The illusion of "green" fertilisers: why Africa needs agroecology for sustainable soil health

The African Soil Health and Fertilizer Summit (ASHF) held in Nairobi last May highlighted the urgent need to halt soil degradation as part of the fight against hunger. It emphasised for the first time the importance of prioritising soil health over the simplistic increase of fertiliser use.

However, the summit's proposal to triple the production of synthetic and organic fertilisers by 2034 risks undermining its own soil health goals. Among the proposed solutions, green hydrogen-based synthetic nitrogen fertilisers are being promoted as a cleaner alternative to fossil-based options. Yet, these so-called "green" fertilisers may perpetuate the very problems they claim to solve.

The root of the problem: industrial agriculture's legacy
 

For years, organisations like AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa) and industrial players like YARA have pushed African governments towards an input-intensive agricultural model hinged on expensive subsidies. This approach has led to degraded soils, increased dependency on costly inputs and mounting farmer debts, all while failing to address the root causes of hunger. A 2020 study highlighted the shortcomings of AGRA’s promises, revealing its failure to achieve sustainable food security, and a more recent study confirms the failures of AGRA’s projects.

The ASHF’s recognition of soil health as a priority is a welcome shift. However, its Action Plan and Nairobi Declaration could also lead to “business as usual”, promoting industrial agriculture under a different guise. Green hydrogen-based synthetic fertilisers are a case in point of the Action Plan’s ambiguity.

Why "green" fertilisers are not the solution
 

While green hydrogen fertilisers produce fewer emissions during manufacturing, their high costs and on-farm impacts mirror those of fossil-based fertilisers. They continue to exacerbate soil degradation, contribute to water contamination and keep smallholder farmers dependent on expensive inputs. Supporting the continued use of such inputs reinforces the industrial model, merely decarbonising the synthetic fertiliser production process without improving the overall sustainability of food production. This delays the adoption of long-term solutions like agroecology, which prioritise soil health and biodiversity. The high investment costs required to establish green hydrogen infrastructure further emphasise that this approach does not address the fundamental need for more sustainable agricultural practices.

In addition, zero hunger will not be achieved by tripling synthetic fertiliser use – whether fossil- or green hydrogen-based. Hunger is a multifaceted issue exacerbated by inequalities that cannot be solved by simply increasing yields. Soils and people require context-specific, holistic solutions. Agroecology, which integrates ecological, cultural, and social factors, offers a sustainable path forward by restoring degraded soils and promoting food sovereignty.

Civil society's call for agroecological transformation
 

Civil society organisations in Kenya and beyond – including Germany’s Forum Environment and Development, represented by Silke Bollmohr –advocate for transforming agriculture by empowering small-scale farmers and reducing reliance on synthetic inputs. Rather than focusing on synthetic nitrogen fertilisers and replacing the fossil-based ones with green hydrogen alternatives, they call for agroecological approaches that restore soil health, reduce erosion, build resilience and enhance water retention – recognising the relation of soil health to organic matter, biodiversity and ecosystem balance.

Agroecology for sustainable soil health – a way forward
 

African governments should prioritise authentic soil health initiatives rooted in agroecology, as exemplified by Murang’a County, which has already demonstrated its dedication by launching a first-of-its-kind Agroecology Policy. This approach requires moving away from industrial agriculture and fostering resilient, equitable food systems centred on soil health, minimal external inputs and nutrition.

The German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) plays a key role in supporting this shift. BMZ’s current programmes prioritise already soil health and agroecology, but this support must be expanded and guided by a cohesive policy framework that integrates soil health and agroecology. Similarly, the upcoming Africa Strategy by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) should clearly direct efforts towards agroecology and away from expensive, unsustainable external synthetic nitrogen fertiliser.

The illusion of "green" fertilisers must not overshadow the urgent need for agroecology. Only by breaking free from input-dependent models and supporting the growth of biofertiliser and biopesticides through research can Africa chart a path toward a truly sustainable agricultural future.

Authors:

Silke Bollmohr, INKOTA-netzwerk, Germany

Emma Beelen, Aktion gegen den Hunger, Germany

Stig Tanzmann, Brot für die Welt, Germany

Anne Maina, BIBA Kenya

Rosinah Mbenya, PELUM Kenya

Evans Muswahili, LRFSN Kenya

More information:

Link to discussion paper: “Green” synthetic fertilisers: solution for soil, climate, water and communities or a dead end?"

Link to study: “Déjà Vu: The development approach of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) fails again”