Smarter Cropland Allocation Could Support Sustainable Agricultural Intensification in Senegal

By Evgeniya Anisimova

A new study published in the Journal of Cleaner Production presents a novel approach to sustainable agricultural intensification, with promising implications for food security and land conservation in Senegal. Conducted by researchers at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the study explores how farmers' land-use decisions can be guided by the relative risks and returns of different crops—similar to how financial investments are managed.

Over the past two decades, cropland expansion has accelerated across developing countries, contributing to deforestation and biodiversity loss.