Summary
This 2026 narrative review synthesises peer-reviewed and grey literature on organic fertiliser utilisation across Sub-Saharan Africa, examining how soil amendments including manure, compost, and crop residues influence agricultural productivity and food production dynamics in smallholder farming systems. The authors analyse sustainable intensification pathways applicable to resource-constrained contexts whilst seeking to maintain environmental sustainability. The review contributes evidence on organic soil management as a potential lever for improving both production and sustainability outcomes in the region, though specific quantitative effect sizes are not evident from the available metadata.
UK applicability
The findings are of limited direct applicability to UK farming systems, which operate in substantially different agroecological, socioeconomic, and regulatory contexts. However, the review may inform UK policy discussions on supporting smallholder organic transitions in international development programmes and supply chains.
Key measures
Agricultural productivity outcomes; food production dynamics; sustainability indicators; soil amendment types and application rates (as inferred from title and scope)
Outcomes reported
The review synthesises evidence on how organic soil amendments (manure, compost, crop residues) influence agricultural productivity and food production dynamics in smallholder farming systems. It examines sustainable intensification pathways applicable to resource-constrained contexts whilst maintaining environmental sustainability.
Topic tags
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