Interlinkages between land use change, CSA, and food security under climate change in SSA: A scoping review synthesis

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Abstract

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces interconnected challenges of climate change, land-use transformation, and persistent food insecurity. In this scoping review, we synthesized evidence on the interlinkages among land-use change, climate-smart agriculture (CSA), and food security under climate change in SSA, with particular attention to synergies, trade-offs, and feedback mechanisms. Following the PRISMA-ScR framework, relevant literature published between 2000 and 2025 was systematically identified and screened, resulting in 17 studies that were included in the final synthesis. Extracted evidence was analyzed using descriptive and thematic approaches. Agricultural expansion, deforestation, land degradation, agricultural intensification, and landscape fragmentation emerged as the dominant land-use transformations. While agricultural expansion may increase production in the short term, associated ecosystem degradation can undermine long-term productivity and food security. CSA practices, particularly agroforestry, conservation agriculture, integrated soil fertility management, climate-resilient crop varieties, and sustainable land management were associated with improved productivity, climate resilience, ecosystem restoration, and food-security outcomes. However, their implementation involved trade-offs related to land allocation, labor, investment requirements, and environmental conservation. The findings highlighted positive feedbacks between CSA, land restoration, productivity, and resilience and support integrated, context-specific landscape approaches for achieving sustainable and climate-resilient agrifood systems in SSA.

Keywords

climate-smart agriculture / land use change / food security / climate change adaptation / Sub-Saharan Africa

CHANGE HISTORY

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