Cereals play a central role in food security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where they account for approximately 50 percent of caloric intake and total crop area. Cereal demand in the region is projected to nearly triple between 2015 and 2050 due to rapid population growth (van Ittersum et al. 2016). Increases in cereal yields are very slow in most SSA countries and agricultural area expansion is still an important means to keep up with the growing demand, causing losses of forests or grasslands, thereby reducing carbon stocks.

At the same time, the Paris Conference of the Parties (COP21) agreement aims to keep global warming below 2 °C or even 1.5 °C by 2100. SSA has already seen a continuous increase in emissions from agriculture-driven deforestation between 1990 and 2015. Yet, intensification, i.e. higher yields per hectare with sufficient and judicious use of inputs, will also lead to higher emissions per unit area because of the required fertilizer use.

This info note summarizes the results of three recent studies that assessed whether SSA can be self-sufficient in cereals by 2050 under different scenarios of intensification on the existing cereal area. For each scenario, yield increases and area expansion to meet cereal demand by 2050 were assessed. Increased demands for fertilizer use and associated GHG emissions were quantified. You can find the full document in the sidebar.

Citation: van Ittersum M, Hijbeek R, ten Berge H, van Loon M, Boogaard H, Tesfaye K. 2019. Minimum emission pathways to triple Africa’s cereal production by 2050. CCAFS Info Note. Wageningen, Netherlands: CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS).