From fragmented data to shared intelligence: Soil information in Africa

Soil constitutes one of Africa’s most vital natural resources, underpinning food production, ecosystem resilience, and the livelihoods of millions of people. Ongoing digital transformation offers unprecedented opportunities to rethink how soil information is generated, managed, and shared.

Yet a paradox characterises Africa's soil information landscape: a wealth of historical data exists alongside a critical absence of integrated, FAIR data necessary to address challenges such as food security and climate resilience. Fragmented, project-based efforts have resulted in siloed and noninteroperable datasets, limiting scientific progress, and undermining evidence-based policymaking.

A recent paper titled "From Fragmented Data to Shared Intelligence: A Research Agenda for Soil Information in Africa", published in the European Journal of Soil Science, argues that this paradox cannot be resolved through piecemeal, project-based efforts. Authored by members of the Africa Soil Information Community of Practice for Soil Information Providers, facilitated by ISRIC, the paper calls for a coordinated, community-driven approach to soil information management. The authors propose a comprehensive research agenda structured around 10 interconnected pathways to guide the creation of a sustainable African Soil Information System. These pathways address legacy data rescue, data standards, federated infrastructure, capacity development, and long-term governance.

To translate this vision into action, the paper sets out five strategic recommendations:

Establishing a continental governance framework.
Empowering national institutes as primary data stewards.
Investing in a Pan-African network of people and practice.
Adopting a demand-driven innovation model.
Develop a diversified and sustainable financing model.

From fragmented data to shared intelligence: Soil information in Africa

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