Agroecological Breakthroughs Boost Soil Health and Deliver Cleaner Air

Across much of sub-Saharan Africa, soil degradation is driving declines in agricultural productivity. After each harvest, crop residue is commonly burned to quickly clear fields and reduce pests; however, these fires release harmful gases and particulates—including black carbon, methane, and nitrous oxide—worsening air quality across the region. At the same time, residue burning, combined with excessive chemical inputs and poor waste management, has significantly reduced soil fertility and lowered crop yields. In Ghana, for example, more than 65 per cent of cultivated land now shows declining fertility. 

These practices also have a profound human cost: the World Health Organization estimates that household and ambient air pollution cause over 800,000 premature deaths each year in Africa, much of it linked to the burning of vegetation. At the same time, continuous fertilizer use without organic matter replenishment depletes soil structure, reducing water retention and nutrient balance. 

Despite the well-known risks, farmers have few viable alternatives. Composting is slow and labour-intensive; mechanized waste recycling is cost prohibitive, especially as the costs of agricultural inputs rise; and access to climate-smart technologies is limited. Policy measures discouraging open burning have had little effect without practical, profitable substitutes for farmers. As a result, open burning, declining soil fertility, and poverty reinforce one another in a cycle that threatens long-term food and climate security. These trends are only slated to intensify as population growth and food demand intensify.  

Turning crop residue into a soil-strengthening resource

Efforts to improve soil management and reduce agricultural emissions have often been fragmented or limited to short-term pilot projects. Many have focused narrowly on fertilizer efficiency or residue composting without integrating broader agroecological principles.  

Scaling agroecology innovations 

The next phase of the project focuses on expanding the soil regeneration system to reach more beneficiaries. In collaboration with Ghana’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), the CCAC, and regional partners, discussions are underway to establish a West African Centre of Excellence for Clean Air at the Multicultural Technology Park (MTP), wheresoil the soil regeneration system is based. The Park serves as a living laboratory, bringing together scientists, farmers, students, and entrepreneurs to design, test, and scale agroecological technologies. It also hosts a range of complementary innovations, including a biogas digester, rice–duck–fish symbiotic systems, and integrated livestock–crop plots. Building on this foundation, the Centre of Excellence will provide training, policy coordination, regional convenings, and data sharing on mitigating super pollutants in agriculture and waste management. ACE4ES is also laying the groundwork for broader regional impact through the AgNexus Initiative, which aims to establish interconnected hubs across Ghana, Benin, Niger, and Nigeria to test agroecological innovations under real-world conditions and advance national clean air and climate goals. 

If sustained, these efforts could transform the landscape of West African farming—replacing smoke-filled skies with fertile soils, productive farms, and healthier communities.