One planet laureate candidates publish a review of climate-smart agriculture in Africa

The devastating effects of climate change on Africa’s agri-food systems and smallholders’ livelihoods cannot be overemphasized. That is why Africa needs to transform its agricultural systems to make them more resilient and productive in a changing climate. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) provides an excellent opportunity for transformation since it jointly addresses climate challenges and food security.

A recent review of the adoption of CSA in five African countries has highlighted the need to prioritize climate change in governments’ policies and agendas. The review, published by One Planet Laureate Candidates, provides an overview of CSA practices and their impacts on smallholders’ farming systems in Algeria, Benin, Nigeria, Senegal, and Zambia.

The paper has revealed that smallholders still face barriers to adopting and implementing appropriate CSA strategies. The authors highlight the critical role of government-led financial support, policy legislation, and access to comprehensible information in influencing farmers’ uptake of climate-smart agriculture strategies.