Research & reports

David John Okoronkwo, Zorica Srđević, Simon Chidera Ugwoke · Discover Applied Sciences · Nigeria

This study analyzed the total water footprint (WF) and its components for 64 agricultural households (33 urban, 31 rural) in Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria. The total WF of urban agricultural households was 19,516.9 m³/month, 6.6% higher than rural households (17,088.2 m³), though the blue WF of rural households exceeded urban households by 4.7%. The study identified inefficient water use in urban households and limited water-saving devices in rural households as critical drivers of water consumption.

Alemseged Gerezgiher Hailu, daniel girmay, samuel ataklti · Discover Food · Sub-Saharan Africa

This scoping review analyzed 155 sources (2009–2024) on urbanization's impact on food security in Sub-Saharan Africa. Findings showed rapid urban expansion converted 30% of peri-urban agricultural land in some regions, increasing dependence on imported staples, and low-income households spend 60–80% of income on food. A policy gap was identified, with only 12% of countries having supportive policies and 19% of cities designating land for farming.

Nthabeleng Tamako, Joyce Chitja · Agriculture & Food Security · South Africa

This study examined the impact of climate change on urban food gardens in Sobantu and Mpophomeni townships in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Face-to-face interviews with 103 randomly selected participants revealed that climate change disproportionately affects resource-limited urban farmers, leading to erratic rainfall, pests, and natural disasters. Elevated temperatures, shifting weather patterns, and new pests and diseases significantly impact food gardens, affecting seed and crop selection and contributing to food insecurity.

Dr. Emmanuel Omomoh, Sunday Nannim, Dr. Rogers Rengje. Danlami Gujahar, Moses Omitunde Omirinde, Gwamzhi Ponsah Emmanuel · International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering Management & Applied Science · Nigeria (Jos)

A study analyzed urban irrigation agricultural land use changes in Jos South Metropolis, Nigeria, over a ten-year period (2014–2024) using geospatial techniques and fieldwork. Market garden area declined by 5.84%, while settlements expanded by 34.76%. Key constraints to sustainable urban agriculture were identified, including land tenure insecurity (63% of dry-season farmers were landless), limited access to irrigation water, pest and disease pressure, inadequate fertilizer supply, and increasing competition for land from urban development.

Never Assan, Justice Sibanda, Betty Mukuwapasi, Reason Rumbidzai Charachimwe, Edmore Masama · Journal of Frontiers in Multidisciplinary Research · Sub-Saharan Africa

Urban animal agriculture (UAA) in Sub-Saharan Africa is presented as a solution for food security but faces challenges including gender inequality, climate change, inadequate legislation, and environmental degradation. While UAA aims to enhance household food security and alleviate poverty, it also encounters environmental issues such as resource competition, water resource strain, improper manure management, greenhouse gas emissions, noise, and nuisance. Sustainable UAA requires semi-intensive silvopastoral and mixed crop and livestock systems to reduce environmental impact and enhance local food production.

Chimka Owhorkaire Emenike, Ajoku Bright Chika · Iconic Research and Engineering Journals · Nigeria

A study was conducted in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria, involving 204 participants in urban sack farming. Descriptive statistical analysis revealed that urban sack farming offers economic benefits such as reduced household food costs, increased profitability, job generation, and enhanced savings. It also contributes to environmental advantages like reduced pollutants, water efficiency, and soil conservation, serving as a viable livelihood strategy for urban residents, particularly in densely populated and economically disadvantaged areas.

Thembani Moyo, Vuyiswa Letsoko, Mhlalisi Gavu Mndzebele, Siphiwe Mbatha, Nonpumelelo Mzobe, Trynos Gumbo · · South Africa (Johannesburg)

In Johannesburg's marginalized settlements, limited infrastructure resources negatively impact household livelihoods, necessitating the development of planning support systems. Urban agriculture has emerged as a critical approach to enhancing food security and economic empowerment, and this study employed a mixed-method approach combining indigenous knowledge systems with spatial data to assess land suitability. The findings presented a land suitability index demonstrating how integrating GIS and citizen science strengthens urban resilience through adaptive land use, improved local food systems, and climate change mitigation.

