Modelling predicts that soybean is poised to dominate crop production across Africa

Abstract

The superior agronomic and human nutritional properties of grain legumes (pulses) make them an ideal foundation for future sustainable agriculture. Legume‐based farming is particularly important in Africa, where small‐scale agricultural systems dominate the food production landscape. Legumes provide an inexpensive source of protein and nutrients to African households as well as natural fertilization for the soil. Although the consumption of traditionally grown legumes has started to decline, the production of soybeans (Glycine max Merr.) is spreading fast, especially across southern Africa. Predictions of future land‐use allocation and production show that the soybean is poised to dominate future production across Africa. Land use models project an expansion of harvest area, whereas crop models project possible yield increases. Moreover, a seed change in farming strategy is underway. This is being driven largely by the combined cash crop value of products such as oils and the high nutritional benefits of soybean as an animal feed. Intensification of soybean production has the potential to reduce the dependence of Africa on soybean imports. However, a successful “soybean bonanza” across Africa necessitates an intensive research, development, extension, and policy agenda to ensure that soybean genetic improvements and production technology meet future demands for sustainable production.

The effects and interaction of soybean maturity gene alleles controlling flowering time, maturity, and adaptation in tropical environments

“…Demand for soybean is increasing throughout Africa both for livestock feed and as a protein source to ameliorate malnutrition [1,2], but sub-Saharan African soybean yields are lower than their potential [1,[3][4][5][6][7]. It is important to ensure the genetic background of tropical soybean grown in West Africa is adapted to compensate for environmental influences such as poor soils or diseases that are difficult or costly to control.…”

Soils

“…Recent and accelerating cultivation of soybean across sub-Saharan Africa has raised prospects of a "soybean bonanza" (Foyer et al, 2019;Sinclair, Marrou, Soltani, Vadez, & Chandolu, 2014). From production largely as niche crop in the 1960s to nearly 1.5 million acres in 2016, soybean production is increasing in Africa despite decreasing consumption of other legumes (Foyer et al, 2019).…”

Defining biotechnological solutions for insect control in sub‐Saharan Africa

“…The pod borer is, however, able to attack common beans and soybeans and beans, and hence, it has the potential to become invasive in new areas because of increased legume cultivation as well as climate change. Predicted increases in land area dedicated to the production of legumes particularly soybeans, in wider more favorable regions of sub‐Saharan Africa, are needed to satisfy the demands of a rapidly growing population with sufficient cheap protein (Foyer et al, ).…”

“…Data from different models predict future crop losses for both maize and soybean (Fodor et al, ). However, when carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) fertilization effects are taken into account, significant yield gains are predicted for soybean, together with a shift in global production from the southern to the northern hemisphere (Foyer et al, ).…”