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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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

10 Oct 2025
Positive tipping points for accelerating adoption of regenerative practices in African smallholder farming systems: what drives and sustains adoption?
Antony Philip Emenyu, Thomas Pienkowski, Andrew M. Cunliffe, Timothy M. Lenton, and Tom W. R. Powell
Earth Syst. Dynam., 16, 1699–1710, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-16-1699-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-16-1699-2025, 2025
Short summary
Antony Philip Emenyu, Thomas Pienkowski, Andrew M. Cunliffe, Timothy M. Lenton, and Tom Powell

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2531', Anonymous Referee #1, 13 Mar 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Antony Philip Emenyu, 05 Jun 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2531', Anonymous Referee #2, 07 Apr 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Antony Philip Emenyu, 05 Jun 2024

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2531', Anonymous Referee #1, 13 Mar 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Antony Philip Emenyu, 05 Jun 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2531', Anonymous Referee #2, 07 Apr 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Antony Philip Emenyu, 05 Jun 2024

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (18 Jul 2024) by Jonathan Donges
AR by Antony Philip Emenyu on behalf of the Authors (27 Aug 2024)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes 
EF by Polina Shvedko (04 Sep 2024)  Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (11 Sep 2024) by Jonathan Donges
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (25 Sep 2024)
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (07 Oct 2024)
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (28 Jan 2025) by Jonathan Donges
AR by Antony Philip Emenyu on behalf of the Authors (24 Mar 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (17 Apr 2025) by Jonathan Donges
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (14 May 2025)
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (23 May 2025)
ED: Publish as is (23 Jul 2025) by Jonathan Donges
ED: Publish as is (25 Jul 2025) by Axel Kleidon (Chief editor)
AR by Antony Philip Emenyu on behalf of the Authors (26 Jul 2025)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

10 Oct 2025
Positive tipping points for accelerating adoption of regenerative practices in African smallholder farming systems: what drives and sustains adoption?
Antony Philip Emenyu, Thomas Pienkowski, Andrew M. Cunliffe, Timothy M. Lenton, and Tom W. R. Powell
Earth Syst. Dynam., 16, 1699–1710, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-16-1699-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-16-1699-2025, 2025
Short summary
Antony Philip Emenyu, Thomas Pienkowski, Andrew M. Cunliffe, Timothy M. Lenton, and Tom Powell
Antony Philip Emenyu, Thomas Pienkowski, Andrew M. Cunliffe, Timothy M. Lenton, and Tom Powell

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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
This paper explores what processes could boost adoption rates for regenerative agriculture programs in Africa and draws on insights from successful rapid scaling of TIST in east Africa. Found that the cultivation of reinforcing feedback processes that strengthened the social capital around adoption and elimination of barriers to carbon accreditation for RA projects to be key success factors and possible opportunities new and ongoing RA programs to boost their adoption rates.
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