Mapping the Landscape of Climate Change and Agricultural Research in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Bibliometric Review and Content Analysis of Trends and Collaborations

Abstract

Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is vital to food security and livelihoods, yet faces severe threats from climate change, underscoring the critical link between climate research and agriculture for adaptation. However, the scholarly response to this challenge remains uneven and fragmented, with critical gaps in regional and thematic coverage. To address this, we conducted a bibliometric and content analysis of 1565 Scopus-indexed publications (2004–2024) on climate change and agriculture in SSA. The analysis reveals nearly a fivefold increase in publications (~ 472%) from 2004 to 2023, with output surging in 2019–2022 and remaining high through 2023. The United States, Kenya, and the United Kingdom are the top contributors, reflecting strong North–South research collaboration. Thematic analysis reveals that the literature primarily focuses on managing climate risks (adaptation and resilience), understanding the impacts of climate change on agriculture, and improving farming practices, while also addressing contextual institutional and geographic factors. Notably, in recent years, attention has grown to food security and climate-smart agriculture. Methodologically, the field is dominated by quantitative approaches, with relatively few studies employing mixed methods or incorporating gender perspectives. Nonetheless, critical gaps persist: Central African countries remain underrepresented, and social and institutional dimensions of adaptation receive limited attention. These findings underscore the need for more inclusive, locally relevant, and transdisciplinary research agendas to support climate resilience in African agriculture. We recommend strengthening regional research collaborations and capacity building, and encouraging greater integration of underrepresented perspectives to address the identified gaps.