Africa’s food future on the line as COP30 targets soil and youth empowerment
As world leaders gather in Belém, African farmers and youth push for real climate finance, soil restoration, and jobs that can turn promises into progress.
Farmers and young people are taking centre stage at this year’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, where global leaders are being urged to move from promises to practical action.
With agriculture on the frontlines of the climate crisis, discussions are focusing on protecting soil health, creating jobs, and strengthening food system resilience across Africa and other developing regions.
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Years of land degradation have reduced yields and undermined smallholder resilience. According to the Africa Food Systems Report 2025, nearly 65 per cent of Africa’s productive land is degraded — a threat to both food security and livelihoods.
The renewed focus on soil health at COP30 reflects growing recognition that restoring degraded land is key to securing future food supplies and driving economic recovery for millions of rural households.
The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is among the leading voices championing this agenda. The organisation is calling for a “farmer-first breakthrough” that places soil health and food systems at the heart of climate action.
Shaping the future
“Africa’s farmers are not waiting for the future; they are shaping it,” said Alice Ruhweza, president of AGRA.
“A farmer-first climate breakthrough means turning promises into progress, converting finance into resilience, and transforming ambition into action where it matters most, on farms.”
AGRA is urging governments and development partners to translate climate pledges into tangible financing and policy measures that enhance smallholder resilience and unlock growth across food economies.
Youth empowerment is another cornerstone of AGRA’s COP30 message. The organisation’s youth agenda emphasises skills development, enterprise financing, and procurement opportunities to engage young Africans in high-value roles in processing, logistics, and agricultural input distribution.
AGRA is pushing for measurable progress on youth employment indicators and expanded financing for agri-SMEs that can retain young talent and drive innovation in rural areas.
Belém declaration
This focus aligns with the newly adopted Belém Declaration on Hunger, Poverty, and Human-Centred Climate Action, endorsed by 43 countries and the European Union.
The declaration underscores that climate action and social justice must go hand in hand, calling for climate finance to support those most vulnerable to climate shocks.
It also advocates for climate-responsive social protection, smallholder insurance, and livelihood programs to build long-term resilience.
“Resilience is built when the right policies, finance, and technical solutions meet at the farm level,” said Tilahun Amede, AGRA’s Director for Sustainable Farming, Climate Adaptation, and Resilience.
“At COP30, together with partners, we aim to show how soil health, water management, inclusive finance, and stronger value chains can turn climate ambition into practical results for farmers — for short-term gains and longer-term resilience.”
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