Meta-analysis of fonio production systems: prospects for advancing food sustainability and security

Research on fonio, is crucial in ensuring food security amid prevailing climate change concerns. However, there is limited scientific documentation and a scarcity of information on fonio productivity, affects advancement in fonio production and management. The study gives insight on the past, present and future trajectory of the crop and enhances strategies to scale up its production. It explores research trends, spatial research footprints and current themes in fonio production systems, and identifies fonio’s limiting factors, and proposed measures to overcome the challenges. 452 research publications on fonio production from 1981 to 2023 were retrieved from three different databases and research hotspots and themes were identified. The data indicated a consistent upward trend in fonio research trends from 2001 and 2022. The increasing trend in productivity patterns involves genetic diversity, seed improvement, seed systems, post-harvest processing, governmental policies, decentralized breeding, and preservation of indigenous knowledge on fonio cultivation. Among the constraints in fonio productivity are inadequate advancement in post-harvest processing and seed systems. Most research on fonio production is conducted in West Africa but is gaining increasing collaborative networking among the developed countries. There is upward global interest in fonio and its suitability during climate-adverse conditions. It provides valuable insights for researchers and policymakers to scale up fonio production and address food and nutritional insecurity.