Unlocking the Role of Food Processing in Nutrition-Smart and Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture in West Africa: Challenges, Opportunities, and a Framework for Deployment ^†

Abstract

West Africa’s agri-food systems face a triple burden of malnutrition, climate vulnerability, and structural inefficiencies that compromise nutrition and public health. Despite increased attention to food security, agricultural strategies often prioritize yield over dietary quality. This paper explores the critical role of food processing in advancing Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture (NSA) and Nutrition-Smart Agriculture (NSmartAg) across West Africa. Drawing on a systems lens, it positions food processing not as a peripheral activity, but as a catalytic mechanism that connects nutrient-dense production with improved consumption outcomes. Food processing can reduce post-harvest losses, preserve micronutrients, extend food availability, and foster inclusive value chains particularly for women and youth. Yet, persistent challenges remain, including institutional fragmentation, infrastructure gaps, and limited financial and technical capacity. This paper proposes a conceptual framework linking food processing to NSA and NSmartAg objectives and outlines operational entry points for implementation. By integrating processing into agricultural policies, investment, education, and monitoring systems, stakeholders and policymakers can reimagine agriculture as a platform for resilience and nutritional equity. Strategic recommendations emphasize multisectoral collaboration, localized solutions, and evidence-informed interventions to drive the transformation toward sustainable, nutrition-oriented food systems.

1. Introduction

Rapid population growth, climate variability, and structural weaknesses in agri-food systems are fueling a nutritional crisis in West Africa, manifesting as undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and rising obesity [1,2,3]. Despite the region’s substantial agricultural potential, persistent food and nutrition insecurity continue to undermine health and development indicators. Stunting rates in children under five remain alarmingly high in several countries, and micronutrient deficiencies such as vitamin A, iron, and zinc are widespread [4,5,6]. Likewise, dietary transitions toward energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods, especially in urban areas, are accelerating the burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases. These nutritional challenges are further exacerbated by food insecurity, seasonal variations in food availability, and limited access to diverse, affordable diets. The regional population, currently exceeding 460 million, is expected to double by 2050, placing unprecedented pressure on food systems [7]. This demographic shift, combined with rising urbanization and an emerging middle class, is reshaping consumption habits and the food demand in both volume and quality [8]. Yet, agricultural systems remain largely rainfed, low-input, and dominated by subsistence farming, with low productivity and limited infrastructure for storage, distribution, and processing. As a result, food environments across the region fail to deliver consistent access to safe, nutritious, and culturally appropriate diets.

There is growing recognition that transforming agriculture alone will not resolve the region’s nutrition crisis unless it is explicitly oriented toward dietary quality. This has led to increased interest in Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture (NSA) and Nutrition-Smart Agriculture (NSmartAg) approaches that reframe agriculture as a vehicle for improved health outcomes. NSA emphasizes agricultural investments and policies that contribute to nutritional well-being, particularly for vulnerable populations, while NSmartAg focuses more specifically on technical innovations that enhance the nutrient content and bioavailability of food [9,10]. In this context, food processing emerges as a critical yet underexplored mechanism to strengthen the nutrition–agriculture nexus. By reducing post-harvest losses, enhancing food safety, preserving nutrient contents, and increasing shelf life, food processing can serve both technical and socio-economic functions in the food system [11,12]. Its integration into NSA and NSmartAg frameworks offers opportunities to address structural barriers, such as gender inequality, infrastructure deficits, and fragmented value chains, while additionally promoting inclusive economic growth and dietary diversity. This study investigates the role of food processing in accelerating the implementation of NSA and NSmartAg in West Africa. It explores the region’s current agricultural and nutritional landscape, evaluates challenges and opportunities for deploying food processing innovations, and proposes a conceptual framework to guide future interventions. In doing so, it aims to contribute to ongoing efforts to build resilient, nutrition-sensitive food systems that are aligned with regional development goals and global commitments.

2. Conceptual Foundations: Integrating Nutrition into Agriculture Through NSA, NSmartAg, and Food Processing

The persistent burden of malnutrition across West Africa underscores the inadequacy of conventional agricultural development paradigms to deliver nutritional outcomes. NSA and NSmartAg have gained prominence as comprehensive responses to this challenge. Converging them with food processing systems offers a valuable alternative to enhance the nutritional efficacy of agricultural interventions.

