GAP Initiative at Virginia Tech

At the recent DC Symposium, our working groups engaged in dynamic discussions to engineer deliverable solutions for agricultural development in Africa. Key discussions and thought processes from the Producers and Consumers group include: 🔍 Understanding Fertilizer Ingredients: The group focused on better informing fertilizer consumers about ingredients, enabling more deliberate decisions for African soils and agricultural productivity. 🧪 Importance of Soil Testing: Emphasized soil testing to evaluate quality at the beginning of each growing season, making fertilizer usage and soil health more accessible and practical in Africa. 🤔 Role Definitions: Discussed whether farmers are consumers of fertilizers or producers of crops. Clear role definitions are crucial for developing relevant solutions throughout the supply chain for smallholder farmers. Through collaboration and leveraging each member's knowledge, each group provided valuable insights into enhancing agricultural productivity and soil health in Africa. Stay tuned for our highlights on the next group! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gsVhgBm4 #DCSymposium #IFDC #SustainableAgriculture #SoilHealth #FertilizerAwareness #AgInnovation GAP Initiative at Virginia Tech

According to the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2024-2033, by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD - OCDE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), India and Southeast Asian countries are projected to account for 31 percent of global consumption growth by 2033, driven by their growing urban population and increasing affluence.   These shifting consumption trends will require agricultural productivity to grow with them. The 2023 GAP Report notes a rise of total factor productivity growth in the South Asia region, noting that from 2011–2021, South Asia and China were the only world regions that experienced strong TFP growth (Figure 5). Strong TFP growth in South Asia (2.18 percent) was led by India and Pakistan (2.47 and 2.41 percent, respectively). Increasing productivity in South Asia has been linked mostly to technological change, including technology adoption, mechanization, labor reallocation, and adoption of information and communications technology (ICT) to disseminate information related to agriculture. “Well-functioning agricultural markets, reducing food loss and waste, and more productive and less polluting forms of production will remain critically important for global food security and to ensure rural livelihoods can and do benefit from global agrifood value chains,” said OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann.   The 2024 GAP Report will include a closer look at the contributing factors in the significant TFP growth in the South Asia region, allowing for greater insight as to how we may address slow agricultural productivity growth in other world regions as trends in global consumption shift. Register to attend the 2024 GAP Launch: https://lnkd.in/ePiMmUG6

Join the GAP Initiative at Virginia Tech, Virginia Cooperative Extension (Official), USDA-NRCS, American Farmland Trust, Smithsonian Institution, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and many other great organizations on July 31 for the VIRGINIA FORAGE AND GRASSLAND COUNCIL, INC. summer field day in Swoope, VA to discuss summer stockpiling- a conservation practice with potential to maintain and increase agricultural production. Register and learn more at https://vaforages.org!

Last week, we had the pleasure of participating in the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)'s 'Future Proofing: Unified Action for Soil Health and Food Security' Symposium. From the high-level keynote speakers, including USAID Administrator Samantha Power and USDA Under Secretary Chavonda Jacobs-Young, Ph.D., to the collaborative working groups, the event was a step in the right direction to create innovative, sustainable, and actionable solutions towards a more productive and food secure future. Our GAP research lead, Tebila N., led the symposium's Producers and Consumers working group, which identified the needs of farmers and consumers in regards to information, knowledge, and training on soil health. The democratization of information and knowledge was deemed essential for farmer success at all scales of production. All working group participants emphasized the need for a low-cost soil testing tool, coupled with training on managing soil health based on test results. Soil mapping was also noted as essential for arming farmers with information and knowledge to farmers, especially younger ones who aspire to invest in agriculture, as the lack of knowledge on soil health is a significant entry barrier.   Additionally, participants highlighted the importance of approaching soil health holistically and considering all critical inputs, not just fertilizer. Given the rising importance of soil health, the group determined that it should become a national agenda priority. This would include aligning national and continental priorities and raising the profile of soil health in the national political agenda through training farmers and farmers' organizations to advocate for this issue in national policy cycles. If you would like to join one of the working groups, email Vinay Menon at vmenon@ifdc.org. These groups are essential for developing actionable solutions to improving soil health and food security. Thank you to International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) for hosting this incredibly impactful event. We look forward to the next event in Amsterdam on Nov. 4.

Join us on October 3 for the launch of the 2024 GAP Report®! The 2024 GAP Report®, “Powering Productivity – Scaling High Impact Bundles of Proven & Emerging Tools”, builds on the foundations laid by the 2023 Report by considering how barriers to access and adoption of proven sustainable productivity-enhancing tools resulting from the enabling environment, behavioral factors, and external shows can be tackled by rethinking our approach to bundling innovations. Stay tuned for program and speaker announcements. Register today at https://lnkd.in/ePiMmUG6

The GAP Initiative is excited to welcome the African Agricultural Technology Foundation to the GAP Initiative! AATF is focused on creating a prosperous, resilient, and food and nutrition secure Africa by increasing farmer access to innovative agricultural technologies. As a technical partner, AATF will contribute their expertise in enabling environments and technology and seed development. Look out for their partner story in the 2024 GAP Report, launching on October 3!

Join The GAP Initiative and International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) at the DC Future Proofing: Unified Action for Soil Health and Food Security Symposium June 4 to capitalize on the momentum created by the Africa Union's Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan. The symposium is an opportunity to capture that enthusiasm, sustain the momentum of the summit, and offer a space to explore ideas as the AU mobilizes resources and communicates its next steps to a global audience.

We are thrilled to welcome NASDA - National Association of State Departments of Agriculture to the GAP Initiative. As a technical partner, NASDA will contribute their leadership and knowledge of productive, sustainable agriculture that is beneficial for all regions, people, and environments. NASDA's expertise in sustainable agricultural productivity will be featured in the 2024 GAP Report, but we were lucky to also have NASDA CEO, Ted McKinney, contribute to the 2023 GAP Report. Read his foreword below.

🌍 Happy Earth Day! 🌱 Agricultural productivity plays a vital role in building sustainable food systems. By enhancing efficiency and natural resource use, we not only boost production but also protect our environment. However, the widening gap in total factor productivity growth poses risks, such as loss of biodiversity and reliance on unsustainable farming practices. This affects communities, leading to malnutrition, poverty, and environmental damage. We must work together to bridge this gap and create a healthier, more productive and more sustainable future for all. #EarthDay #AgProductivity 🌾🌿

ERS Economist Keith Fuglie shares key findings from his latest report, World Agricultural Production, Resource Use, and Productivity, 1961–2020. Listen to his USDA Radio interview below to learn more.