Context Human micronutrient deficiencies in sub-Saharan Africa are connected through complex pathways to soils and how soils are managed. Interventions aiming directly at nutrient consumption, such as supplements and food fortification, have direct impacts but are often limited in their reach and require continuous support. In contrast, less direct changes, such as agricultural diversification and agronomic biofortification, are complicated by a wide array of factors that can limit progress toward nutritional outcomes. However, changes in agriculture and dietary patterns, if successfully linked to deficiencies, provide a more systemic transformation with the potential to achieve wide-reaching and self-perpetuating attainment of nutritional goals. Objective The purpose of this paper is to advance theoretical frameworks and research methods for holistic analysis of agriculture-based interventions for micronutrient deficiencies. Methods We synthesize lessons from the literature and from the Africa RISING project in Malawi and Tanzania about the connections between soil nutrients and human micronutrient deficiencies from the perspective of the five domains of sustainable intensification (productivity, economic, environmental, human condition and social). Results and conclusions We present a menu of indicators for future research on the soil-plant-food-nutrition pathway related to micronutrient deficiency and smallholder farming that need to be considered to effectively assess how agricultural interventions may or may not result in the desired nutritional outcomes. Ultimately, addressing micronutrient deficiencies through agricultural interventions requires a holistic approach that considers all five domains. Research on soil-nutrition linkages should consider the feedback loops across the five domains of sustainable intensification.

The funding for this research was provided by the United States Agency for International Development through the Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation (Africa RISING) project in East and Southern Africa (Award number AID-BFS-G-11-00002). Part of the writing time of some co-authors was supported through the Sustainable Intensification for Mixed farming System and the Excellence in Agronomy Initiatives of the CGIAR.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104094

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Mateete Bekundahttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7297-9383

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104094

Natural Resource Management

Agribusiness; Biodiversity; Biofortification; Food Security; Natural Resource Management; Nutrition

Micronutrient Deficiencies; Sustainable Intensification; Diversification; Nutrition; Biofortification

Africa; East Africa; Southern Africa

Malawi; Tanzania

Eastern Africa Hub

Agricultural Systems