2.1. Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture (NSA)

NSA is defined as an approach that addresses the underlying determinants of malnutrition by making the entire agricultural value chain, from production and processing to marketing, responsive to nutrition objectives. It integrates nutritional goals into agricultural policies, research, and practices to ensure that food systems contribute not only to caloric sufficiency but also to dietary quality and public health [7,13]. NSA emphasizes the cultivation and availability of nutrient-dense crops, dietary diversity, and the inclusion of gender-responsive and pro-poor interventions that directly or indirectly influence household nutrition, particularly among women and children.

2.2. Nutrition-Smart Agriculture (NSmartAg)

NSmartAg is a subset of NSA, representing a more targeted and innovation-driven strategy aimed at explicitly enhancing the nutritional quality of agricultural outputs. It targets practices and encompasses the development and dissemination of biofortified crops, the application of agronomic practices that retain or improve the nutrient content, and the use of precision technologies in crop and livestock management to optimize both yields and nutrient profiles [10,14,15]. Unlike NSA’s broader focus, NSmartAg prioritizes the generation of measurable nutritional outcomes through technical and scientific interventions.

2.3. Food Processing as a Nexus for Nutrition and Agriculture

Food processing constitutes a critical but often underleveraged component within both NSA and NSmartAg frameworks. Defined broadly, it includes all methods and technologies that convert raw agricultural commodities into consumable food products while preserving or enhancing their nutritional value, safety, and accessibility. This spans from traditional methods, such as drying and fermentation, to modern approaches, including biofortification, fortification, and sustainable packaging solutions [11,12]. Beyond its nutritional implications, food processing contributes to reduced post-harvest losses, improved food safety, value addition, and economic empowerment, especially for smallholder farmers, women, and youth who dominate the informal food economy in West Africa. Critically, food processing can adapt the food supply to the changing demands of urbanization, dietary transitions, and year-round availability challenges, while supporting more stable, inclusive agri-food value chains.

2.4. Toward a Unified Framework

Integrating NSA, NSmartAg, and food processing offers a comprehensive framework for transforming West African food systems into engines of nutritional resilience, equity, and sustainability. Individually, each of these approaches targets specific entry points. NSA seeks to align agricultural policies with nutrition objectives; NSmartAg emphasizes innovation and technical efficiency in nutrient delivery; and food processing bridges production with consumption by ensuring the safety, availability, and acceptability of nutritious foods. Together, they offer a synergistic strategy to address both immediate dietary deficiencies and long-term structural drivers of malnutrition. This unified framework enables a systemic shift from traditional, yield-centered production models to inclusive food systems that prioritize dietary diversity, nutrient density, and equitable access. It underscores the importance of moving beyond isolated interventions toward integrated, multi-level strategies that connect farmers, processors, markets, and consumers in ways that support public health outcomes. Importantly, it provides a foundation for designing policy, technological, and institutional pathways that link agriculture more explicitly with nutrition and sustainable development goals. Operationalizing this framework requires rethinking how agricultural value chains are structured from the input supply and on-farm practices to post-harvest handling, processing, and distribution. It also necessitates aligning national food and nutrition strategies, research agendas, and investment priorities. Food processing becomes the pivot around which NSA and NSmartAg coalesce, enabling the valorization of nutrient-rich crops, reducing seasonal gaps in supply, and creating market incentives for healthier diets. In this context, agriculture is reimagined not merely as a source of income or subsistence, but as a proactive platform for addressing public health challenges, fostering inclusive economic growth, and advancing regional food sovereignty. This unified approach is essential for building food systems that can meet the complex and evolving nutritional needs of West Africa’s growing population.

3. Nutrition and Agriculture in West Africa: Status, Trends, and Structural Drivers

3.1. Nutrition Landscape: Persistent Deficits Amidst Dietary Transitions

West Africa continues to bear a disproportionate share of the global nutrition burden, characterized by the coexistence of undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and emerging overweight and obesity trends, a phenomenon referred to as the “triple burden of malnutrition” [1,16]. Stunting affects over 30% of children under five in several countries, including Niger, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso, reflecting chronic undernutrition during early life [17,18,19]. Deficiencies in essential micronutrients, particularly vitamin A, iron, and zinc, remain widespread and underdiagnosed, contributing to increased morbidity, cognitive impairment, and maternal mortality [20]. Concurrently, urbanization and rising income levels have triggered significant shifts in dietary patterns. Traditional diets rich in vegetables, legumes, and cereals are increasingly being replaced by ultra-processed, energy-dense foods that are high in sugar, fat, and sodium but low in essential nutrients [3,21]. These dietary transitions are driving an increase in overweight, obesity, and diet-related non-communicable diseases, particularly in urban populations [22].

