DIGITAL FORUM

Transforming food systems from the bottom up: Social innovations for soil restoration

This digital forum is hosted by:

Funded by:

WHERE

Online

WHEN

15 July 2022, 9:00–11:00 GMT

SOCIAL

#EnablingSustainability

Transforming food systems from the bottom up: Social innovations for soil restoration

In this webinar, speakers from Benin, Kenya, and Burkina Faso will present how social innovations for soil restoration were developed at the community level and the changes they have brought about. This will be followed by an expert panel that will reflect on the opportunities and challenges of bringing such innovations to scale.

The transition to inclusive, climate-resilient and crisis-proof agri-food systems is an enormous task that requires innovation.

The One World, No Hunger (EWOH) initiative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has opened a space for transformation and innovation through collective efforts, vast investments and mutual learning across a broad partner network.

Given the central role of soils in the transformation of agri-food systems, one of the initiative’s core programs is Soil Protection and Rehabilitation for Food Security (ProSoil). Soils are more than a means of production. They are the largest carbon sink on land, host a quarter of the world’s biodiversity and play a key role in water purification, nutrient cycling, and many other functions.

Social innovations for soil restoration

Implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, ProSoil seeks to restore and protect over 2 million hectares in six African countries and India by 2025. However, a major challenge facing such programs is the long-term adoption of sustainable land management (SLM) practices. When program support ends, farmers often stop applying the promoted technologies.

Against this backdrop, the EWOH places accompanying research at the heart of its approach to development cooperation, led by TMG Research, a think tank based in Berlin. The research project served as a platform and breeding ground for innovation through social ‘experimentation’ around alternative ways to implement solutions. TMG, GIZ and local partners developed and piloted social innovations in Kenya, Benin, and Burkina Faso to address socio-cultural and governance barriers to SLM technology adoption. Developed in multi-stakeholder settings, the innovations address issues of land tenure security and farmer-to-farmer knowledge transfer. As locally adapted and socially legitimate solutions, they create a strong enabling environment for farmers to implement SLM measures on a broad, long-term scale.

Agenda

9:00–9:10

Opening welcome

Moderator:
9:10–9:20

GIZ Global Soil Programme

This session will present the GIZ global programme on “Soil Protection and Restoration for Food Security”, an initiative that has already protected or rehabilitated over 483,000 hectares of land and that benefits over 1.3 million people. The session will also highlight the role of soils in the transformation of our agri-food systems.

Speaker:
  • Head of Programme
    Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
9:20–9:30

Introduction to social innovations for soil restoration

This session will introduce the topic of social innovations, and how these can become alternative approaches to address local governance gaps that prevent smallholders from investing in soil restoration.

Speakers:
9:30–9:40

Q&A

9:40–10:10

Presentations Benin, Burkina Faso, Kenya

Speakers from Benin, Burkina Faso and Kenya will share their experiences in developing locally developed social innovations to improve soil restoration. The innovations cover topics of land tenure security and farmer-to-farmer knowledge transfer.

Speakers:
10:10–10:25

Q&A

10:25–10:50

Panel discussion: reflection on presentations and Q&A from audience

Experts representing the government, donor and UN organizations will reflect on the previous presentations and discuss how locally developed solutions to soil restoration can be upscaled.

Speakers:
  • Policy Officer
    UNCCD Secretariat
  • Ministry of Living Environment and Sustainable Development
    Benin
  • Flora Ajwera
    Agricultural Advisor
    Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
10:50–10:55

Food system transformation from the bottom-up: Reflections

Speaker:
10:55–11:00

Closing remarks

Speaker:

RELATED RESOURCES

EXPLORE GLOBAL SOIL RESTORATION INITIATIVES

Speakers

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Contacts

GENERAL INQUIRIES

Larissa Stiem-Bhatia

Programme Lead – Nature-based Solutions, TMG Research

Larissa.Stiem-Bhatiatmg-thinktank[dot]com

NETWORKING & PARTNERSHIPS

Nina Haase

Engagement and Growth Coordinator

n.haasecgiar[dot]org