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 J.Z. Robinson; Wales Singini; Bridget B. Umar; Frank Wesonga; Simon Willcock; Jingyi Yang; Joseph A. Tobias

doi:10.3390/land12101879

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 HaileHenry 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 J.Z. Robinson, Wales Singini, Bridget B. Umar, Frank Wesonga, Simon Willcock, Jingyi Yang, Joseph A. Tobias

Department of Soil Science

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

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.

Original language	English
Article number	1879
Journal	Land
Volume	12
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101879
Publication status	Published - Oct 2023

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals
agricultural development
agroecosystems
environmental impacts
food security
food systems
horizon scan
social inclusion
trade-offs

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.3390/land12101879

Cite this

Devenish, A. J. M., Schmitter, P., Jellason, N. P., Esmail, N., Abdi, N. M., Adanu, S. K., Adolph, B., Al-Zu’bi, M., Amali, A. A., Barron, J., Chapman, A. S. A., Chausson, A. M., Chibesa, M., Davies, J., Dugan, E., Edwards, G. I., Egeru, A., Gebrehiwot, T., Griffiths, G. H., ... Tobias, J. A. (2023). One Hundred Priority Questions for the Development of Sustainable Food Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. Land, 12(10), Article 1879. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101879

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

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 = "Sustainable Development Goals, agricultural development, agroecosystems, environmental impacts, food security, food systems, horizon scan, social inclusion, trade-offs",

author = "Devenish, {Adam J.M.} and Petra Schmitter and Jellason, {Nugun P.} and Nafeesa Esmail and Abdi, {Nur M.} and Adanu, {Selase K.} and Barbara Adolph and Maha Al-Zu{\textquoteright}bi and Amali, {Amali A.} and Jennie Barron and Chapman, {Abbie S.A.} and Chausson, {Alexandre M.} and Moses Chibesa and Joanne Davies and Emmanuel Dugan and Edwards, {Glory I.} and Anthony Egeru and Tagel Gebrehiwot and Griffiths, {Geoffrey H.} and Amleset Haile and Hunga, {Henry G.} and Lizzy Igbine and Jarju, {Ousman M.} and Francis Keya and Muhammad Khalifa and Ledoux, {Wamba A.} and Lejissa, {Lemlem T.} and Pius Loupa and Jonathan Lwanga and Mapedza, {Everisto D.} and Robert Marchant and Tess McLoud and Patience Mukuyu and Musah, {Labram M.} and Morton Mwanza and Jacob Mwitwa and Dora Neina and Tim Newbold and Samuel Njogo and Robinson, {Elizabeth J.Z.} and Wales Singini and Umar, {Bridget B.} and Frank Wesonga and Simon Willcock and Jingyi Yang and Tobias, {Joseph A.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 by the authors.",

year = "2023",

month = oct,

doi = "10.3390/land12101879",

language = "English",

volume = "12",

journal = "Land",

issn = "2073-445X",

publisher = "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)",

number = "10",

}

Devenish, AJM, Schmitter, P, Jellason, NP, Esmail, N, Abdi, NM, Adanu, SK, Adolph, B, Al-Zu’bi, M, Amali, AA, Barron, J, Chapman, ASA, Chausson, AM, Chibesa, M, Davies, J, Dugan, E, Edwards, GI, Egeru, A, Gebrehiwot, T, Griffiths, GH, Haile, A, Hunga, HG, Igbine, L, Jarju, OM, Keya, F, Khalifa, M, Ledoux, WA, Lejissa, LT, Loupa, P, Lwanga, J, Mapedza, ED, Marchant, R, McLoud, T, Mukuyu, P, Musah, LM, Mwanza, M, Mwitwa, J, Neina, D, Newbold, T, Njogo, S, Robinson, EJZ, Singini, W, Umar, BB, Wesonga, F, Willcock, S, Yang, J & Tobias, JA 2023, 'One Hundred Priority Questions for the Development of Sustainable Food Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa', Land, vol. 12, no. 10, 1879. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101879

TY - JOUR

T1 - One Hundred Priority Questions for the Development of Sustainable Food Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa

AU - Devenish, Adam J.M.

AU - Schmitter, Petra

AU - Jellason, Nugun P.

AU - Esmail, Nafeesa

AU - Abdi, Nur M.

AU - Adanu, Selase K.

AU - Adolph, Barbara

AU - Al-Zu’bi, Maha

AU - Amali, Amali A.

AU - Barron, Jennie

AU - Chapman, Abbie S.A.

AU - Chausson, Alexandre M.

AU - Chibesa, Moses

AU - Davies, Joanne

AU - Dugan, Emmanuel

AU - Edwards, Glory I.

AU - Egeru, Anthony

AU - Gebrehiwot, Tagel

AU - Griffiths, Geoffrey H.

AU - Haile, Amleset

AU - Hunga, Henry G.

AU - Igbine, Lizzy

AU - Jarju, Ousman M.

AU - Keya, Francis

AU - Khalifa, Muhammad

AU - Ledoux, Wamba A.

AU - Lejissa, Lemlem T.

AU - Loupa, Pius

AU - Lwanga, Jonathan

AU - Mapedza, Everisto D.

AU - Marchant, Robert

AU - McLoud, Tess

AU - Mukuyu, Patience

AU - Musah, Labram M.

AU - Mwanza, Morton

AU - Mwitwa, Jacob

AU - Neina, Dora

AU - Newbold, Tim

AU - Njogo, Samuel

AU - Robinson, Elizabeth J.Z.

AU - Singini, Wales

AU - Umar, Bridget B.

AU - Wesonga, Frank

AU - Willcock, Simon

AU - Yang, Jingyi

AU - Tobias, Joseph A.

PY - 2023/10

Y1 - 2023/10

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Sustainable Development Goals

KW - agricultural development

KW - agroecosystems

KW - environmental impacts

KW - food security

KW - food systems

KW - horizon scan

KW - social inclusion

KW - trade-offs

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85175031934&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3390/land12101879

DO - 10.3390/land12101879

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85175031934

SN - 2073-445X

VL - 12

JO - Land

JF - Land

IS - 10

M1 - 1879

ER -

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

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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