3.2. Agricultural Systems: High Potential, Low Nutritional Yield

The agricultural sector remains the backbone of most West African economies, contributing significantly to the GDP and employing most of the rural population [23]. Yet, the prevailing production systems are largely subsistence-based, low-input, and rainfed. Key staples, such as maize, millet, sorghum, yam, and cassava, dominate the landscape, providing bulk calories but limited micronutrient diversity [24,25]. The limited dietary diversification at the production level translates into poor dietary quality at the consumption level, especially among low-income households. The absence of systematic investment in nutrient-rich crops, such as legumes, fruits, and vegetables, constrain the potential of agriculture to meet nutritional needs [26,27]. In addition, the reliance on seasonal rainfed systems exacerbates food insecurity during lean periods.

3.3. Structural Drivers of Nutrition Insecurity

West Africa’s persistent food and nutrition insecurity is not merely the result of inadequate agricultural production but is driven by a set of closely linked structural challenges. These barriers operate across environmental, social, and infrastructural dimensions, collectively undermining the region’s ability to ensure equitable and consistent access to safe and nutritious food.

One of the most pressing threats is climate change, which has intensified the frequency and severity of droughts, floods, and erratic rainfall patterns. These climatic disruptions compromise planting and harvesting cycles, lower agricultural yields, and reduce the reliability of food supplies. Smallholder farmers, who dominate the region’s agricultural landscape, are particularly vulnerable due to their limited access to adaptive technologies and risk mitigation means [28,29].

Another critical constraint is the high level of post-harvest losses, with estimates suggesting that up to 40% of perishable food is lost between harvest and consumption. These losses stem from inadequate storage infrastructure, poor transport systems, and the limited access to food preservation and processing technologies [30,31]. The result is not only economic inefficiency but also a significant erosion of the food quantity and nutritional quality.

Gender inequality further compounds these issues. Women play pivotal roles in food production, processing, and household nutrition yet face systemic barriers in accessing land, credit, education, and decision-making authority. Their underrepresentation in agricultural leadership and value chain governance limits both the productivity and nutritional impact of agricultural interventions [32,33].

Closely related are infrastructure deficits that restrict the flow and preservation of nutrient-rich foods. Limited road connectivity, an inconsistent electricity supply, and the near absence of cold chain systems hamper the distribution of perishable commodities, particularly in remote and underserved regions. These constraints increase food spoilage, elevate prices, and reduce dietary diversity [34].

Lastly, population growth and urbanization are reshaping food demand and consumption patterns. The region’s population is projected to double by 2050, accelerating urban expansion and straining already fragile food systems. Urbanization is also driving dietary transitions toward ultra-processed and convenience foods, which are often nutrient-poor and energy-dense, thereby increasing the prevalence of non-communicable diseases [35,36].

These structural constraints do not operate in isolation. Rather, they converge to form a self-reinforcing system of vulnerability, where climate shocks exacerbate post-harvest losses, gender disparities limit the adaptive capacity, and infrastructural gaps obstruct distribution and market access. As illustrated in Figure 1, the complex interlinkages among these factors erode both food availability and nutritional adequacy.

Table 1. Nutrition and agricultural indicators in some West African countries [ranked by stunting rate].

