The agricultural sector remains the backbone of many African economies, with over 60% of the population dependent on farming for their livelihoods. Yet, smallholder farmers often struggle with limited access to critical resources and information, hindering their ability to scale operations and contribute to food security. With the advent of technology, there’s a transformative shift underway—one that blends tradition with innovation to empower these farmers.
Project Overview
At the heart of this transformation is Farmz2U, an infrastructure startup dedicated to enabling smallholder farmers in Africa to operate on a commercial scale. By providing farmers with both access to information and resources, Farmz2U bridges the gap between traditional farming methods and modern agricultural practices, fostering growth in local farm production.
As part of a broader effort to ensure that these advancements are sustainable, I contributed to the development of a comprehensive sustainability report for Farmz2U as a Sustainability Research Analyst at The AR Initiative, with a specific focus on soil health—an often overlooked but critical component of sustainable farming. Leveraging the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, I designed a series of tailored disclosure questions to gather essential data on soil health in Nigeria’s agric-tech landscape.
These questions were meticulously crafted to draw out the metrics needed to monitor and report on the health of soils in the regions where Farmz2U operates. My research was grounded in the unique challenges and opportunities within Nigeria’s agricultural sector, ensuring that the data collection was not only relevant but also actionable.
Contribution & Impact
The sustainability report, enriched with these soil health metrics, provided Farmz2U with a robust framework for tracking and improving its environmental impact. This data-driven approach enabled the company to make informed decisions that enhance sustainable farming practices, directly contributing to the resilience and productivity of the farmers they support.
By incorporating transparent reporting on soil health, Farmz2U demonstrated its commitment to eco-friendly farming practices, setting a new standard for sustainability in the agriculture technology industry. This initiative not only reinforced the company’s reputation as a leader in sustainable agriculture but also positioned them at the forefront of the movement to revolutionize farming in Africa through technology and innovation.