The Role of Acetylsalicylic Acid in Forage Production: Scientific Evidence and Human Dimensions of Agricultural Innovation

Climate change and environmental stressors pose significant challenges to forage production, particularly in tropical and subtropical livestock systems. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), commonly known as aspirin, has emerged as a promising plant biostimulant capable of enhancing plant growth, resilience, and nutritional quality. A total of 43 experimental studies meeting rigorous inclusion criteria were analysed, focusing on ASA’s effects on biomass yield, chlorophyll content, and crude protein levels across multiple forage species including Brachiaria brizantha, Pennisetum purpureum, Lolium perenne, and Medicago sativa. At optimal doses (80-100 mg/L), ASA applications enhanced biomass production (up to +31.5%), chlorophyll content (+22.4%), and crude protein concentration (+19.0%) under both optimal and abiotic stress conditions. Mechanistically, ASA enhances photosynthetic efficiency, bolsters antioxidant activity, and optimizes nitrogen metabolism. Importantly, ASA’s low cost, ease of application (e.g., foliar spray, seed priming), and safety profile make it highly compatible with sustainable forage systems, especially in smallholder contexts. Nevertheless, the effective integration of ASA into forage systems depends not only on agronomic performance but also on human and institutional factors such as farmer awareness, risk perception, economic incentives, and access to extension services which critically shape adoption and long-term sustainability, and if left unaddressed, may hinder widespread adoption and limit ASA’s potential benefits. The integration of ASA into pasture management practices offers a viable strategy for improving forage quality and productivity, contributing to climate resilience and food security. Ultimately, successful integration of ASA into forage systems hinges on bridging scientific understanding with participatory innovation and inclusive outreach, ensuring tangible benefits for livestock producers in the Global South and contributing to global food security. Keywords: Animal grazing, forage crops, climate variability, rural livelihood, salicylic acid, stress tolerance, livestock systems