Country	Stunting Rate (%)	Vitamin A Deficiency (%)	Iron Deficiency (%)	Agriculture GDP Share	Major Crops	Urban Obesity	Food Insecurity Rate	Post-Harvest Losses	References
Niger	45.1	50	42	40	Millet, Sorghum, Cowpeas	Low but increasing	50	43	[6]
Nigeria	36.8	35	30	21	Maize, Cassava, Yam, Millet, Rice	Rising rapidly	42	Up to 45	[1,37,38]
Burkina Faso	33.1	42	36	31	Sorghum, Millet, Maize, Groundnut	Gradual rise	41	40	[29,39]
Mali	30.4	40	34	38	Sorghum, Millet, Maize, Rice	Moderate increase	36	35	[6]
Liberia	28.0	38	29	33	Rice, Cassava, Oil palm	Moderate rise	39	35	[1,37]
Sierra Leone	26.3	36	30	35	Cassava, Rice, Cocoa	Moderate increase	38	32	[6]
Guinea	25.0	34	31	27	Rice, Cassava, Groundnuts	Moderate rise	35	30	[9,29]
Gambia	23.4	31	28	22	Groundnuts, Rice, Millet	Slight increase	33	28	[37]
Côte d’Ivoire	21.6	30	27	24	Cocoa, Cassava, Yam, Rice	Urbanizing rapidly	30	28	[9,29]
Ghana	18.8	28	22	20	Cassava, Cocoa, Maize, Yam	Significant in cities	24	25	[37]
Togo	18.6	29	24	26	Maize, Cassava, Sorghum	Gradual urban rise	27	26	[1]
Senegal	17.3	25	21	15	Groundnut, Millet, Rice, Horticulture	Urban growth trend	28	30	[1]
Benin	16.2	26	23	20	Maize, Cassava, Rice, Yam	Moderate urban trend	29	27	[1,6]
Cabo Verde	8.5	14	15	10	Maize, Potatoes, Vegetables	High urbanization	10	15	[1,40]

further contextualizes these dynamics by presenting comparative indicators from selected West African countries, highlighting disparities in child stunting, micronutrient deficiencies, post-harvest loss rates, and overall food insecurity. Together, these conditions underscore the urgent need for integrated interventions that move beyond yield-centric approaches. Nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-smart strategies must be embedded within broader efforts to strengthen infrastructure, close gender gaps, enhance climate resilience, and improve post-harvest systems. Only then can West African food systems be transformed into inclusive, sustainable platforms for health and development.

4. Food Processing as a Link for Agricultural Production and Nutrition: Relevance, Challenges, and Opportunities

Food processing connects nutrient-rich agricultural outputs to end-users’ nutritional needs by enhancing food safety, shelf life, palatability, and accessibility. In contexts marked by seasonal variability, a weak infrastructure, and dietary monotony, conditions typical in many parts of West Africa, food processing becomes indispensable for converting perishable crops into stable, nutritious products that can be consumed year-round. From a nutritional perspective, appropriate food processing techniques, such as fermentation, controlled drying, and fortification, can significantly reduce post-harvest nutrient losses and enhance bioavailability [41]. For instance, processing millet into fortified flours or transforming cassava through fermentation reduces anti-nutritional factors while improving digestibility. Additionally, processing enables the incorporation of underutilized and indigenous crops into mainstream diets, which is vital for dietary diversification and the preservation of agro-biodiversity. When embedded in inclusive business models, food processing also contributes to economic empowerment, especially for women and small-scale entrepreneurs, while fostering value additions across rural supply chains [11,12]. Despite its importance, the agri-food processing system in West Africa faces many challenges.

4.1. Structural and Technological Constraints

One of the foremost barriers to effective food processing in West Africa is the persistent lack of modern infrastructure. Many processing units, particularly those operated by small and medium enterprises, rely on outdated or artisanal equipment with limited capacity and efficiency [34]. Inadequate facilities lead to high post-harvest losses, reduced food safety, and compromised nutrient retention. Additionally, the scarcity of reliable electricity and cold storage further restricts the viability of processing perishable crops, especially in rural areas. Access to appropriate technology is also constrained by limited capital investment, prohibitive import costs, and weak maintenance ecosystems. Local manufacturers of food processing equipment are scarce with low mass reproductivity performance, and imported machines often face compatibility or repair issues due to the unavailability of spare parts. This technological stagnation impedes both innovation and scale, limiting the ability of processors to meet the rising urban demand for safe, shelf-stable, and nutritionally enhanced products [42].

4.2. Financial and Market Barriers

The development of the food processing sector is further constrained by financial exclusion. Smallholder farmers and agro-processors often lack access to affordable credit, as financial institutions perceive agricultural and food-related ventures as high-risk, particularly due to their dependence on seasonality and weather variability [10]. Even when financing is available, interest rates tend to be prohibitively high for small enterprises. In parallel, a weak market integration limits processors’ ability to source quality raw materials or access consistent demand. Agricultural inputs are expensive or unavailable in many areas, while value chains remain fragmented and poorly coordinated. Limited transport infrastructure and high logistics costs erode competitiveness, often making imported processed foods cheaper and more accessible than local alternatives. These dynamics discourage private sector investment and widen the gap between rural producers and urban markets.