Desalew Meseret Moges, Kristoffer Mattisson, Ebba Malmqvist, P Olsson · Environmental Challenges · Ethiopia

A study using satellite data from 2021–2024 examined urban heat and urban green space (UGS) patterns during the hot season across four Ethiopian cities. It found that UGS expanded in all cities, mainly along urban edges, and offered strong but spatially uneven cooling benefits. Daytime surface temperatures decreased, but nighttime temperatures showed mixed results, and dense central areas remained exposed to heat.

Wendpouiré Léticia Nadège Nonguierma, Jean-Marie Dipama · Afrique contemporaine · Africa

A study of the "Ceinture verte" (Green Belt) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, as a nature-based response to climate adaptation. Established in 1976 and relaunched in 2018, the initiative combines forestry development with urban agriculture, aiming to contain urban sprawl, improve the local climate and strengthen the capital's resilience. The study combined a diachronic analysis of Landsat imagery from 1984-2024 with interviews of institutional actors, associative partners and direct beneficiaries. Results show significant contributions — expansion of dense vegetation in some areas, a perceived improvement in air quality, the creation of income-generating market-gardening activities, and the inclusion of vulnerable populations — but also reveal strong constraints: illegal occupations covering a significant share of the land, fragmented governance, limited access to water, security fragility, and still-limited involvement of local residents. The study discusses the feasibility of a trajectory to 2050 between an optimistic scenario conditional on structural reforms and a critical scenario underscoring current limits, and offers lessons transferable to urban adaptation policies in other Sahelian metropolises.

Mohamed Beidari, Inoussa Tougri, Bernard Lamien · Journal of Environmental Protection · Africa

For Burkina Faso, a circular Water, Energy, and Food (WEF) nexus framework was developed that couples wastewater reuse in peri-urban agriculture with biomass energy recovery from crop residues, using Material Flow Analysis, a screening-level Life Cycle Assessment, four-scenario simulation (baseline, water reuse only, biomass only, full circular integration) calibrated for 2005-2024, an exploratory STIRPAT elasticity analysis, and Monte Carlo uncertainty propagation around a composite Nexus Efficiency Index. Every quantitative result is a simulated output from a literature-constrained synthetic dataset rather than an empirical measurement for Burkina Faso; under the central assumptions, the fully integrated circular scenario was modelled to reduce freshwater abstraction by about 25-40%, increase yields by 20-40%, and cut farm-gate CO2-equivalent emissions by 30-45% relative to the linear baseline. The mobilizable biomass potential of cotton stalks and rice husks was estimated at around 44,891 tonnes of oil equivalent per year, with indicative payback periods of 5-10 years for small biogas digesters and gasifiers in representative peri-urban configurations.

Dominik Bittner, Joanne U Smith, Georgios Leontidis, Grant Campbell, Jeanne Biegel, Pete Smith, Matthias Kuhnert, Rastislav Skalský, Licida M. Maria Giuliani, Abdul Walid Walid Salik, Paul Hallett, D Burslem, Getahun Yakob, Wolde Mekuria, Euan Phimister, Amare Haileslassie, Desalegn Tegegne, sarem norouzi, Heyu Chen, Cecile Gubry-Rangin, Adnan Khan · Environmental Research Letters · Sub-Saharan Africa

A narrative review examines tools for assessing soil health and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for soil quality in sub-Saharan Africa, drawing primarily on examples from Ethiopia but intended for farmers and advisors across the region and other developing countries. It reviews physical, biological, chemical, functional, and service-related soil tests, noting that science-based tests require expertise, equipment, and cost, while locally-derived tests are affordable and readily applicable. NbS practices are assessed against labor, cost, and crop-production factors, and the review concludes there is no single universally applicable practice — suitability depends on farmers' priorities and circumstances. It also examines predictive methods, including mechanistic soil models, AI, and hybrid approaches combining data, physics, and knowledge such as digital soil mapping.

A. K. Ahmed, Rasheed Abiodun KURANGA, Oluwadara Latifat ISOLA-MUYIDEEN · International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science · Nigeria (Ilorin)

This study assessed the sustainability of environmental management practices among peri-urban rice farmers in Ilorin, Nigeria, using a sustainability index. It found that many practices were less sustainable, with 69.51% of farmers relying on chemical sprays and 69.85% using chemical fertilizers. The overall Environmental Management Practices Sustainability Index (EMPSI) for all farmers was 0.492, placing them in the moderately sustainable category.

