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EU Press Release
The European Union, in partnership with the Government of Liberia and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Wednesday, October 22, 2025 officially launched the Liberia Land and Soil Resources Knowledge Project (Soils4Liberia), a landmark US$4.6 million initiative aimed at strengthening Liberia’s capacity for sustainable land and soil management.
Funded by the European Union Delegation to Liberia and implemented by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the four-year project will support the development of the Liberia Land and Soil Information System (LSIS). It is a comprehensive, data-driven platform designed to provide reliable and up-to-date information on Liberia’s soil and land resources.
The initiative aimed to improve land use planning, agricultural productivity, and climate resilience across the country by ensuring that policymakers, researchers, and farmers had access to essential soil data.
Soils4Liberia directly benefits a wide range of stakeholders, including the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), the University of Liberia (UL), and several government entities such as the Liberia Land Authority (LLA), Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA), National Investment Commission (NIC), Environment Protection Agency (EPA), and the Forest Development Authority (FDA), among others. Hundreds of professionals and students are expected to benefit through training, research support, and institutional capacity building over the project’s 48-month duration.
European Union Ambassador to Liberia, Nona Deprez, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting sustainable development and agricultural transformation in Liberia:
“Healthy soils are the foundation of food security, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. Through the Soils4Liberia project, the European Union is proud to help Liberia build the knowledge, tools, and systems needed to manage its land resources more effectively. This project will empower national institutions, strengthen research, and improve the lives of farmers across the country.”
Solomon Hedd-Williams, Deputy Minister for Technical Services at the Ministry of Agriculture, underscored the project’s importance in advancing soil knowledge and capacity building:
“This project seeks to map and assess our soils, allowing farmers and policymakers alike to make better, data-driven decisions. It will also train farmers in soil conservation and fertility management, support local researchers and extension officers, and help build a future where every Liberian farmer understands their soil and knows how to care for it.”
The launch event was held at the Sinkor Palace Conference Hall in Monrovia. The ceremony brought together key stakeholders from government ministries, research institutions, the private sector, and development partners to discuss collaboration and the project’s roadmap for implementation.
About the Soils4Liberia Project
Soils4Liberia is a four-year (48-month) initiative implemented by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in partnership with ISRIC, CIFOR ICRAF, MATE, and the Regional Hub, with contributions from national agencies including MoA, CARI, and UL.
The project is funded by the European Union Delegation to Liberia and implemented in close collaboration with the Government of Liberia under its commitment to promote sustainable agriculture, environmental stewardship, and data-driven policy development.
