Tropical forages in Africa: an integrated solution for soil carbon storage, livestock productivity, and improved rural livelihoods
In East Africa, particularly in Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania, scientific teams are conducting research aimed at identifying tropical forage species with the potential to improve animal nutrition, increase soil carbon sequestration, and enhance agricultural productivity. These initiatives seek to support smallholder farmers’ adaptation to climate change and contribute to the development of more sustainable farming systems.
- Africa
- Climate Resilience
- crops
Tropical forages in Africa: an integrated solution for soil carbon storage, livestock productivity, and improved rural livelihoods
In East Africa, particularly in Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania, scientific teams are conducting research aimed at identifying tropical forage species with the potential to improve animal nutrition, increase soil carbon sequestration, and enhance agricultural productivity. These initiatives seek to support smallholder farmers’ adaptation to climate change and contribute to the development of more sustainable farming systems.
The work is also connected to broader research efforts in Southern Africa, including Zambia and Malawi, and in West Africa, particularly Senegal, Ghana, and Mali, where researchers are exploring how tropical forages can strengthen crop-livestock systems under different agroecological conditions.
In many parts of Africa, families depend on integrated crop-livestock systems for income generation and food security, making soil quality and forage availability critical factors. However, increasing drought frequency, greater variability in rainfall patterns, and land degradation have intensified the need for solutions that simultaneously address productivity, resilience, and sustainability.