Why Soil Still Matters: Regenerating Soils, Transforming Livelihoods

In an era of digital agriculture, artificial intelligence, and drone-enabled precision farming, it's easy to overlook the most fundamental asset beneath our feet: soil. Yet, soil remains the silent cornerstone of food systems resilience, ecological regeneration, and farmer prosperity. As someone who has spent the past seven years immersed in regenerative agriculture and agribusiness innovation, I am constantly reminded that sustainable transformation begins in the soil.

In Rwanda, for instance, over 40% of the soil is degraded and three-quarters is acidic (Government’s State of Environment Report, 2015). This means even with good rainfall and improved inputs, yields remain low, and fertilizers become less effective. When soil is sick, the entire food system suffers—leading to erosion, food insecurity, malnutrition, and poverty cycles that are hard to break.

As climate change accelerates, so does the urgency to rebuild our soils. Healthy soils store carbon, hold more water, and foster biodiversity—all essential traits in adapting to erratic weather patterns and protecting vulnerable smallholder farmers.

Soil health is more than a productivity factor; it is a climate solution, a nutrient reservoir, and a platform for inclusive rural development. At AGRIRESEARCH UNGUKA Ltd, where I served as Director of Research and Innovation, our flagship Agricultural Green Research and Innovation Park Initiative (AGRIPI) placed soil regeneration at the heart of our work. Whether piloting liquid bio-fertilizers or testing compost-based amendment strategies, our mission was clear: regenerate soil to regenerate livelihoods. In pilot areas where compost-based amendments and liquid fertilizers were introduced under AGRIPI, we recorded up to a 30% increase in vegetable yields and improved soil organic matter within three seasons.

This work has gained momentum through collective action. As Co-Lead of the Research Working Group within the Regenerative and Conservation Agriculture (RCA) Coalition, I have had the privilege of witnessing a national movement. Co-chaired by the World Food Program (WFP) and SNV, RCA unites 26 stakeholders around one goal: helping Rwanda transition to sustainable agriculture. From participatory farmer trials to national research dialogues, the coalition has positioned soil health as a shared responsibility and a strategic national priority. Watch the First National Symposium on Conservation Agriculture: Aiming for a Nationwide Adoption

Indeed, this aligns with Rwanda's PSTA 5 (Fifth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation), which emphasizes integrated soil fertility management, regenerative practices, and climate-smart inputs. PSTA 5 calls for land management systems that both protect against degradation and enhance long-term productivity. This is not merely a policy ambition—it is a practical roadmap for securing our food future.

If we want to feed growing populations, build resilience to climate shocks, and restore ecosystems, we must start by treating soil not as an input, but as an investment. An investment in dignity, sustainability, and sovereignty.

As we continue this journey, I call on fellow practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to double down on soil-centered strategies. Because when the soil thrives, everything above it stands a better chance.

Writen by Samuel Nsengiyumva – Agricultural Researcher, Former Director of Research and Innovation at AGRIRESEARCH UNGUKA Ltd, and Co-Lead of the Regenerative and Conservation Agriculture (RCA) Coalition, Research Working Group. LinkedIn