration and the 2006 Abuja Declaration on Fertilizers for an African Green Revolution.

Each country is now expected to translate this continental vision into a national roadmap adapted to its specific context and backed by concrete action plans. In Mali, the roadmap is aligned with the “Mali 2063” vision and the 2024-2033 National Strategy, which represents the first implementation phase of that long-term agenda.

World Soil Day provided an opportunity to reinforce this process at the national level. The event, organized in partnership with the International Fertilizer Development Center, allowed us to reiterate the importance of finalizing and implementing the roadmap. The priorities include strengthening the institutional and regulatory framework, reinforcing government leadership, improving access to quality agricultural inputs and establishing monitoring systems to track progress and adjust policies where necessary.

AGRA plays a catalytic role by supporting relevant ministries in strengthening public policy, ensuring input quality control and translating continental commitments into concrete action. The aim is to ensure realistic planning, broad ownership and consistent monitoring, so that the roadmap becomes a practical driver of sustainable agricultural transformation and improved soil health.

EA: What are the priority actions AGRA has taken, or plans to take, to improve soil health in Mali?

BAT: In Mali, as in the other countries where AGRA operates, our work on soil health is guided by a comprehensive approach that combines policy support, catalytic investment and capacity building at the local level.

One priority is strengthening the legal, regulatory and institutional framework for sustainable soil management. We support the government in updating regulations, improving oversight systems and reinforcing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms related to soil fertility and health.

Another priority is improving access to quality agricultural inputs through well-designed subsidy programs and market development. This includes certified seeds and both mineral and organic fertilizers, which are critical for restoring soil fertility and boosting productivity. AGRA plays a catalytic role. We do not substitute for national actors; instead, we work through partnerships with government technical services, research institutions, NGOs and private sector operators.

Through our agricultural advisors and community leads, we strive to ensure that innovations do not just remain in reports or laboratories but are actually adopted at the farm level.

We also prioritize the promotion of Integrated Soil Fertility Management and sustainable land management practices adapted to the Sahelian context. Our teams work with partners to test, adapt and scale solutions such as balanced fertilizer application, combined use of organic and mineral inputs, composting, biofertilizers and agroecological practices that enhance soil structure, biological activity and resilience.

Capacity building is another key pillar. In collaboration with extension services and implementing partners, we organize field demonstrations and practical training sessions for farmers on best management practices, including crop rotation, intercropping, soil and water conservation and responsible input use.

Youth engagement is also central to our strategy. Through partnerships with universities and youth-led initiatives, we support innovation in soil fertility management and encourage young people to take on roles as advisors, service providers and entrepreneurs in sustainable agriculture.

Finally, coordination and alignment are critical priorities. We work closely with government institutions, farmer organizations, women’s groups, youth networks and private sector actors to ensure that the National Soil Health Roadmap is effectively implemented, with clear responsibilities and measurable progress. The goal is to translate continental commitments into tangible action in Mali and strengthen long-term food security and agricultural resilience.

EA: In practical terms, how do you support producers in implementing the national soil health agenda?

BAT: In Mali, as in the other countries where AGRA operates, our work on soil health is based on a holistic approach that combines public policy support, targeted catalytic investments, and capacity building for grassroots stakeholders. In concrete terms, we first support the State in establishing a legal, regulatory, and institutional framework conducive to sustainable soil management. This includes developing or revising regulations, oversight mechanisms, consultation frameworks, and monitoring and evaluation systems related to soil fertility and health.

This policy support is closely linked to "smart subsidy" programs and support for high-quality inputs, such as seeds and both mineral and organic fertilizers, which are directly tied to soil fertility and agricultural productivity. AGRA acts as a catalyst. We do not replace national actors; instead, we operate through a "facilitation" model, working with implementing partners such as government technical services, universities, research institutes, NGOs, and the private sector.

Our soil health programs rely on a broad network of partners to test, adapt, and scale solutions tailored to the Sahelian context, particularly regarding Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM), sustainable agriculture, and land regeneration practices. Within AGRA, a department dedicated to sustainable production systems ensures that the technologies and practices promoted are truly beneficial for the soil. This includes precise fertilizer dosage and application methods, the balanced combination of organic and mineral fertilizers, and the promotion of compost, biofertilizers, and agro-ecological practices that improve soil structure, biology, and resilience.

Another major pillar of our work in Mali involves raising awareness and training farmers and local actors. In collaboration with agricultural extension services and our implementing partners, we organize training sessions, field demonstrations, and practical workshops for farmers on Best Management Practices (BMPs) for soil, including crop rotation, intercropping, organic matter management, water and soil conservation, and the responsible use of inputs.

