Work

Imbalance use of nitrogen and phosphorus accelerates food insecurity in Africa

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: African countries must improve their agricultural productivity, and food security, but their practicability remains unclear. This study aimed to detail for the first time P and N budget dynamics with their driving factors in African countries. Our findings revealed that N and P use-efficiencies changed from 91.3 %-74.6 % and 57.8 %-64.3 %, respectively resulted from low total N and P inputs that increased from 17.9–46.9 and 4.8–9.5 kg ha -1 yr -1 , respectively during 1961–2021 implying large space for streamlining agricultural productivity with regional specific attention in Africa. Northern-Africa has currently attained daily recommended calorie and protein supplies though many Sub-Saharan African countries still lag behind and need substantial improvement. Among driving factors, GDP and calorie supply influenced N and P use-efficiencies in Africa with regional and country disparities. Averting food insecurity mainly caused by low agricultural productivity, requires urgent agricultural yield improvement through adequate increase of total N and P inputs within planetary boundaries.

Source: Resources Conservation and Recycling

DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108676