Food system enablers and constraints of biofortified cassava in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review

Abstract

Cassava biofortification offers a promising strategy to address persistent micronutrient deficiencies in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where food and nutrition insecurity remains high due to climate change, poverty, and limited dietary diversity. This systematic review synthesizes evidence on the status of biofortified cassava in SSA, with a specific focus on food-system enablers and constraints influencing its development, promotion, and potential scaling. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across AJOL, Scopus, Research4Life, PubMed, and additional relevant sources, with records managed in Mendeley Desktop. Eligible studies examined biofortified cassava within food-system contexts in SSA. A total of 52 studies met the inclusion criteria, with research concentrated in Nigeria (n = 46) and alongside additional studies from other SSA countries including Ghana (n = 2), Kenya (n = 2), Uganda (n = 1), and Sierra Leone (n = 1). All studies focused on provitamin A–biofortified cassava. Actor-level constraints included limited awareness, high input costs, market and credit barriers, sociocultural preferences, and unequal access to extension services, land, and finance. System-level constraints – weak seed systems, inadequate infrastructure, limited policy support, and climate-related disruptions, further hindered scaling efforts. Key enablers included improved nutrition awareness, regular extension contact, cooperative membership, and growing consumer and market interest in biofortified cassava products. Biofortified cassava can meaningfully contribute to nutrition improvement and food-system resilience in SSA, but its impact depends on addressing persistent system-level and actor-level barriers. Strengthening nutrition awareness, seed and extension systems, value-chain capacity, policy support, and sustainable financing will be essential to enable broader development, promotion, potential scaling, and integration of biofortified cassava into regional food systems.