AfSIS data products may be used to develop recommendations for national and international policies for improving soil productivity. As these products become available, we anticipate that they can provide information on the prevalence of soil health related problems and recommendations for enhancing soil productivity for improved agricultural production. This information can help target soil management interventions and breeding programs, assess potential use of fertilizers, and organize input markets.

AfSIS offers formal training at MSc and PhD levels. Many national soil and agricultural laboratories have either closed or are deteriorating rapidly and admissions to soil science courses in African universities have fallen dramatically, even at the undergraduate level. Graduate student training supports skill development in soil health surveillance approaches, targeting national soil survey and relevant national agricultural research institutions and key African universities, in collaboration with AGRA.

AfSIS stakeholders met at the headquarters of the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) in Nairobi on June 3, 2009 to provide input into program activities. Among the topics discussed were soil fertility trials, agricultural extension, forage and seed systems, legacy data and data sharing, partnerships, and water policy. (Download the report).

We view human and institutional capacity strengthening as the key to building ownership of the project by national institutions and consequently ensuring sustainability of not only AfSIS, but also the science and technology behind it.