Moçambique MANI TESE, Franscisco Monteiro Chimote, Paulo Xavier Tebulo · Revista fisio&terapia. · Mozambique

A study conducted in Quelimane, Mozambique, analyzed the procedures and challenges for ensuring advocacy for sustainable food systems. The research highlighted institutional fragmentation, the absence of urban agriculture regulation, and precarious logistics as critical obstacles. While community micro-strategies and urban gardens were identified as potential catalysts for transformation, the study concluded that strengthening local governance and multi-sectoral mobilization are fundamental.

Khalid Umar, Hamza Abba, UM Sani, M.D KWAIRANGA · JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC AND LEGAL STUDIES NORTH-EASTERN UNIVERSITY GOMBE · Nigeria

This review explores the multifaceted effects of urbanization pressures in Nigeria, including environmental degradation, urban poverty, housing shortages, and public health challenges. Case studies from major cities like Lagos, Kano, Ibadan, and Gombe demonstrate innovative responses such as sustainable urban planning, waste management, flood mitigation, and urban agriculture. The study emphasizes the urgent need for inclusive policies, community engagement, and sustainable strategies to promote resilient and equitable urban development in Nigeria.

Stella Kasiva Mbiti, Micah Makworo, Brenda Waruinu Githinji, Christine Sabwa · · Kenya

This study explored the inter-linkages of urbanization, climate change, and food insecurity in Kiambu Sub-County, Kenya. Findings show urbanization leads to dramatic land use changes, diminishing agricultural land, and exacerbated climate risks and food insecurity. The study identified institutional weaknesses, poor planning, limited regulatory frameworks, and political interference as key drivers of unsustainable urban growth and reduced food production.

Natalia Urrego Díaz, Astrid Ley, Kurt Ackermann, Leonie K. Fischer · · South Africa (Cape Town)

This study focuses on the Langa Agri-Food Hub in Cape Town, South Africa. The Hub is an innovation-seeking project aimed at transforming the local food system from the bottom up, supporting farmers, and strengthening the community. Through a literature review and qualitative analysis, including site observations, interviews, and workshops, the study uncovered the Hub's potential to serve as a vital platform for individual empowerment and the strengthening of the local food system.

S Aliyu, Okhimamhe A. A, I. M. Sule · International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science · Nigeria (Lagos)

This study explored the role of urban farming in enhancing food security and sustainability in the Lagos Metropolis through focus group discussions and quantitative surveys with various stakeholders, including policymakers, urban farmers, and community members. Findings suggest urban farming's potential to reduce food transportation distances, enhance local food production, and mitigate climate change impacts. However, challenges such as land demands and gender disparities persist, necessitating integrated policy approaches and targeted educational programs.

Kurt Ackermann, Tamsin Faragher · CABI climate change series. · South Africa (Cape Town)

A three-year case study of the Langa Agrihub in Cape Town, South Africa, supports a network of over 250 urban farmers comprising more than 30 food gardens. The Agrihub provides inputs, infrastructure, knowledge exchange, and market connections, serving as a platform for civic participation, social cohesion, and local agency. This chapter states that the primary value of community food gardens lies in enabling communities to mitigate and adapt to intersecting stresses, including economic marginalisation, environmental degradation, and infrastructure shortcomings like water scarcity.

Solomon Asamoah, Henry Mensah, Eric Kwame Simpeh, Eric Oduro-Ofori, Sandra Serwaa Boateng, Sarah Boateng, Listowel Koda Frimpong, Priscilla Okyere · Green Technologies and Sustainability · Africa

This scoping review examined the role of nature-based solutions (NbS) in addressing food insecurity in Africa, using bibliometric and thematic analysis of peer-reviewed literature. The study identified agroforestry, urban agriculture, and wetland restoration as NbS components. However, it found that a comprehensive understanding of NbS efficacy, challenges, and implications for food insecurity in Africa remains limited, with existing research primarily focusing on localized interventions rather than broader trends.

