Smart Climate Ag provides a practical roadmap for sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture in South Africa.

UPL Corporation has unveiled Smart Climate Ag, a climate-positive initiative designed for commercial row-crop farmers in South Africa.

The programme blends regenerative farming practices with biological and sustainable inputs, enabling farmers to maintain high productivity while reducing environmental impact.

A standout feature of Smart Climate Ag is the opportunity for farmers to generate and sell verified carbon credits, turning sustainable practices into tangible financial returns. During the pilot phase, UPL issued 26,102 carbon credits across 2,884 hectares, demonstrating that environmental stewardship can also benefit farmers economically.

The programme, developed in collaboration with carbon-project developer Orizon Agriculture and certified by Verra, a leading global carbon-standard body, promotes several key sustainable practices. These include cover cropping to protect and enrich soil, reduced tillage to preserve soil structure, lowering reliance on synthetic fertilisers, and the application of UPL’s NPP biosolutions to support soil health. Collectively, these methods enhance soil fertility, increase carbon sequestration, and lower greenhouse gas emissions, ultimately producing carbon credits that farmers can trade on the voluntary market.

Farmers involved in the pilot have praised the initiative for its long-term impact. Maize farmer Callie Meintjes from Free State explained her personal motivation: “We are borrowing [the land] from our children … I was taught to return something I borrowed in a better condition than it was before.” Her statement reflects a growing mindset among South African farmers who prioritise land stewardship alongside crop yields.

UPL plans to scale Smart Climate Ag beyond the pilot phase, expanding to additional crops, regions, and farmers. This growth aligns with the company’s broader Gigaton Carbon Goal, which aims to remove 1 billion tonnes of CO₂ by 2040. Marcel Dreyer, UPL’s Regional Head for Africa, highlighted the programme’s dual benefits: “By restoring carbon to soils, they improve soil health and maintain productivity — while the extra income from carbon credits provides greater financial security in a changing climate.”

The pilot, also known as “CarbonSmart,” has already demonstrated measurable benefits, including increased soil organic carbon, enhanced fertility, improved water retention, and additional income through carbon credits. By linking regenerative farming with market incentives, Smart Climate Ag provides a practical roadmap for sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture in South Africa.

The initiative marks a significant step in strengthening the country’s agricultural value chain, with a strong focus on hands-on learning and long-term farmer support.

The Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA) has introduced a new and intensive training programme for its inspectors, aiming to raise cocoa quality standards and boost Liberia’s position in the international cocoa market.

The initiative marks a significant step in strengthening the country’s agricultural value chain, with a strong focus on hands-on learning and long-term farmer support.

Dahn Sayee, Director General  explained that the programme is designed to give inspectors the technical knowledge needed to distinguish between different cocoa qualities and to guide farmers and cooperatives towards producing cocoa that meets global expectations. “The training is intended to empower our inspectors, who will get involved with our extension programs, train farmers, and train cooperatives to be able to deliver quality cocoa both locally and internationally,” said, Sayee.

He further stressed the need for Liberia’s cocoa, coffee, palm oil, and other agricultural commodities to meet the requirements of international buyers. “We want to make sure that we impart quality knowledge to our staff so that they are able to provide quality training for farmers,” he said. According to him, LACRA’s role is deeply rooted in supporting farmers at every stage of production, adding, “Our work at LACRA is to empower farmers. This is where the empowerment starts--with staff who will engage with farmers in their villages and farms, through cooperatives, to understand the entire process of marketing cocoa--from harvesting, fermentation, and drying to getting the cocoa to the market.”

The training, which began on Monday, 17 November 2025, brings together more than 30 inspectors. Once trained, they will serve as master trainers, helping farmers and cooperatives nationwide adopt best practices in production, processing, and storage. The sessions placed heavy emphasis on practical fieldwork, such as assessing cocoa beans, inspecting farms, and evaluating warehouse standards to ensure consistent quality control.

“This training is mostly practical because we want our inspectors to be able to identify the different types of cocoa beans and learn how to conduct inspections on the warehouses,” said Godia Alpha Kortu Gongolee, LACRA’s Deputy Director for Operations. She highlighted that “Quality control begins on the farm,” emphasising the need for inspectors to ensure full compliance with production standards.

The programme also addressed common issues such as mould, which often results from poor harvesting and storage techniques and has previously affected exports to high-demand markets, including the European Union. Conducted in partnership with GROW-2, and supported by UNIDO and the Swedish Government, the training will conclude with an assessment to evaluate participants’ competencies.

Following similar training in October 2025, LACRA’s continued investment in inspector development demonstrates Liberia’s dedication to improving agricultural standards and expanding its footprint in global markets.

The initiative is designed to channel substantial capital into priority agricultural value chains.

In a significant push to strengthen climate-smart agriculture in Nigeria, the UK Government is partnering with Propcom+ and Welcome2Africa International to spearhead a Strategic Agribusiness Deal Room aimed at attracting private sector investment.

The initiative is designed to channel substantial capital into priority agricultural value chains, supporting a more inclusive and market-driven economic transformation across the country.