4.3. Institutional and Policy Challenges

Institutional fragmentation undermines the food processing sector’s development potential. Ministries responsible for agriculture, health, trade, and industry frequently operate in silos, leading to disconnected policies and uncoordinated implementation [43]. Food processing is often overlooked in national agricultural or nutrition strategies, receiving little policy attention or budgetary allocations. This marginalization constrains opportunities to promote food fortification, enforce quality standards, or incentivize private-sector engagement. Regulatory environments also tend to be underdeveloped or inconsistently enforced. Food safety standards, labeling requirements, and certification processes are often unclear or costly to comply with, particularly for small processors. This regulatory vacuum not only poses health risks but also undermines consumer confidence and stifles regional trade in processed food products [44].

4.4. Socio-Economic Inequities and Gender Constraints

Women represent a significant share of the informal food processing workforce in West Africa, yet their potential remains underleveraged due to systemic gender-based constraints. Women typically face more limited access to land, capital, education, and productive resources than men. These inequalities restrict their ability to scale up operations or adopt improved processing technologies, despite their central role in household nutrition and informal food markets [32,33]. In addition, training programs, extension services, and financing mechanisms are often not tailored to the realities of women-led enterprises. Strengthening gender-responsive policies and capacity-building initiatives is therefore critical to expanding the reach and impact of food processing within NSA and NSmartAg frameworks.

4.5. Emerging Opportunities for Sectoral Transformation

Despite these challenges, West Africa’s food processing sector presents considerable opportunities for driving inclusive growth and nutritional transformation. The region is rich in diverse raw materials, including cereals, legumes, roots, fruits, and vegetables, that can serve as inputs for nutrient-rich, culturally relevant food products [45]. Innovations in food preservation, such as solar drying, vacuum sealing, and fermentation, offer low-cost, scalable solutions for extending shelf life and improving food safety. The growing demand for fortified foods, driven by both public health priorities and consumer preferences, creates new market segments for processors. Regional initiatives, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), offer potential for expanding the intra-African trade in processed foods, provided harmonized standards and infrastructure investments accompany policy commitments [46].

Furthermore, advances in biofortification, sustainable packaging, and low-energy processing technologies open avenues for nutrition-enhancing innovations. Coupled with investments in youth entrepreneurship, cooperative models, and digital platforms for market linkage, these tools can unlock the full potential of food processing to support nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-smart agricultural systems.

5. Challenges to the Implementation of NSA and NSmartAg in West Africa

Despite the conceptual strengths and increasing policy recognition of NSA, NSmartAg, and food processing, the translation of these frameworks into actionable and sustainable programs in West Africa remains limited. Implementation efforts are frequently hindered by systemic, technical, financial, and sociocultural barriers that prevent these approaches from reaching scale or delivering measurable nutrition outcomes. Understanding these constraints is critical to designing interventions that are context-appropriate and scalable.

5.1. Institutional Fragmentation and Policy Incoherence

A major constraint is the fragmentation of institutional mandates across the agriculture, health, education, industry, and trade sectors. Ministries and agencies responsible for food systems often operate in silos, leading to disconnected policy frameworks and limited intersectoral coordination [43]. For instance, agricultural policies may prioritize staple crop productivity while public health strategies emphasize nutrition supplementation, with little overlap in strategy, resources, or objectives regarding agricultural production. Moreover, food processing is frequently marginalized in both nutrition and agricultural agendas, receiving insufficient investment or regulatory support. The absence of integrated food system governance inhibits synergies between sectors and reduces the effectiveness of multisectoral strategies intended to advance NSA or NSmartAg [47,48].

5.2. Underinvestment in Nutrition-Oriented Research and Infrastructure

NSA and NSmartAg remain chronically underfunded across most countries in the region. Agricultural investments continue to focus disproportionately on staple or export crops, such as maize, rice, cocoa, and cotton, with limited funding for nutrient-dense crops, underutilized species, or biofortified varieties. Similarly, research and extension services seldom prioritize nutrition outcomes, leading to the weak uptake of improved varieties and practices with demonstrable nutritional benefits [49]. Infrastructure deficits also constrain implementation. Inadequate rural road networks, unreliable electricity, and poor storage systems increase transaction costs and limit the distribution of perishable, nutrient-rich foods. The absence of cold chains, post-harvest technologies, and quality control mechanisms further undermines the reach and reliability of food processing enterprises [34].

