Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2531
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2531
28 Nov 2023
 | 28 Nov 2023

Positive tipping points for accelerating adoption of regenerative practices in African smallholder farming systems: What sustains adoption?

Antony Philip Emenyu, Thomas Pienkowski, Andrew M. Cunliffe, Timothy M. Lenton, and Tom Powell

Abstract. Regenerative agriculture (RA) practices have been promoted as a critical climate change resilience strategy and adaptation solution for smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, most RA programmes struggle with securing and sustaining high adoption rates with many facing dis-adoption. We used Lenton et al.’s positive tipping points framework to assess the potential for fast and lasting adoption of Regenerative Agriculture (RA) in Sub-Saharan Africa. This involved reviewing literature and combining evidence from the successful expansion of the International Small Group and Tree Planting Program (TIST) in East Africa to examine the conditions and feedback processes that drive RA adoption. We found that the key leverage points for TIST wide and rapid adoption were: (1) the cultivation of reinforcing feedback processes that strengthened the social capital around adoption and (2) elimination of barriers to carbon accreditation. Integrating carbon accreditation protocols as standard in design or review of RA interventions could provide an essential leverage to boost adoption rates. Future studies could explore what drives variations in scaling rates and patterns between the sites to inform more site specific interventions.

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This paper explores what processes could boost adoption rates for regenerative agriculture...
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