The use of black soldier fly (BSF) larvae and frass in agriculture can make an important contribution to food and nutrition security. However, it is important to understand whether consumers are willing to consume food products resulting from the use of BSF larvae as animal feed or BSF frass as fertilizer. This study employed the stated preference approach as food products produced using BSF larvae and frass are not currently available on the market. Questionnaires were administered to a total of 4412 consumers in Ghana (1360), Mali (1603), and Niger (1449). The results show that the vast majority of respondents are willing to consume vegetables (88%) produced using BSF frass and meat (87%) produced using animal feed made of BSF larvae. A smaller percentage of respondents are even willing to pay USD 1.32 and USD 1.7 more if the base price of BSF-based products were USD 5 per kg. Age, gender, education, and country positively influenced the respondents’ willingness to consume food produced using BSF products. In contrast, neighborhood status, income, and household size are inversely related to the respondents’ willingness to pay for and consume these products. Our findings are, therefore, important to scaling up BSF technologies in the region.

Tomato production in Ghana is constrained by low yields and high postharvest losses. While mineral fertilizers are essential, their use is hindered by rising costs, limited availability, and distribution challenges. This study evaluated Black Soldier Fly (BSF) compost as a sustainable alternative to enhance tomato yield and quality. A field experiment was conducted across two growing seasons in three locations within the semi-arid northern part of Ghana, using a randomized complete block design with seven fertilizer treatments, including BSF compost, ACARP commercial compost, NPK, BSF + ACARP, BSF compost + NPK, ACARP compost + NPK, and control with no fertilizer applied. Tomato growth, fruit yield, plant biomass, water use efficiency (WUE), plant health index (PHI), economic returns, fruit nutrient content, and postharvest quality were assessed. In 2024, BSF + NPK and BSF alone showed the highest biomass content, while BSF + NPK recorded the highest WUE in both years. BSF + NPK resulted in the highest yield increase compared to the control, with an improvement of 81.7% in 2023 and 191.6% in 2024. BSF compost treatments consistently gave the highest net income, benefit cost ratio and return on investment across seasons. PHI was highest in sole BSF compost and BSF compost + NPK. BSF compost also improved lycopene, vitamin C, shelf life, and reduced microbial spoilage of tomato. BSF compost, especially when combined with reduced mineral fertilizer, significantly improves tomato yield and postharvest quality, which offers a climate-smart, circular solution for boosting sustainable vegetable production across West Africa.

Onion is one of the most economically and nutritionally important vegetable crops in West Africa. Onions are very important for consumers due to the antioxidants and compounds they contain that may reduce inflammation, lower triglycerides and reduce cholesterol levels, resulting in lower risks of heart disease and blood clots. However, high-yielding varieties that are accessible to farmers remain scarce. The objective of the present study was to identify adapted onion genotypes for sustainable production in Northern Ghana and Southern Mali. Nine onion lines, including a check variety, were assessed for yield stability using a randomized complete block design. The trials were carried out in “technology parks” under the joint management of farmers and researchers. Onion bulb weight was recorded for each plot after harvest. Separate analyses of variances were performed for each location and season. Analysis of variance of combined locations, seasons and lines was performed to determine the most stable varieties using the line-superiority measure and ecovalence stability coefficients. Results indicated that the lines AVON1310 and AVON1325 were most stable for yield performance over locations and seasons (Wi = 2.20 and 11.60, respectively; Pi = 1.32 and 6.56, respectively). From the genotype main effects and genotype-by-environment interaction biplots, the best performing lines were AVON1310 (33.32 t.h⁻¹), AVON1308 (28.81 t.h⁻¹) and AVON1325 (31.68 t.h⁻¹). The stability of these lines makes them potential candidates for commercial release in West Africa to contribute to sustainably intensifying onion production in the region.

Understanding the perception of sack gardening technology is important in order to better support the adoption of sack gardening in households, given the nutritional role vegetables play. This notwithstanding, research has not yet been carried out to understand the stakeholders’ perception of sack gardening technology in the zones of Bougouni and Koutiala, where sack gardening technology was introduced under the Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation (Africa-RISING) project. This study assessed the perception of farm households on sack gardening technology and specifically to understand to what extent this innovation responds to household needs. Q-methodology was used to identify rural household’s viewpoints and principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to compare stakeholders’ opinion typologies to discourses retained by Q-method results. Focus group discussions were used to identify the statements used for the q-set in the individual surveys. Our findings showed three factors or discourses which reflected the stakeholders’ viewpoints. A nutritional role, the role of making vegetables available for household consumption and the role of environment protection, specifically soil protection, were indicated in the stakeholders’ opinions. The understanding of the different discourses retained provides insights that can be used to design public and private interventions to support the usage of the technology in households or the adoption of this technology.

Gender disparities in agricultural productivity persist across Ghana’s Northern regions, where vegetable production is a major livelihood source. This study aims to examine gender disparities in resource access, socio-economic constraints, and economic outcomes in smallholder vegetable farming in Northern Ghana. The research applies a mixed-methods approach using data from 403 farmers, analyzed through descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, and multivariate regression models. From our findings, male farmers recorded significantly higher total revenues and benefit–cost ratios, while female farmers reported lower profits despite similar farm sizes. Women more frequently engaged in mixed cropping systems and manual irrigation, which are associated with higher labor demands but lower returns. Regression models on input access identified gender, region, and age as significant predictors. Female farmers in the Upper West Region showed the lowest levels of input availability, and accessibility declined with age for women. A separate regression on socio-economic found that women were more likely to report challenges related to storage, postharvest losses, and market access, whereas men cited mechanization as a primary concern. The study, therefore calls for evidence-based, gender-responsive interventions that enhance women’s access to resources, reduce labor intensity, and strengthen market participation in Northern Ghana.