Sustainable Intensification to Advance Food Security and Enhance Climate Resilience in Africa

Whereas the Green Revolution of the 1960’s and 1970’s in South Asia and elsewhere did not happen in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), several regions of SSA have experienced substantial improvements in crop yields and growth in agricultural production since the beginning of the 21st century. Yet, no drastic increase in per capita food grain production has occurred, primarily because of rapid rates of population growth. On the contrary, per capita food production has decreased in East Africa, Southern Africa and Central Africa. Thus, hunger, malnutrition and poverty remain endemic throughout SSA. Agriculture in SSA is vulnerable to harsh and uncertain climate variations. Resource-poor and small landholders are particularly susceptible to their negative impacts. SSA is one of the global hotspots for adverse effects of climate change on agricultural production and the environment. These include severe problems of soil degradation, nutrient and organic matter depletion, water contamination and eutrophication, and loss of biodiversity, especially the below-ground’s diversity. Thus sustainable intensification (SI) can play an important role in enhancing agricultural production while restoring de