Highlights: 

This study focuses on the potential of off-farm production and marketing of organic and biofertilisers (OFBF) to contribute to soil health in Africa, and particularly in SSA: Egypt (Northern Africa); Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal (Western and Central Africa); Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda (Eastern Africa); and Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe (Southern Africa).

The study specifically aims to address the current lack of information regarding the off-farm production, marketing and use of OFBF involving actors such as farmers’ organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

This study also aims to contribute to the policy dialogue at continental, regional and country level by providing evidence for policy makers to identify potential investments in Africa to improve soil health through the production and use of OFBF. 

Key messages: 

1. Organic and biofertilisers (OFBF) demonstrate strong potential in addressing soil fertility, enhancing crop yields and contributing to the nutrient cycle in Africa. The rise of organic agriculture partly explains the increase in commercial OFBF production, marketing and demand in some countries, in particular Egypt and South Africa.

2. To unlock Africa’s potential for soil health and agricultural productivity, a holistic approach is crucial. Such a systems approach emphasises an integrated fertiliser strategy, with soil health as its central goal. This includes conducive land tenure policies, encouraging long-term farmer investments in soil health. 

3. Meaningful support for local and national initiatives on OFBF must be scaled. This requires a comprehensive cross-sector policy framework, including green waste collection, waste processing and distribution, quality assurance and on-farm application. Alignment with continental and regional policies (e.g. CAADP, Ecological Organic Agriculture Initiative or the new Soil Initiative for Africa) is essential. Policy efforts should support privatesector initiatives with sustainable access to finance, minimise bureaucracy for product approval processes and enforce quality standards for OFBF.

4. Recycling organic waste can potentially cover 20-40% of an agricultural system’s nutrient requirements. Primary sources of organic waste include biomass from agricultural processing, households and human excreta. Currently, organic waste streams are underutilised. Earlystage waste separation is crucial to make household waste-based organic fertiliser production economically feasible and enhance the quality of organic fertilisers. 

5. Waste-based organic fertiliser can yield various positive environmental impacts. These encompass mitigating soil and water contamination, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from landfills, increasing soil humus and nutrient content, improving nutrient availability and water holding capacity for soils, elevating the water table and positively influencing climate change mitigation. Resource recovery and reuse projects demonstrate heightened economic viability when external environmental and human health costs are internalised and positive effects are accounted for. 

6. Successful organic fertiliser businesses hinge on a multistakeholder approach to value chain development. The absence of viable business plans specifically targeting the use of organic waste for the reuse and recycling market is often a key factor leading to failure, particularly when the primary focus is solely on diverting waste from landfills to reduce waste volumes without considering market demands of processors of (organic) waste. Investments across the value chain are needed, including technological advancements in waste separation and collection, processing, quality control and efficient distribution systems. 

7. Biofertilisers can stimulate soil microbial activity or reinforce plant defence mechanisms. Rhizobia have the potential to enhance nitrogen fixation in grain and forage legumes but require further development for optimal utilisation, including adaptation to acidic soils. Fungal-based biofertilisers are mostly in research stages, calling for a wider exploration of practical applications. Biofertilisers face challenges, such as sensitivity to factors like temperature, humidity and contamination, throughout production, storage, transport and application.

8. Research on OFBF and soil amendments, including biochar and liming, is recommended to establish an evidence base on product efficacy. Biochar holds promise as a soil amendment, especially for acidic soils. Thorough analysis of nutrient and carbon content, along with microbiological characteristics, will assist in developing robust standards for OFBF products.

9. Waste management regulations exist in almost all case study countries. In some countries, a regulatory framework for OFBF exists and others also have standards for OFBF. However, the subsequent application and enforcement of these regulations is lacking. Establishing policies that ensure quality control and hygiene, with standards, regulations and certification mechanisms, is crucial for OFBF. 

10. Subsidies and incentives throughout the OFBF value chain, including tax reduction for technologies, can boost technology investment, improve production and support market development, contributing to sustainable land use and food production strategies.