The Deal Room which took place in Lagos on 18–19 November 2025, will serve as a dynamic investment marketplace. Over twenty carefully screened agribusinesses will present their opportunities to potential financiers, spanning a diverse range of sectors including grains, cassava and starch products, livestock, bioethanol, food processing, mechanisation, agri-technology, and renewable energy. These enterprises were selected based on their growth potential, commercial readiness, and contributions to building a more resilient agricultural ecosystem.

The event is expected to unlock over US$5mn in potential investment and trade commitments, creating significant opportunities for small and medium enterprises. Olumide Ojo, Strategy Director at Propcom+, emphasised the importance of the initiative: “The programme provides an important platform to deepen private sector participation in Nigeria’s agrifood sector.” He added that connecting high-potential SMEs with investors will strengthen market systems while expanding opportunities for farmers, women, and rural communities.

Echoing this sentiment, Bamidele Seun Owoola, CEO of Welcome2Africa International, said: “Showcasing promising Nigerian agribusinesses to investors creates avenues for long term partnerships that can support shared economic progress.” He underlined the organisation’s commitment to fostering sustainable capital flows into Africa’s food and agriculture sectors.

Aligned with Propcom+’s mission to build stronger agricultural markets, enhance SME capacity, and promote low-carbon growth, the Deal Room aims to provide lasting impact. Following the Lagos sessions, programme leads will continue offering participating companies technical assistance, investor follow-ups, due diligence support, and guidance towards successfully closing investment deals. By linking high-potential agribusinesses with strategic investors, the initiative sets the stage for sustainable growth and a more resilient Nigerian agrifood sector.

The NDFR seeks to establish a precise, real-time, geo-referenced, and disaggregated database of farmers across Nigeria. (Image credit: AgroNigeria)

Sen. Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, has officially inaugurated the National Digital Farmers Registry (NDFR) Multi-Stakeholder Collaborative Knowledge Sharing Platform, a strategic initiative designed to enhance technical understanding of NDFR best practices and validate recommendations for engagement, learning, and coordination across Nigeria’s agricultural ecosystem.

The NDFR seeks to establish a precise, real-time, geo-referenced, and disaggregated database of farmers across Nigeria, capturing key details such as location, commodities, production scale, gender, and age. Positioned as a cornerstone of the Agriculture Digital Public Infrastructure (AgDPI), the NDFR will facilitate farmer verification, targeted input delivery, financial inclusion, geospatial mapping, value chain integration, and data-driven agricultural planning.

Addressing participants at the National Stakeholder Workshop on Best Practices for NDFR, organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Heifer International, Kyari highlighted Nigeria’s fragmented farmer databases built over years through federal, state, and partner programmes. He stated, “While these efforts have contributed useful insights, the absence of a unified, verifiable, and interoperable system has resulted in duplication, inconsistencies, resource leakages, and persistent challenges in accurately identifying genuine farmers.”

Kyari described the NDFR as a strategic pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda and a critical step toward securing Nigeria’s food future. “His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has made it clear that the era of fragmented farmer databases and uncoordinated agricultural data must give way to a new era of harmonization and digital efficiency. To strengthen agricultural planning, deliver targeted interventions, and deepen accountability, Nigeria must operate a credible and unified farmer identification system. The National Digital Farmers Registry is therefore a strategic pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda and a critical step toward securing our nation’s food future.”

Expanding on the registry’s capabilities, Kyari explained that it goes beyond verification by creating a single trusted system, unifying accurate information on farmers nationwide. “With one unified database across the 36 states and the FCT, the government can deliver inputs, mechanisation, extension services, credit, insurance, and other forms of support with the precision required to reach the right beneficiaries and promote true inclusion across the farming population.”

Kyari further noted that the NDFR will strengthen transparency, reduce duplication, prevent fraud, and support accurate planning. It is designed for interoperability with other national systems and digital agriculture platforms, enabling access to financial services, climate advisory tools, market information, mechanisation, and early warning systems. The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to the Kampala Declaration on Strengthening Digital and Data Systems for Agricultural Transformation under the CAADP Agenda.

He lauded IFAD’s partnership, saying, “Your leadership in advancing digital innovation in agriculture continues to strengthen our collective drive toward resilience, efficiency, and transparency across Nigeria’s food systems.” IFAD Country Director, Mrs Dede Ekoue, praised the government for prioritising the development of a NIN-empowered digital farmers registry, which promotes inclusivity and strengthens service delivery.

Lekan Tobe, Heifer International Country Director, emphasised that NDFR is guided by global best practices, capacity building, and a multi-stakeholder platform that consolidates farmer data nationwide. “Imagine being able to google farmers in Kano and they all come out, or farmers growing tomatoes in Katsina that helps all of us and that coordination is lacking to a large extent in the country now.”

Similarly, Brenda Mulele Gunde, IFAD ICT4D Global Lead, highlighted the NDFR as a coordinated national effort, consolidating datasets into a single source of truth for farmers’ information. She acknowledged potential challenges but expressed confidence in the initiative due to strong political will and shared stakeholder commitment.

Launched on 28 May 2025 under Nigeria’s Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP) and the IFAD/Nigeria Digital Innovation Action Plan (DIAP), the NDFR Policy Dialogue Initiative continues to build stakeholder capacity, guide a unified registry rollout, and connect government institutions, private sector actors, farmers’ organisations, civil society, research institutions, and development partners.