Agricultural intensification

In Ethiopia, wheat yields must increase substantially to accommodate population and dietary changes. Scientists Vasco Silva et al. measured the influence of water, suboptimal inputs, crop management, and technology on yield gaps. They attributed 50% of the yield gap to a lack of technology. They estimated, however, that if more inputs were added and used more efficiently, fine-tuning current management practices could double yields and achieve wheat self-sufficiency without increasing crop area.

Smallholder farms in sub-Saharan Africa struggle to choose good agronomic sustainable intensification practices because they lack information on innovations. Researchers Kuyah et al. reviewed the innovative practices widely adopted by farmers in specific regions. Agroforestry, cereal-legume intercropping, conservation agriculture, doubled-up legume cropping, fertilizer micro-dosing, planting basins, and push-pull technology are key innovations able to provide multiple benefits, build synergies, increase resource use efficiencies, and reduce agricultural carbon footprints.