Shamba Centre for Food & Climate

Climate change and its impact on food security often focuses on the increase and intensity of weather events - such as droughts, cyclones and flooding - and their threat to crop production. ❓ However, what is the effect of climate change on the biology of crops? This is the aim of a recent study that looks at the impact of rising CO2 levels on crop quality at the cellular level. 🔺 For many plans, higher CO2 levels can enhance photosynthesis and boost growth rates. However, higher CO2 levels also lowers the crop's nutritional value. The higher CO2 levels reduces the nitrogen content in crops thus weakening its ability to produce protein and amino acids. According to the study, the mineral nutrient contents of rice and maize decreased under high CO2 as follows: ⏩ 1.0% and 7.1% for phosphorus, ⏩ 7.8% and 2.1% for sulfur, ⏩ 5.2% and 5.8% for iron, ⏩ 3.3% and 5.2% for zinc, ⏩ 10.6% and 9.9% for copper, ⏩ 7.5% and 4.2% for manganese And the impact? An increase in malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency. Read more: https://lnkd.in/esVFe_GA Isik Ozturk | Oshani Perera | Hesat2030 | Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) | Sini Savilaakso | Juno Evidence Alliance

📣 Out now - Read the latest news about our work! ⏩ Uncompetitive animal feed markets in Kenya are driving up food insecurity and poverty ⏩ Action is needed to tackle regional market power concentration ⏩ Why competition regulators need to work together in Africa ⏩ Embracing nature-inclusive over agribusiness-as-usual ⏩ How farmers shoulder the weight of the Kampala Declaration Read more: https://lnkd.in/eYH2sbms

🇰🇪 The price of eggs, poultry and milk in Kenya have skyrocketed. A kilo of chicken costs twice as much in Kenya compared with South Africa. Between 2022 and 2023, the price of eggs nearly doubled. The result: 75% of the population is unable to afford a healthy diet which is especially detrimental to the 40% of Kenyans living under the poverty line. 👀 Why these high prices for eggs and poultry? An uncompetitive animal feed sector. Farmers overpay for feed, reducing their margins, and consumers ultimately foot the bill through unaffordable prices for dairy, eggs, and poultry. A recent inquiry into the animal feed market published by the Competition Authority of Kenya showed that:  ⏩ Farmers in Kenya are paying up to 40% more for animal feed compared with farmers in South Africa, Brazil and Malaysia. ⏩ Animal feed producers in Kenya are charged significantly higher prices for key ingredients (inputs) needed to make animal feed, particularly soymeal and sunflower cake, compared with international benchmark prices. ⏩ Small animal feed producers have been squeezed out of the market resulting in reduced choices for farmers Why? The simple reason is market concentration ⏩ The animal feed market is dominated by four suppliers who account for well over 50% of commercial feeds. In some feed categories, these four companies account for up to 75% of the national supply. ⏩ The animal feed input market is dominated by four companies ⏩ The vertical integration between the suppliers of the animal feed inputs and the large suppliers of animal feed 🔺 Action is needed to tackle anti-competitive behaviour in the Kenyan animal feed sector and the market for animal feed inputs in neighbouring countries. The Shamba Centre - together with The African Market Observatory (AMO) - is pleased to have supported this market inquiry. Read our summary and reaction: https://lnkd.in/eg2zUCqa Carin Smaller | Simon Roberts | Ninette Kaari Mwarania, MKIM | Heike Fickel | Grace Nsomba | Arthur Mahuma | Reena Das Nair | Willard Mwemba | isaac tausha | Mugambi Mutegi, MPRSK | Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development (CCRED) | COMESA Competition Commission | East African Community |

Women are essential for ensuring household nutrition - yet their needs are often overlooked. The Shamba Centre is pleased to be working on this important paper on nutrition via Hesat2030! #IWD2025

“Biodiverse agricultural systems are inherently more resilient to environmental shocks such as droughts, floods and pest outbreaks,” says sustainable agriculture expert Isik Ozturk. Agricultural systems that embrace nature help by: ♻️ Encourage the flow of nutrients by microorganisms 🌱 Reduce soil degradation  💦 Ensure efficient water regulation … which provides the double benefit of improved crop yields and thriving biodiversity. As the UN Biodiversity talks resume in Rome, explore why country leaders must prioritise national biodiversity plans that incorporate agriculture on Farming First👇🏾 https://bit.ly/3E4Ujxs Shamba Centre for Food & Climate | #COP16

