One Hundred Priority Questions for the Development of Sustainable Food Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa

Adam J. M. Devenish (), Petra Schmitter, Nugun. P. Jellason, Nafeesa Esmail, Nur M. Abdi, Selase K. Adanu, Barbara Adolph, Maha Al-Zu’bi, Amali A. Amali, Jennie Barron, Abbie S. A. Chapman, Alexandre M. Chausson, Moses Chibesa, Joanne Davies, Emmanuel Dugan, Glory I. Edwards, Anthony Egeru, Tagel Gebrehiwot, Geoffrey H. Griffiths, Amleset Haile, Henry G. Hunga, Lizzy Igbine, Ousman M. Jarju, Francis Keya, Muhammad Khalifa, Wamba A. Ledoux, Lemlem T. Lejissa, Pius Loupa, Jonathan Lwanga, Everisto D. Mapedza, Robert Marchant, Tess McLoud, Patience Mukuyu, Labram M. Musah, Morton Mwanza, Jacob Mwitwa, Dora Neina, Tim Newbold, Samuel Njogo, Elizabeth Robinson (), Wales Singini, Bridget B. Umar, Frank Wesonga, Simon Willcock, Jingyi Yang and Joseph A. Tobias ()
Additional contact information
Adam J. M. Devenish: Department of Life Sciences, Silwood Park, Imperial College London, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, UK
Petra Schmitter: International Water Management Institute, Battaramulla P.O. Box 2075, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Nugun. P. Jellason: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading RG6 7BE, UK
Nafeesa Esmail: Independent Researcher, Kampala P.O. Box 14016, Uganda
Nur M. Abdi: Youth Agro-Marine Development Association, Marka 25261, Somalia
Selase K. Adanu: Department of Environmental Science, Ho Technical University, Ho P.O. Box HP 217, Ghana
Barbara Adolph: International Institute for Environment and Development, Holborn, London WC1V 7DN, UK
Maha Al-Zu’bi: International Water Management Institute, MENA Office, Giza 12513, Egypt
Amali A. Amali: Institute for Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics, Technische Hochschule Köln Cologne University of Applied Sciences, 50678 Cologne, Germany
Jennie Barron: Department for Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
Abbie S. A. Chapman: Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Alexandre M. Chausson: Nature-Based Solutions Initiative, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
Moses Chibesa: Department of Zoology and Aquatic Sciences, Copperbelt University, Kitwe P.O. Box 21692, Zambia
Joanne Davies: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading RG6 7BE, UK
Emmanuel Dugan: CSIR-Soil Research Institute, Kumasi AK-420 7890, Ghana
Glory I. Edwards: Environmental Systems Analysis Group, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 Wageningen, The Netherlands
Anthony Egeru: Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture, Makerere University Main Campus, 151/155 Garden Hill Road, Kampala P.O. Box 16811, Uganda
Tagel Gebrehiwot: Environment and Climate Research Center, Policy Studies Institute, Addis Ababa 2479, Ethiopia
Geoffrey H. Griffiths: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading RG6 7BE, UK
Amleset Haile: Centre for Development Innovation, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 88, 6700 Wageningen, The Netherlands
Henry G. Hunga: Department of Land Resources Conservation, Ministry of Agriculture, Lilongwe P.O. Box 30291, Malawi
Lizzy Igbine: Nigerian Women Agro Allied Farmers Association, Abuja 900110, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
Ousman M. Jarju: National Agricultural Research Institute, Brikama PMB 526, Gambia
Francis Keya: African Alliance for Health, Research and Economic Development, Nairobi P.O. Box 11102, Kenya
Muhammad Khalifa: Institute for Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics, Technische Hochschule Köln Cologne University of Applied Sciences, 50678 Cologne, Germany
Wamba A. Ledoux: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bamenda, Bambili P.O. Box 39, Cameroon
Lemlem T. Lejissa: Ethiopian Forestry Development, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 24536, Ethiopia
Pius Loupa: African Wildlife Foundation, Kidepo P.O. Box 37346, Uganda
Jonathan Lwanga: National Agricultural Research Organization, Entebbe P.O. Box 295, Uganda
Everisto D. Mapedza: International Water Management Institute, Pretoria 0083, South Africa
Robert Marchant: York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems, Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York YO10 5NG, UK
Tess McLoud: Population Reference Bureau, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Patience Mukuyu: International Water Management Institute, Pretoria 0083, South Africa
Labram M. Musah: Vision for Alternative Development, Adenta P.O. Box AN12126, Ghana
Morton Mwanza: Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Lusaka P.O. Box 50595, Zambia
Jacob Mwitwa: School of Applied Sciences, Kapasa Makasa University, Chinsali P.O. Box 480195, Zambia
Dora Neina: Department of Soil Science, School of Agriculture, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG 245, Ghana
Tim Newbold: Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Samuel Njogo: Cereal Growers Association, Nairobi P.O. Box 27542, Kenya
Wales Singini: Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Mzuzu University, Mzuzu P.O. Box 201, Malawi
Bridget B. Umar: School of Natural Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 32379, Zambia
Frank Wesonga: African Alliance for Health, Research and Economic Development, Nairobi P.O. Box 11102, Kenya
Simon Willcock: Net Zero and Resilient Farming, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2JQ, UK
Jingyi Yang: Department of Life Sciences, Silwood Park, Imperial College London, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, UK
Joseph A. Tobias: Department of Life Sciences, Silwood Park, Imperial College London, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, UK

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 10, 1-23

Abstract: Sub-Saharan Africa is facing an expected doubling of human population and tripling of food demand over the next quarter century, posing a range of severe environmental, political, and socio-economic challenges. In some cases, key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are in direct conflict, raising difficult policy and funding decisions, particularly in relation to trade-offs between food production, social inequality, and ecosystem health. In this study, we used a horizon-scanning approach to identify 100 practical or research-focused questions that, if answered, would have the greatest positive impact on addressing these trade-offs and ensuring future productivity and resilience of food-production systems across sub-Saharan Africa. Through direct canvassing of opinions, we obtained 1339 questions from 331 experts based in 55 countries. We then used online voting and participatory workshops to produce a final list of 100 questions divided into 12 thematic sections spanning topics from gender inequality to technological adoption and climate change. Using data on the background of respondents, we show that perspectives and priorities can vary, but they are largely consistent across different professional and geographical contexts. We hope these questions provide a template for establishing new research directions and prioritising funding decisions in sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords: agricultural development; agroecosystems; environmental impacts; horizon scan; food security; food systems; social inclusion; Sustainable Development Goals; trade-offs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Working Paper: One hundred priority questions for the development of sustainable food systems in Sub-Saharan Africa (2023)
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