Gizaw Ebissa, Hayal Desta, Aramde Fetene · Discover Water · Ethiopia (Addis Ababa)

This research assessed the contribution of treated wastewater (TW) from Bole-Lemi Industrial Park in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to agricultural sustainability over a 3.5-month production season. It found that 53 kg of nitrogen and 1 kg of phosphorus were recovered, saving farmers 5,535 USD and reducing fertilizer costs by 28%. The TW provided 17,500m3 of irrigation water, converting 70 hectares of idle dry-season land into productive use. Continuous monitoring of soil conditions is crucial for long-term sustainability.

Fuchaka Waswa, Duncan Gichabe, Ruth Kahuthıa-Gathu · Journal of the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO · Kenya (Ruiru)

This study investigated land use changes in Ruiru Sub-County, Kenya, from 1988 to 2024 using GIS. By 2024, agricultural land had decreased by 45.62%, while urban land use increased by 509%, and bare/rocky areas rose by 133% due to abandoned stone mining. The decline in agricultural land leads to reduced industrial crop areas and a shift to leafy vegetables, with an expected increase in agro-chemical use in intensive peri-urban farming.

Dauda Rotimi Awoniran, Temitayo Abayomi Adeseye, Shakirulah Olayemi Agboola, Shade Babalola · Sustainability Science and Resources · Nigeria (Lagos)

This study examined agricultural land use change in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria, between 1984 and 2024 using Landsat satellite images and spectral indices. Findings indicated that farmlands in the study area declined by 13.03% between 1984 and 2013, and by 21.79% between 2013 and 2024. Between 1984 and 2013, 89.48% of farmlands were converted to other land uses, and between 2013 and 2024, 73.51% were converted. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) results also indicated a deterioration in the environmental condition of urban farmlands.

Kingsley Chibuzor Fredricks, S Goyol · Journal of Resilient Urbanism & Sustainable Design · Nigeria

A 2025 study examines the relationship between annual rainfall variability and the output of maize, tomato, and potato in Jos Metropolis, Nigeria, using crop yield data from 2012-2023 and rainfall data from 1994-2023, analyzed via Pearson correlation and linear regression. Annual rainfall showed significant fluctuation, with the highest level recorded in 2019 and the lowest in 2007, but correlations between rainfall and yield were weak and statistically insignificant for maize (r = 0.012), tomato (r = 0.146), and potato (r = 0.151). Maize and tomato yields increased steadily despite the fluctuations, possibly due to improvements in farming practices, better seeds, and small-scale irrigation, while potato output dipped due to late blight disease between 2013 and 2017 before recovering sharply.

Vidjinnagni Vinasse Ametooyona Azagoun, Kossi Komi, Djigbo Félicien Badou, Expédit Vissin, Komi Sélom Klassou · Geographies · Africa

Drawing on socio-economic, techno-agronomic, and perceptual data collected from 369 growers in the Grand Nokoué region of Benin, this study combined multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) with ascending hierarchical analysis (AHA), confirmed by K-means partitioning, to identify profiles of climatic vulnerability among urban market gardeners. Three distinct vulnerability groups were identified, differing in socioeconomic, technical, and territorial characteristics and in their exposure to flooding, drought, and dry spells. The most vulnerable farmers were disproportionately young women with low incomes, limited access to land, and reliance on manual irrigation in flood-prone areas. The findings point to an uneven distribution of adaptive capacity and a need for public policies tailored to strengthen the resilience of small-scale, low-income, and land-insecure urban farmers who are exposed to these climate-related risks.

Endalkachew Getu, Bereket Ayenew, Kanchan Singh, Mitiku Adisu Worku · Frontiers in Climate · Ethiopia

A random-sample survey of 364 urban farmers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, grounded in protection motivation theory (PMT), used structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze relationships among nine constructs. Selecting new crop varieties, water management practices, adjusting sowing dates and planting drought-resistant crops were identified as the main adaptation practices. Perception of climate change indicators, perceived effects, incentives, subjective norms, adaptation efficacy and self-efficacy positively and significantly influenced farmers' intention to adapt, whereas farmers exposed to maladaptive behaviors showed lower intention to adapt. The survey recommended strengthening local institutions, farmer training, climate information dissemination such as early warning systems, access to extension services, and access to finance.