5.3. Capacity Gaps and Limited Technical Expertise

At the grassroots level, smallholder farmers and local processors often lack the knowledge and training required to implement NSA and NSmartAg effectively. Agricultural extension services are under-resourced and seldom incorporate nutrition-sensitive content. They focus their interventions more on agricultural practices and innovations. Technical know-how in post-harvest handling, nutrient-preserving processing, and small-scale value addition remains limited, particularly in rural areas. This capacity gap is further compounded by the weak integration of nutrition curricula in agricultural education and by a general lack of training opportunities for women and youth who represent a significant portion of the informal food processing sector [39]. Without deliberate capacity strengthening, many nutrition-sensitive innovations will remain inaccessible or poorly adopted.

5.4. Financial Exclusion and Market Limitations

Access to finance remains a persistent barrier for small-scale farmers, processors, and entrepreneurs aiming to engage in nutrition-smart production or food processing. Commercial banks and microfinance institutions often perceive agriculture and food ventures as high-risk and rarely offer tailored financial products for nutrition-sensitive investments. Even when credit is available, high interest rates and collateral requirements deter uptake [50,51]. Market fragmentation and weak demand incentives also impede implementation. The lack of structured markets for biofortified or fortified foods disincentivizes producers and processors from investing in nutritional quality. In addition, rural consumers may face affordability and accessibility constraints, while urban markets may favor imported, ultra-processed foods over healthier, locally produced alternatives [3].

5.5. Sociocultural Barriers and Gender Inequality

Sociocultural dynamics, including food taboos, consumption norms, and perceptions around fortified or biofortified products, can hinder the adoption of nutrition-sensitive innovations. For example, in some communities, the consumption of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes or fortified flours may be resisted due to their unfamiliar appearance or taste, especially in the absence of adequate awareness campaigns [52,53]. Gender inequality further restricts the implementation capacity. Although women are key actors in production, processing, and nutrition management, they face limited access to land, extension services, agricultural inputs, and markets. Without gender-responsive policy frameworks and inclusive programming, NSA and NSmartAg interventions risk reinforcing existing inequities rather than addressing them [32,33].

5.6. Climate Vulnerability and Environmental Constraints

Climate variability poses an existential threat to the sustainability of Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture in West Africa. Increasingly frequent and severe droughts, floods, and irregular rainfall patterns are destabilizing production systems, particularly those that rely on rainfed agriculture. These shocks not only affect yields but also the crop quality and nutrient composition [29]. Moreover, climate impacts often lead to reactive shifts in crop choice toward hardier but less nutritious staples, undermining dietary diversity. Without investments in climate-resilient infrastructure, early warning systems, and adaptive agronomic practices, the scalability of NSA and NSmartAg will remain highly constrained, and the timely availability of agricultural products used as inputs in processing systems will be compromised.

6. Leveraging Food Processing to Implement Nutrition-Sensitive and Nutrition-Smart Agriculture in West Africa

Food processing is not merely a downstream activity in the agri-food system. It is the central mechanism that helps to operationalize both NSA and NSmartAg in practical and scalable ways. Properly leveraged food processing can catalyze the transformation of nutrient-rich agricultural production into safe, affordable, and culturally appropriate diets, while reducing post-harvest losses and improving livelihoods. This section presents a conceptual framework for operationalizing NSA and NSmartAg through food processing principles. To guide the integration of food processing within NSA and NSmartAg strategies, Figure 2 presents a deployment framework that maps the essential components and linkages needed to operationalize nutrition-oriented food systems through processing interventions.

6.1. Conceptual Framework for Nutrition-Oriented Food Processing Actions

Building on the agriculture-to-nutrition pathways articulated by [54], we propose an adapted framework that positions food processing as a central mechanism linking production, value addition, and consumption. The framework identifies six interdependent components:

6.1.1. Year-Round Availability of Nutrient-Dense Raw Materials

The foundation of nutrition-sensitive food systems is the consistent access to diverse, nutrient-rich crops [50]. This requires transitioning from seasonal, rainfed production to year-round systems supported by irrigation, climate-smart agriculture, crop diversification, and adequate processing systems. Scaling the adoption of biofortified and underutilized crops can expand the nutrient base of processed foods.

