FARA Briefs
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Item Aflatoxin Control in Food and Feed: The Policy Options for Ghana(2020-05) Omari, R, Tetteh, E. K., Adams, A. & Baah-Tuahene, S., & Karbo, R. TItem Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan: 2024–2034(AUC, 2024-06) African Union CommissionThe Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan: 2024–2034 provides a continental framework for improving soil health, fertilizer access, affordability and efficiency, and sustainable agricultural productivity across Africa. Developed in the context of the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya, in May 2024, the Action Plan builds on previous continental commitments, including the 2006 Abuja Declaration, and responds to persistent challenges of soil degradation, nutrient depletion, low agricultural productivity, food insecurity, climate change and vulnerability to external fertilizer market shocks. The Action Plan adopts an integrated soil fertility management perspective that combines efficient mineral and organic fertilizers with improved seeds, water-use efficiency, sustainable soil management and other complementary interventions. Its overall goal is for African soils to become healthier and sustainably contribute to agricultural growth and environmental resilience. The framework is organised around four principal outcomes: strengthened policies, investment, finance and markets; improved access to and affordability of fertilizers; greater efficiency, resilience and sustainable use of fertilizer inputs alongside enhanced soil health interventions; and strengthened institutional and human capacity for sustainable soil health and fertilizer management.Item Agribusiness Learning Alliance (ABLA) toolkit: For business development in agriculture research for development(FARA, 2024) FARAThe toolkit explains how Agribusiness Learning Alliances build on innovation platforms to drive commercialization of agricultural research technologies, with emphasis on women, youth and persons with disability. It introduces agricultural innovation systems and the IP concept, then sets out the three steps for establishing an ABLA (connect, co-create, capacity). Further chapters cover business development services in agriculture; policy, regulation and standards; and operational guiding principles such as partnerships, multidisciplinary teams, and planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning. It closes with a checklist for planning interventions along a value chain node.Item CAADP Kampala Declaration(2025-05-05) African UnionKAMPALA CAADP DECLARATION ON BUILDING RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE AGRIFOOD SYSTEMS IN AFRICA; the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), meeting at an Extraordinary Summit in Kampala, Uganda, from 9 to 11 January 2025, reaffirm our commitment to the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP). We recognize the urgent need to renew our efforts to advance the development of resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agrifood systems in Africa.Item CAADP Strategy & Action Plan (2026 - 2035)(2025-05-05) African UnionItem Co-Design Mobile-Based Digital Solutions for Low External Input Systems(FARA, 2025-03-28) Maria J. Restrepo Rodriguez, Rufo Roba Halake, Brigitte Kaufmann, Aiveen Donnelly & Lilli ScheiterleCo-design is guided by principles emphasizing participation and inclusion. It capitalizes collaboration with users, involving frequent testing and feedback to iteratively refine digital solutions ensuring contextual relevance through immersion in local contexts. By fostering empowerment and trust, co-design enables users to shape solutions, building and ownership. Additionally, it supports adaptability to accommodate to end users´ needs, and finally aims to ensure scalability while retaining local relevance. This brief presents a co-design framework specifically for developing mobile-based digital solutions in low external inputs systems, with an emphasis on pasture-based livestock systems.Item Digital Connection for Farming Communities (Uganda)(AFAAS, 2025) AFAAS, UFAASThe brief reports a district policy dialogue and innovation platform needs assessment held in Luwero and Bugiri with civil servants, politicians, technical staff, farmers, farmer organizations and financial institutions. Participants reviewed national policies relevant to digital extension, including the National Strategy for Youth Employment (2017), the ICT Policy (2014), the MAAIF ICT strategy for agriculture (2019–2023) and Vision 2040, and found that they support the digital connectors model. Uptake of e-extension remains low because of the cost of devices, internet and electricity, poor rural networks, limited digital skills and weak collaboration between NGOs, government and research. Recommendations include capacity building for digital connectors and farmers, cheaper rural electricity, subsidized ICT devices and digitally accessed inputs, lower taxes on internet services, digital hubs and multi-stakeholder platforms.Item Eliminating the Health and Economic Effects of Aflatoxins: The Holistic Approach(FARA, 2020-04) Omari, R, Tetteh, E. K., Adams, A. & Baah-Tuahene, S.Item Enhancing climate adaptation through the digital connectors model for agricultural extension in Uganda(ASARECA, 2026-01) Okonya, Joshua Sikhu (ASARECA); BenBella, Bashir (AFAAS); Antwi, Kwaku Dei (FARA)Uganda's public extension worker-to-farmer ratio of about 1:1,800, against an FAO benchmark of 1:500, cannot support uptake of knowledge-intensive climate-smart technologies, innovations, management practices and services (TIMPS). Drawing on the AIRTEA DC4FC project, which trained nine youth digital connectors serving nearly 10,000 members of the ZAABTA (Luweero) and BAIDA (Bugiri) innovation platforms, the brief shows that face-to-face training combined with phones raises access to and demand for climate-smart TIMPS. A 5% commission from input companies sustains connectors' work with women and youth farmers. Barriers include low trust in pre-payment