Through our agricultural advisors and community leads, we strive to ensure that innovations do not just remain in reports or laboratories but are actually adopted at the farm level. All of this work is systematically linked to the market, because everything that comes out of the soil ultimately ends up on the consumer's plate. Ensuring healthy soils is therefore a guarantee of safer food products and improved public health.

Youth and universities also hold a central place in our strategy. The World Soil Day recently held in Mali, in partnership with IFDC and the Ministry of Agriculture, illustrated this approach. The event saw strong student participation and highlighted youth-led innovations in integrated soil fertility management, water and soil conservation, and new solutions such as the production of Bokashi, fermented organic matter, by women's cooperatives.

Field demonstrations and laboratory visits showed policymakers the scope of ongoing research and underscored the importance of solid scientific data to guide public policy. Through our youth-dedicated programs, we work to make young people not just beneficiaries but full-fledged actors, including agricultural advisors, "last-mile" service providers, awareness leaders, and creators of innovative soil health solutions.

This policy support is closely linked to "smart subsidy" programs and support for high-quality inputs, such as seeds and both mineral and organic fertilizers, which are directly tied to soil fertility and agricultural productivity

Finally, our role is also to catalyze and align efforts. We work with the government, the private sector, farmer organizations, women, and youth to ensure the National Soil Health Roadmap is truly operationalized, with realistic planning, clearly defined responsibilities, and regular progress monitoring. The goal is to ensure that commitments made at the continental level, and at summits such as the one in Nairobi, translate into concrete actions on the ground in Mali to restore soil fertility, strengthen food security, and contribute to the long-term resilience of agricultural systems and populations.

EA: What are the primary challenges currently facing sustainable soil management in Mali?

BAT: Broadly speaking, this is a major issue for all African countries. In Mali, the challenges are numerous and deeply interconnected. The first, and perhaps most visible, is the progressive degradation of soil due to water and wind erosion, the depletion of organic matter, unsustainable farming practices, and the improper use of fertilizers and land. This degradation results in declining fertility, reduced water retention capacity, increased vulnerability to climate hazards and, ultimately, yields that are insufficient to meet the food needs of a rapidly growing population.

A second major challenge concerns the loss of biodiversity, particularly soil biodiversity. Healthy soil depends on three dimensions: its physical structure, its chemical composition and its biological life, including microorganisms, soil fauna and decomposing organic matter. However, pressure on land, the disappearance of trees and agroforestry systems, the uncontrolled use of certain chemical inputs and intensive plowing practices all contribute to this decline. This weakens the transformation of organic matter into humus and limits the availability of essential nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K).

Donors, development agencies and technical partners must commit to financing research, generating reliable data, conducting detailed agro-ecological mapping and monitoring pollutants and soil quality

In many areas, there is a tendency to believe that mineral fertilizers can compensate for all deficiencies. In reality, they are effective only if the soil already has an active organic base. Urbanization and pollution also pose significant challenges, especially around major cities. The expansion of built-up areas, increased land sealing, the loss of green spaces and the development of industrial sites place heavy pressure on soils. These soils are exposed to various pollutants, including heavy metals and pesticide residues. This threatens not only urban and peri-urban soil biodiversity but also the safety of vegetable production destined for local markets, creating potential risks to human health, including chronic diseases linked to contamination.

Funding is another critical issue. We may have ambitious declarations and clear roadmaps, but without adequate financial resources, scaling up is not possible. This challenge extends beyond AGRA. Donors, development agencies and technical partners must commit to financing research, generating reliable data, conducting detailed agro-ecological mapping and monitoring pollutants and soil quality. The State’s resources remain limited, and funding dedicated to sustainable soil management is insufficient given the scale of current needs.

High-quality fertilizers and seeds are often expensive or difficult to access. Agricultural advisory and extension services remain underdeveloped. Funding for research, soil mapping and land quality monitoring systems falls short of what is required. Without reliable data, regular soil analysis and strong advisory systems, it is difficult to design solutions tailored to the country’s diverse agro-ecological zones.

Sustainable soil management requires clear policies, a long-term vision, dedicated legal frameworks and strong coordination between the public sector, the private sector, academia, producers and development partners. If we want to leave future generations with soils capable of continuing to perform their essential functions, including production, climate regulation and ecosystem protection, we must intensify efforts in research, financing, planning and long-term governance. Soil is a resource that takes hundreds of years to form but can be degraded in just a few seasons.

Interview by Espoir Olodo