Catherine Nakalembe, Assitant Professor at the University of Maryland's Department of Geographical Sciences, highlights the significant gaps in the information available to people, particularly smallholder farmers, and why we need to bridge this gap to improve outcomes for humans. This speech was recorded at the GLF Africa 2024 Hybrid Conference, where thousands of participants gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, and online to forge a prosperous and sustainable future for Africa’s land- and seascapes, powered by local solutions.