APNI Reinforces Soil Health in One Health Strategies at CGIAR Science Week

The African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI) was delighted to be a part of the first 2025 CGIAR Science Week, which brought together global experts, researchers, and stakeholders at the intersection of agriculture, health, and environmental sustainability.

Dr. Shamie Zingore, Director of R&D and Dr. Esther Mugi, Associate Scientist, represented APNI at a high-level side event, One Health Horizons: Catalyzing Collaborations, Innovations, and Policies for Improving Global Health and Food Security. This was an important opportunity for experts to reflect on how the One Health approach—a holistic model that embodies the interconnection of human, animal, and environmental health—can strengthen research, innovation, partnerships, and policy in the agricultural and related sectors. It also provided a venue for discussions on what research institutions, governments, civil society, and the private sector can do in partnership to create healthier, more resilient food systems in the context of global challenges such as climate change, pandemics, land degradation, and population growth.

Integrating Soil Health into the One Health Agenda

APNI’s involvement elevated soil health as an important but frequently overlooked component in the One Health paradigm. Dr. Zingore emphasized how investments in soil health and integrated plant nutrition approaches can yield more rapid progress toward the broader goals of One Health, particularly in rural African communities that predominantly rely on agriculture to meet their nutritional needs and livelihoods. Dr. Mugi, highlighted the need to work towards inclusive, interdisciplinary One Health spaces where its diverse actors can develop collaborative and co-designed solutions. She underscored the need for localized, context-driven responses and the need for investment in domestic capacity to address the challenges facing communities across Africa.

“Make no mistake: healthy soils are the foundation of sustainable agriculture, with implications for food production, water quality, biodiversity, and climate regulation. For that reason, APNI argues that soil health should be treated not only as another agricultural issue, but as fundamental for One Health.” – Dr. Esther Mugi, APNI Associate Scientist.

A Call for Collaborative Action and Systems Thinking

The One Health Horizons session also addressed the structural changes needed for a more effective and inclusive One Health approach. Noting that the necessary integration among sectors—especially human health, soil health, plant health, animal health, and environmental health—will demand not only more forceful partnerships but also better data, innovation pipelines, and policy alignment. Participants emphasized that these R&D spheres need to work much more closely through:

· Robust evidence generation that will guide cross-sectoral interventions.

· Integrated Policy frameworks that align with One Health development.

· Strategic communication to ensure research findings influence practice and governance.

· Capacity building inclusive of farmers, extension workers, researchers, and policymakers.

· Community centered approaches that put One Health in real-world conditions and needs.

Panelists and participants alike reflected on how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities and weaknesses of global systems and reiterated the urgent need to implement more comprehensive approaches such as One Health. The disruptions it wrought, both health-related and economic, underscored the urgency of understanding how the collapse of one system can resonate through others.

APNI’s Commitment to a Resilient, Food-Secure Future

APNI’s engagement at CGIAR Science Week further reaffirmed our commitment to advancing transformative knowledge and innovation in plant nutrition towards productive farming systems that enhance not just human but also ecological health. APNI remains engaged throughout Africa to elevate soil fertility management, nutrient stewardship, and the use of evidence-based agricultural practices as the cornerstone of food systems transformation.

APNI firmly believes that human health, climate resilience, and sustainable food production are all intertwined. Progress in one area should support advancements in the others. Through collaborative discussions like the One Health Horizons meeting, APNI is shaping the future of agriculture in Africa, where policy engagements, grassroot participation, and scientific excellence come together to create a lasting impact. As the world moves towards more integrated solutions for health, food, and the environment, APNI will keep advocating for soil health as the foundation of a truly sustainable and resilient future for the continent.