models, farmers' reluctance to pay for advice, and the lack of return-on-investment models for extension. Recommendations cover digital literacy, phone and connectivity costs, a shared digital content repository, ROI models, seed capital for youth agritech, tax incentives, and accreditation of digital connectors within MAAIF/UFAAS.Item Fake News and Misinformation on the Agriculture Sector(2022-04) Abugri B., Brandner A., Atsu P., Kabuya D., Mvubu B. and Waleling A.Item Foresight4Food Criteria to Assess High-Quality Food Systems Foresight in Africa(Foresight4Food, 2026-02-26) Foresight4Food, FARA, ECI OxfordThe Foresight4Food Criteria for High Quality Guide (February 2026) provides a structured framework outlining standards and benchmarks for defining, assessing, and ensuring high-quality outputs, processes, or initiatives under the Foresight4Food framework. The guide establishes clear criteria intended to promote consistency, rigor, transparency, and accountability. It serves as a reference tool for practitioners, reviewers, implementing partners, and institutional stakeholders seeking to align projects or interventions with recognized quality standards. The document articulates evaluative dimensions, operational guidance, and recommended indicators to support implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement.Item FOSTERING GENDER-RESPONSIVE INNOVATION ADOPTION AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN AFRICA(2024-03) Asimeng E.T, Asare-Nuamah P., Anaafo D., Beuchelt T., Donelly A., Abugri B.Item Harnessing multi-stakeholder innovation platforms for knowledge transfer and aquaculture value chain development in Uganda(Abi ZARDI, 2025) Abi Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Abi ZARDI), National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO)Aquaculture supplies 22% of Uganda's fish production but is held back by poor access to extension, inputs, post-harvest facilities and markets, and by disease and weak value-chain coordination. The project surveyed aquaculture stakeholders across Uganda's nine agro-ecological zones and set up nine zonal innovation platforms and one national platform linking farmers, hatchery operators, traders, extension workers, researchers, input suppliers, local leaders and financial institutions. Farmers ranked high feed cost and poor feed quality as their main constraint; extension officers cited under-funding, and financial institutions cited poor farm records. The brief recommends standardized record-keeping tools promoted by MAAIF, public–private partnerships for extension and research, training on quality feed and fingerling production (including black soldier fly as a fishmeal substitute), and farmer awareness through extension and social networks.Item Item Item Knowledge Management (KM) Awareness(FARA, 2022-04) Abugri B., Brandner A., Atsu P., Kabuya D., Mvubu B. and Waleling A.Item Letter of Agreement between the African Union Soil Observatory (AUSO) Horizon Europe Project and the Soil Health Monitoring and Information Systems for Sustainable Soil Management in the Mediterranean Region (SOILS4MED) PRIMA Project(FARA, 2026-05) FARA, AUSO, Soils4Med, UNISS, EUThis Letter of Agreement (LoA) formalizes collaboration between the African Union Soil Observatory (AUSO) Horizon Europe Project and the SOILS4MED PRIMA Project on knowledge exchange, soil health monitoring, soil information systems, sustainable land management, and capacity building. The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation between African and Mediterranean institutions working to improve soil health governance, food security, and climate resilience. The agreement outlines areas of collaboration including joint research initiatives, exchange of scientific information, organization of conferences and training programs, strengthening National Soil Information Systems (NSIS) in Africa, policy engagement, and development of soil health indicators and monitoring methodologies. The LoA further defines mechanisms for intellectual property management, collaborative agreements, data sharing, acknowledgment procedures, confidentiality requirements, and governance arrangements supporting long-term cooperation between the two projects. Annex I provides a detailed framework governing background intellectual property, access rights, use conditions, and acknowledgment requirements for datasets, methodologies, soil information system architectures, mapping tools, and training materials exchanged under the collaboration.Item Organizational Knowledge Management Professionalization(FARA, 2022-04) Abugri B., Brandner A., Asiimwe E., Baijang L., Bappa M., Arunga P., and Abdulai Z.Item Promoting Climate-Smart Agricultural (CSA) Technologies for the Socio-economic Transformation of Smallholder Farmers through Commercial Circular Dairy Farming and Agribusiness in Uganda(FARA, 2025-04-28) Ssemwanga Mohammed, Nakiguli Fatumah, Kigozi Abasi, Zziwa Emmanuel, Nkumba AshrafUganda’s dairy sector can drive sustainable growth by integrating digital tools, climate-smart technologies, and zero-waste practices. As Africa faces the challenge of feeding 2 billion people by 2050, prioritizing innovative and inclusive agribusiness models is essential. Empowering women and youth with skills, resources, and market access fosters equity and drives innovation across value chains. Investments in climate-resilient technologies, such as drought-tolerant forage varieties, solar-powered irrigation, and agroforestry practices, are critical to mitigating climate risks and enhancing productivity. Expanding biogas production and recycling agricultural waste supports energy security while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation. Strengthened value chain coordination and improved digital infrastructure will ensure better market access and equitable opportunities for smallholder farmers. Aligning these efforts with national policies ensures long-term impact. Engaging stakeholders in policy development and implementation promotes ownership, driving the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.