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Betty Kibaara
Director, Rockfeller Foundation
Betty Kibaara is a Director in the Food Initiative at The Rockefeller Foundation's Africa Regional Office.123 She leads the Foundation's investments in transforming food systems, focusing on several key areas:
- Increasing access to nutritious foods through school feeding programs and institutional procurement13
- Advancing investments in regenerative agriculture, including the development of frass fertilizers from insects like the black soldier fly3
- Implementing the Smart Food Markets of the Future workstream, prioritizing public health, food safety, and circular economy principles2
- Leading the YieldWise Initiative to reduce food loss in various value chains, including maize, mangoes, cassava, and tomatoes12
Betty serves as the regional champion for the Foundation's initiatives in strengthening food security, agribusiness, and building resilience to climate change effects.12 She is passionate about transforming agriculture in Africa.4
Education and Background
- Master of Science in Agricultural and Resource Economics from Colorado State University, USA123
- Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management from Egerton University, Kenya123
- Prior to joining the Rockefeller Foundation in 2009, she worked as a Research Fellow at the Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development, Egerton University1
Betty Kibaara firmly believes that "there is no food system transformation without transformation of the fresh produce markets in Africa".1
Highlights
In 2006, Heads of States and AUC endorses the Abuja Declaration on Fertilizer setting a target of 50kg/ha against a baseline use of 8kg/ha.
This week, over 4,000 stakeholders and Heads of State participated at the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Summit #AFSH to assess progress made, learn from successul cases and review the AFSH Action Plan, Soil Iniative for Africa and endorse the Nairobi Fertlizer and Soil Health Declaration.
The theme "Listen to the Land" was enlightening and there was a unanimous agreement that organic fertilizers play key role in improving soil health but organics cannot work alone and therefore must continue to support both inorganic and organic Fertilizers. Beyond fertilizers, we must rebuild our soils using other regenerative household and landscape level interventions/ activities.
Key Take Aways
Inorganic Fertilizer use in Africa has increased from 8kg/Ha (2006) to 18kg/ha
#10 countries have exceeded the 50kg target that was set in Abuja. These countries include Morocco, Eswatini, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, SA, Mauritania, Seychells. #Africa looses 40 to 60kg of soil nutrient/Ha/ year equivalent to $9M #Ethiopia is way ahead on regenerative agriculture having restored 28M ha using community based soil and water management #community vermicomposting centers. #Ghana has included organic fert in its fertilizer subsidy program. #Malawi has an action plan for soil health #Kenya launched its soil health policy #Namibia to generate 3MT of Green Ammonia
A few highlights from Nairobi Declaration
#Tripple organic and inorganic fert by 2024
#Strengthen the Africa Center for Fertilizer Development
#Support SMEs on organic and inorganic fert
#Standardize tools for assessing soil fertility
#Restore degraded land by 30%
#Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM) to include organics
#Tertiary training programs to include subjects on sustainale soil management
#leverage decentralized, low carbon and circular organic fertilizer. A WIN FOR FRASS FERTILIZER Roy Steiner TANGA MBI
#Soil health monitoring system to align with Caadp M&E system.
I left the summit with alot of optimism that 10 years down the line, the impacts of the implementation of the Nairobi Declaration will be felt and seen through increased food security and land regenerated. We appreciate all that came to The Rockefeller Foundation Side event, those that engaged with us at the RF mini convening space for the cricket cake tasting courtesy of InsectiPro Talash Huijbers and #BSF farm in a- box courtesy of TANGA MBI. All the interactions and networks are appreciate.
However, there are still key questions that will need to be answered such as pathways to scale organic innovations, financing for regenerative transitions, quality control etc
Lets Listen to the Land.
#AFSHsummit #Listentotheland #organic fertilizers #sustainablefarming
Sara Farley Victor Kairu Dorcas Asianut Yvonne Amoit Federico Bellone Elmorine Nkirote Prof Alex O. Awiti Mwangi Murigi
Here comes an opportunity to join The Rockefeller Foundation Food team as an intern. We look forward to yet another opportunity to mentor a food system professional and contribute to capacity building in Africa. https://lnkd.in/d4Pd_Tkj
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