Insights from the Africa Climate Summit side-event dialogue on restoration and soil health

Across Africa, soils are under stress. More than 65% of farmland is degraded, threatening food security, livelihoods, and the continent’s ability to withstand shocks. Yet, within this challenge lies a remarkable opportunity: restoring healthy soils and landscapes can unlock resilience, productivity, and sustainability for future generations.

This urgency framed a side-event held during the Second Africa Climate Summit (8–10 September 2025), co-organized by the Ethiopian Landscapes Restoration Platform (ELaRP) and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. The session brought together policymakers, researchers, the private sector, NGOs, and regional platforms to explore how Africa can scale solutions for soil health and landscape restoration.