Perspective: Connecting energy and agriculture to advance policy action

Africa’s food systems stand at a crossroads. The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) has developed a transformative vision for Africa’s agri-food systems. The Kampala Declaration, adopted in January 2025 at an African Union Extraordinary Summit, saw African leaders acknowledge this reality with a bold declaration: productivity gains alone will not secure the continent’s future. To tackle hunger, climate change, and economic fragility, we need systemic transformation that is inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. The Kampala Declaration calls for action that creates climate-resilient jobs, especially for youth, women, and marginalised groups, and supports enterprises advancing climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy in agribusiness, carbon markets, and climate adaptation.

 At the heart of this vision lies an opportunity: connecting regenerative agriculture with the productive use of renewable energy (PURE). This nexus offers countries across Africa a pathway to deliver on the commitments made in Kampala while building a movement for renewable, regenerative, and resilient food systems.

Why the nexus matters

Our global agri-food systems are under immense pressure. They produce roughly a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, drive up to 80% of biodiversity loss, and consume 70% of freshwater resources. They pollute the soil, air, and water, while perpetuating inequities and cultural loss. These systems are unsustainable and increasingly vulnerable to climate shocks.

In Eastern Africa, the challenges are stark. One in five people suffer from chronic malnutrition. Many smallholder farmers rely on manual labour to till, plant, and harvest. Those with access to equipment often face the volatility of diesel prices or unreliable electricity. Meanwhile, short-term productivity gains from intensive practices degrade soils and ecosystems, undermining long-term resilience.

A pathway forward

Regenerative practices restore ecosystems, improve soil fertility, and strengthen food security, while renewable energy powers irrigation, processing, and cold storage, reducing emissions and cutting dependence on costly diesel. Together, they form an integrated system that sustains both people and the planet—delivering equitable livelihoods and climate-resilient food systems. This is a pathway to take when putting the Kampala Declaration into practice.

The African Food Systems Summit 2025: A turning point

Momentum around this nexus is growing. At this year’s African Food Systems Summit (AFS 2025), the theme, “Leading collaboration, innovation and the implementation of agri-food systems transformation”, highlighted the urgency of collective action. For the first time, energy ministers and agriculture leaders engaged in dialogue—a recognition that powering resilient food systems requires bridging sectors that have too often worked in isolation.

 The strong presence of governments, investors, private sector, knowledge institutions, and civil society reflected that shift. Stakeholders are no longer treating agriculture and energy separately. Instead, they are exploring policies, investments, and market innovations that can accelerate integrated, scalable solutions.

In this context, the Power for Food Partnership, supported by the IKEA Foundation, coordinated by SNV, and launched during the AFSF last week, is helping to turn vision into action. Its goal is simple yet ambitious: to build food systems that are renewable, regenerative, and resilient.

The Partnership works with local actors—smallholder farmers, agripreneurs, SMEs, governments, financiers, and civil society—to create an enabling environment for adoption of regenerative agriculture practices powered by renewable energy. By building evidence, connecting markets, and shifting mindsets, it is strengthening the nexus where change can be most impactful.

Beyond replacing one practice with another, this is about systems transformation—ensuring that energy and agriculture solutions are co-designed, context-specific, and locally-owned.

Working together for change

Delivering on the Kampala Declaration will only be possible if we act together. This means joining forces with governments, the private sector, civil society, donors, development partners, user groups, and knowledge institutions to accelerate progress across priority areas.

It also requires accelerating adoption by addressing barriers and aligning innovations with the local needs, incentives, and capacities of farmers and agribusinesses; building a movement that unites partners at local, national, and global levels to co-create solutions and amplify impact; embedding RA–PURE principles in policies, budgets, and institutional mandates across both public and private actors; and leveraging investment by unlocking and aligning resources, including blended finance, to scale up proven solutions.

These are not tasks for one actor alone. They are shared priorities for everyone committed to food systems transformation.

Ultimately, the Kampala Declaration offers a vision of change. The nexus between regenerative agriculture and renewable energy is one way to put that vision into practice. By connecting the dots between these systems, Africa can move towards food systems that restore ecosystems, reduce emissions, and generate dignified livelihoods.

However, no single organisation or sector can achieve this in isolation. It requires collaboration—governments, private sector, civil society, donors, and farmers acting decisively together.