Delivering nutrient management impact through farmer-centric research: a systematic review of innovation systems in African smallholder systems

cg.authorship.typesCGIAR and developing country instituteen
cg.authorship.typesCGIAR and advanced research instituteen
cg.authorship.typesConsultanten
cg.authorship.typesCGIAR multi-centreen
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Center for Tropical Agriculture
cg.contributor.affiliationWorld Vegetable Center
cg.contributor.affiliationUniversité Mohammed VI Polytechnique
cg.contributor.affiliationMurdoch University
cg.contributor.affiliationAfrican Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI)
cg.contributor.initiativeGender Equality
cg.coverage.regionAfrica
cg.creator.identifierIvan Adolwa: 0000-0002-1855-2677
cg.creator.identifierShamie Zingore: 0000-0003-0204-7913
cg.creator.identifierJames Mutegi: 0000-0002-6410-0129
cg.creator.identifierMurrell, T Scott: 0000-0002-8213-0815
cg.creator.identifierNdungu, Samuel Mathu: 0000-0002-5281-612X
cg.creator.identifierEileen Bogweh Nchanji: 0000-0002-6859-0962
cg.creator.identifierSimon Cook: 0000-0003-0902-1476
cg.creator.identifierThomas Oberthuer: 0000-0002-8128-2841
cg.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104416en
cg.isijournalISI Journalen
cg.issn0308-521Xen
cg.journalAgricultural Systemsen
cg.reviewStatusPeer Reviewen
cg.subject.alliancebiovciatCLIMATE CHANGEen
cg.subject.alliancebiovciatCLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATIONen
cg.subject.alliancebiovciatCROP PRODUCTIONen
cg.subject.alliancebiovciatPARTICIPATORY RESEARCHen
cg.subject.alliancebiovciatSMALLHOLDER FARMERSen
cg.volume229en
dc.contributor.authorAdolwa, Ivan S.
dc.contributor.authorZingore, Shamie
dc.contributor.authorMutegi, James
dc.contributor.authorMcNee, Matthew
dc.contributor.authorAkorede, Bolaji A.
dc.contributor.authorMasidza, Denver
dc.contributor.authorMurrell, T. Scott
dc.contributor.authorNdungu, Samuel Mathu
dc.contributor.authorNchanji, Eileen
dc.contributor.authorCook, Simon
dc.contributor.authorOberthür, Thomas
dc.date.accessioned2025-06-25T08:05:50Z
dc.date.available2025-06-25T08:05:50Z
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/175302
dc.titleDelivering nutrient management impact through farmer-centric research: a systematic review of innovation systems in African smallholder systemsen
dcterms.abstractCONTEXT: The performance of the agricultural sector in Africa still lags behind other regions. The current average maize productivity of 2 t ha-1 is below the global average of about 6 t ha-1. This low productivity threatens the livelihoods of a majority of the population. Despite decades of research and development investments, current agricultural innovation systems remain ineffective in supporting sustainable agricultural transformation. OBJECTIVE: This study traces the evolution of innovation systems in Africa as a backdrop to the adaptation of on-farm experimentation (OFE), which is a novel framework for accelerating research and development (R&D) impact. METHODS: A systematic review approach is augmented with social network analysis methods and primary and secondary data. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: We find that although current innovation systems have contributed to enhancing co-learning processes and have enabled the partial adoption of improved agronomic practices, resulting in increased nutrient uptake efficiency and crop productivity, several shortcomings have limited their impact. Despite their core focus on participatory and systemic R&D processes, our review points to their inability to effectively engage farmers. Hence, failing to generate scalable learning, and demonstrate sufficient value to farmers and other stakeholders. The OFE initiatives demonstrate how farmer-relevant insights integrated with field-based and digital evidence help spur a farmer-driven innovation development and decision support framework. SIGNIFICANCE: OFE is potentially a powerful enabler of current innovation systems performance as it provides the platform for a transformative farmer-led innovation process.en
dcterms.accessRightsOpen Access
dcterms.available2025-06-13
dcterms.bibliographicCitationAdolwa, I.S.; Zingore, S.; Mutegi, J.; McNee, M.; Akorede, B.A.; Masidza, D.; Murrell, T.S.; Ndungu, S.M.; Nchanji, E.B.; Cook, S.; Oberthür, T. (2025) Delivering nutrient management impact through farmer-centric research: a systematic review of innovation systems in African smallholder systems. Agricultural Systems 229: 104416. ISSN: 0308-521X
dcterms.extent104416en
dcterms.issued2025-06-13
dcterms.languageen
dcterms.licenseCC-BY-4.0
dcterms.publisherElsevier BVen
dcterms.subjectevaluationen
dcterms.subjectsmallholders-smallholder farmersen
dcterms.subjectinnovationen
dcterms.subjectparticipatory researchen
dcterms.subjectnutrient managementen
dcterms.subjectagricultural innovation systemsen
dcterms.subjecton-farm research-on-farm trialsen
dcterms.typeJournal Article

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