Transitioning opportunities for sub-Saharan Africa’s small-scale urban pig farming towards a sustainable circular bioeconomy

Abstract

Small-scale urban pig farming (SUPF) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) contributes to food, nutrition, income and social security of indigent urbanites but is associated with animal, human and environmental health risks. In this context, it is critical to identify key strategies to optimize the benefits and minimize the risks of SUPF in SSA. The current review identifies a set of existing management practices that synchronously enhance sustainability and circularity of SUPF and explore factors influencing the capacity of farmers to adopt such practices. The review demonstrates that there is a multitude of opportunities for enhancing the sustainability and circularity of SUPF in SSA through application of sustainable and circular economy practices (SCEPs) in housing, feeding, breeding, health, marketing and waste management. However, these opportunities can only be fully realized if appropriate urban planning, by-laws, and policies are implemented, and socio-economic, psychological and institutional factors, private-public partnerships and international corporations that promote widespread application of SCEPs are holistically integrated into decision-making processes of the relevant stakeholders. Research should continuously focus on identifying SCEPs adopted by farmers and incorporating their adoption predictors in decision-making. This has the potential to transition SUPF in SSA towards a more sustainable and circular food system.