Why Small-Scale Circular Agriculture Is Central to Food Security and Environmental Sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa? The Case of Ghana

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted global food supply chains, further compounded by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. These events have exacerbated food security concerns and exposed vulnerabilities in an already climate change-impacted global food system. This confluence of challenges prompts a reconsideration of the potential of small-scale circular agriculture in addressing food insecurity and promoting environmental sustainability, particularly within Sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on Ghana. Moreover, exploring the role of circularity within agrifood value chains to combat food waste and loss is of paramount importance. Nevertheless, the existing sustainable agriculture literature offers limited insights into this domain. This study aims to evaluate the possibilities presented by (a) small-scale circular agriculture and (b) the integration of circular economy principles within agrifood value chains to enhance food security and environmental sustainability in Ghana. Employing ethnographic methods—comprising field observations, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions—the research assesses the ecological and economic advantages of five circular agriculture systems (mixed cropping, mixed livestock-crop farming, agroforestry, crop rotation, and cover cropping) across five communities in Ghana’s Ashanti Region. The findings demonstrate that small-scale circular agriculture contributes to a more robust and sustainable food system, benefiting both farmers and the environment. The adoption of circular practices enhances household food security, diminishes external input dependency, and fosters a self-sustaining and productive farming approach. Additionally, the study underscores the significance of collaboration and partnership among smallholder farmers, agrifood value chain participants, NGOs, and policymakers, which is essential for creating a conducive environment that reduces food loss and promotes circular agriculture adoption.