🌡️ Global temperatures are rising and we are off-track to meet the goals set in the Paris Agreement. According to datasets from Copernicus ECMWF, January 2025 was 1.75°C above the pre-industrial level. This is the warmest on record, and despite the cooling effect of La Niña. In the last 19th months, this is the 18th time that the average temperature has been more than 1.5C. The year 2024 was the warmest on record. 🔺 The impact of the rise in temperature leads to more extreme weather events. This is devastating for food security. To visually showcase how how extreme weather events - like drought, flooding, heat, cyclones - are destroying crops around the world (2023-2024), Carbon Brief has published an informative interactive map. What do we learn? ⏩ Rain and floods were the most frequent weather events to destroy crops ⏩ Cereals and grains, followed by fruits, are the crops most impacted Hunger is deeply intertwined with climate change. Taking action to end hunger must address climate. To access the interactive map: https://lnkd.in/e9f5Fg3h Isik Ozturk | Oshani Perera | Lysiane L. | Kamal El Harty | Carin Smaller | Orla Dwyer

🛣️ The global agricultural landscape is at a crossroads. For decades, industrial farming strategies led by agribusiness have focused on maximizing yields through intensified practices that rely heavily on synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified seeds. This approach, represented by the Green Revolution, significantly reduced hunger in regions such as India 🇮🇳 and Mexico 🇲🇽 by increasing crop yields. However, these achievements came at a steep cost. 🌿 Nature-Inclusive Agriculture (NIA) represents a compelling alternative. Unlike conventional monoculture farming, NIA integrates diverse crops and farming systems, which improves resilience to pests, diseases, and climate shocks. However, the global adoption of NIA demands comprehensive support on multiple levels. Policy reforms, educational initiatives, and targeted investments are essential to facilitate this transition. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/e5UuhvtJ Isik Ozturk | Lysiane L. | Oshani Perera | Sini Savilaakso | Juno Evidence Alliance | Hesat2030 | University of Aberdeen

🔎 The lastest The African Market Observatory (AMO) Price Tracker has been published: https://lnkd.in/dyxbV4iY And what does it show? 🔺 Maize prices in Malawi have increased by 30% since December 2024 - from US$ 511 per metric ton to US$ 674 per metric ton in January 2025. Compared with other countries in the region, Malawi is paying significantly more for its maize. Why? ⏩ Poor harvest in 2024 due to La Niño ⏩ High cost importing maize from neighbouring Tanzania due to fuel shortages and foreign exchange problems ⏩ Market concentration by local traders The impact on consumers is enormous. According to data from International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), consumers are now purchasing maize for about MWK 1,300 (US$1.01) per kilogram. Yet minimal monthly wages are set MWK 90,000 per month (US$90) posing significant challenges. Simon Roberts | Heike Fickel | Arthur Mahuma | Reena Das Nair | Grace Nsomba | Namhla Landani | Chilufya Sampa | Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development (CCRED)

What is the value of ecosystem services? It includes benefits such as the pollination of crops, clean air, wood for building, fresh water, tourism, hydroelectric power, etc. All ecosystem services are estimated to contribute between $125 trillion to $140 trillion a year to the global economy. As the United Nations (re)-opens the #COP16 Biodiversity Conference in Rome today, resource mobilisation will be one of the key topics of discussion. Global wildlife populations have decreased by an average of 73% between 1970 and 2020 and global temperatures continue to rise well beyond the initial 1.5C target. New solutions are needed. Find out more about ecosystem services from Professor Bernard Lehmann, former Director of the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture Bundesamt für Landwirtschaft BLW https://lnkd.in/g-p_-Fkn

Today is #SocialJusticeDay – a moment to reflect on fairness, equity, and inclusion in all sectors, including agriculture. 🚜 Farmers, especially smallholders, are at the heart of food systems, yet they often face economic and structural barriers that limit their ability to thrive. At the same time, farmers bear the weight of food systems transformation. Do they have the means to do so? 🌍 The adoption of the Kampala Declaration by African Heads of States and Government marks an important moment in continent’s journey toward resilient, inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems. Framed by the African Union’s #Agenda2063, this declaration weaves together ambitions for prosperity, equity and ecological balance. The Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP CAADP) is central to achieving these goals, offering a clear roadmap for action. Yet, while the objectives are clear, the weight of implementation is disproportionately placed on the shoulders of unarmed heroes – the smallholder farmers. 🚨 Read the full article by our Co-Founder Francine Picard ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eYSGX_dB