NAIROBI, Kenya — A new wave of soil science innovation swept through Nairobi this week as more than 400 stakeholders from across Eastern and Southern Africa gathered for the inaugural Data for Soil Health and Scale Summit.
Hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development in partnership with the World Bank, the two-day event spotlighted cutting-edge solutions to Africa’s escalating soil degradation crisis.
Held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel from June 3–4, the summit showcased the growing power of data, artificial intelligence (AI), and biotechnology in reshaping how African farmers manage their soils—an urgent priority given that 65% of Kenya’s soils are already classified as degraded.
“We must empower our smallholders with the data and tools to unlock their land’s potential,” said Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, who opened the summit. “Soil testing turned my farm’s fortunes from night to day. Too many farmers are still farming blind.”
Turning Data into Action
Soil degradation—driven by nutrient loss, increasing acidity, and decades of unsustainable farming practices—has become one of the continent’s most stubborn barriers to food security.
Experts at the summit warned that without urgent action, smallholders will continue to lose billions in potential yields each year.
But the mood at the event was anything but grim. From AI-powered testing kits to microbial “bio-blends” and mobile-based advisory systems, innovators pitched scalable, data-driven tools designed to restore soil health while boosting productivity and profitability.
Dr. Paul Kipronoh Ronoh, Principal Secretary for Agriculture, framed the crisis as a national security issue: “Soil health isn’t just about agriculture—it’s tied to our economic stability, our nutrition, and our future. Technology and data must drive the way forward.”
Pitching for the Planet
The highlight of the summit was the Data4SoilHealth and Soil Health Innovation Challenge pitch competitions, where 24 finalists presented disruptive solutions aimed at transforming fragmented soil data into actionable intelligence for farmers.
Ycenter Shambah Solutions, a Kenyan startup, took home top honors with its AI-powered mobile testing kit that delivers soil diagnostics in under 15 minutes.
Runners-up included local and international teams such as Antugrow (Kenya), Varaha Climate Ag (India), and Earth Guard (Kenya), each offering a novel take on soil mapping, carbon monitoring, and nutrient management.
In the innovation category, Umuntu Agrobiotics from Uganda impressed judges with a microbial blend that reportedly increases yields by 40% while slashing costs nearly in half.
Additional honors went to academic teams like Kibabii University (Kenya), which developed predictive AI models for soil degradation, and the University of Amsterdam, which applied advanced optimization techniques to fertilizer distribution.
Counties, Corporates, and Collaboration
The summit echoed a recurring theme: soil health is everybody’s business. From counties to corporates, speakers emphasized the need for public-private partnerships and better data integration to drive real impact at the farm level.
“Counties are not spectators—we are active players in the soil agenda,” said Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, Vice Chair of the Council of Governors. “Better soil means better yields, better income, and more resilient farmers.”
Anne Bakilana, World Bank’s Regional Manager for Operations, also underscored the need to unlock private sector investment: “We must leverage digital infrastructure to build smarter, more resilient food systems.”
Building on Past Commitments
The summit builds on momentum from last year’s Nairobi Declaration on Soil Health, signed during the 2024 Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit, and supports Kenya’s push to operationalize a national soil data system (KenSIS) and implement its Fertilizer and Soil Health Plan.
The event drew support from a coalition of partners including Microsoft, CGIAR, AGRA, GIZ, IFDC, and KALRO, among others.
Together, they pledged to continue investing in scalable solutions that link science, technology, and the grassroots realities of farming in Africa.
As the summit closed, Agriculture Secretary Collin Marangu issued a rallying cry: “By uniting data, innovation, and purpose, we can restore our soils and secure the livelihoods of millions. The time to act is now.”
