Africa has the potential to become the farm of the world and eradicate the growing threat to food security, said OCP CEO Mostapha Terrab.
With the population growth the world is witnessing, ensuring global food security is no longer an option, “It is a global imperative,” Terrab explained in an article by blog published on the World Economic Forum website on the sidelines of this year’s Davos forum. .
Although Africa does indeed have the potential to feed the world, Terrab argued, it currently faces serious food security challenges.
“As a Moroccan company, we know that this challenge is particularly acute on our home continent,” said OCP’s CEO. “By 2050, Africa’s population is expected to nearly double. »
In light of the threat that population growth poses to food security, “accelerating the transition to sustainable and smarter agriculture” is now “more urgent” than ever, Terrab argued.
And while increasing agricultural yield may seem like a simple task, Terrab notes that the climate threat must also be considered. “Ensuring food security for all while protecting the planet for future generations is not an option. It is a global imperative.
Africa can be the farm of the world
Africa is currently home to 60% of the world’s remaining arable land, OCP’s CEO points out in the blog. The substantial volume of fertile soil “represents humanity’s best hope for future food security.
However, a number of challenges prevent Africa from reaching its potential. African farmers use only 20 kilograms of fertilizer per hectare, well below the global average, the OCP CEO noted.
“To maximize yields per acre, it is estimated that local farmers will need to increase their fertilizer application by regarding ten times,” he said. “Doing this in a sustainable way – without longer-term environmental damage – will be crucial. Not just for the continent, but also for the world.
In the blog, Terrab called on all stakeholders to take “corrective action” to mitigate the price shock in the food market and protect the world’s population from the bleak prospect of dwindling food supplies.
“Any long-term solution to global food security and sustainable agriculture starts with the soil. Soil health is not just regarding sustaining life beneath our feet. It makes all life above ground possible, from plants to people,” Terrab said, emphasizing the need to support farmers.
Bet on personalized fertilizers
He further highlighted the need to focus on soil health and promote the use of customized fertilizers to ensure “sustainable high yields”, saying the strategy is key to reducing the carbon footprint of agriculture. .
He added: “Healthier soil and improved biodiversity actively suck harmful carbon from the atmosphere, while maximizing yields per acre reduces global pressure to convert forests and grasslands to agriculture. »
In Africa, Terrab went on to explain that it is “very possible” to provide tailor-made fertilizers that meet the varying needs of different soils. He noted that farmers across the continents are already reaping the benefits of using advanced fertilizer technology.
“Mobile labs are already criss-crossing Africa collecting soil samples covering millions of hectares,” he said.
“With this data, farmers can map which plots of land need what kind of food and when. More efficient application of the right fertilizer – only what the soil and crop need and will use – reduces waste and runoff into ground and surface water.
In addition to reducing production costs while increasing yields, tailored fertilizers have a significant socio-economic impact as they help increase farmers’ incomes and might potentially lift entire families out of poverty.
Terrab concluded his blog post by emphasizing the need to accelerate the agricultural revolution through collective effort.
“There is still a lot of work to do,” he stressed. “But having a purpose isn’t just noble – it’s necessary. »