6.1.2. Nutrition-Preserving and -Enhancing Processing Technologies

Food processing must retain or enhance the nutritional value of raw materials. This can be achieved through methods such as solar drying, fermentation, extrusion, and vacuum packaging [50]. Fortification techniques, whether mandatory or voluntary, can address specific micronutrient deficiencies (e.g., vitamin A and iron). Importantly, technologies should be accessible to small-scale processors and tailored to local dietary preferences [50]. Systems maintenance as well as replacement parts of the processing equipment should be made available and affordable.

6.1.3. Supportive Policy and Regulatory Environment

Effective implementation demands enabling policies that align agricultural, health, and trade sectors. These include investment incentives for processors producing nutritious foods, quality assurance systems, streamlined food safety regulations, and subsidies for equipment or inputs. National food and nutrition strategies should formally integrate food processing within NSA and NSmartAg programming.

6.1.4. Nutrition Education and Behavioral Change

Supply-side innovations are insufficient without corresponding shifts in demand. Strategic communication campaigns, nutrition labeling, and school-based interventions can increase consumer awareness and acceptance of fortified and biofortified foods. Training for extension workers and food processors is also essential to embed nutritional goals into processing decisions.

6.1.5. Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Value Chains

Women and youth dominate informal processing sectors but face systemic barriers to land, finance, and training. Strengthening their participation in food value chains via cooperatives, technical support, or access to finance can enhance food security and equity while unlocking economic multipliers.

6.1.6. Market Access and Value Chain Integration

Robust distribution systems are critical for ensuring that processed nutritious foods reach diverse consumers. This includes developing local agro-processing hubs, linking rural producers to urban markets, and promoting regional trade under frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Digital platforms can also support logistics, traceability, and price transparency.

Together, these components create a virtuous cycle (Figure 2) in which nutritious foods are consistently produced, preserved, and delivered across geographies and seasons, improving diet quality and reducing food waste.

Table 2. Operational pathways for leveraging food processing to advance NSA and NSmartAg in West Africa *.

Strategic Entry Point	Recommended Actions	Expected Outcomes
Availability of nutrient-dense raw materials	Promote climate-resilient and biofortified crop varieties Support crop diversification programs	Year-round availability of nutritious crops Expanded supply base for processors
Nutrition-preserving processing technologies	Introduce low-cost, nutrient-retaining equipment [e.g., solar dryers, extruders] Train processors in safe and hygienic techniques	Improved nutrient quality and food safety Reduced post-harvest nutrient loss
Policy and regulatory support	Integrate food processing in national food and nutrition strategies Simplify food safety compliance for SMES	Institutional alignment Increased formalization and product quality assurance
Nutrition education and behavior change	Implement consumer awareness campaigns Introduce school-based nutrition interventions	Increased demand for fortified and diverse foods Greater dietary diversity
Gender-responsive and inclusive value chains	Provide finance, training, and cooperative support to women/youth-led processors Reduce barriers to land and credit access	Increased inclusion and empowerment Enhanced productivity and enterprise growth
Market access and value chain integration	Develop rural–urban supply linkages Promote regional trade under afcfta Leverage digital platforms for logistics and sales	Expanded access to affordable nutritious foods Strengthened regional food systems
Monitoring and adaptive learning	Establish metrics for nutrition and equity impact Use monitoring and evaluation data to refine programs	Evidence-based policy adjustments Scalable, replicable interventions

* Adapted from [10,11,54].

provides some operational pathways for leveraging food processing to advance NSA and NSmartAg in West Africa.

6.2. Operationalizing the Framework: Pathways and Entry Points

Translating this framework into practice requires coordinated, multisectoral actions, as depicted in Table 2. Below are priority entry points for implementation, each corresponding to components of the framework:

• Crop-Processing Alignment: Link biofortified crop value chains to local processors through input subsidies and aggregation models. For example, supporting farmer cooperatives to grow iron-rich pearl millet that is processed into fortified porridge mixes.
• Investment in Appropriate Technology: Promote affordable, energy-efficient processing tools suitable for small and medium enterprises [e.g., solar dryers and low-cost extruders]. These technologies reduce nutrient loss while enhancing food safety.
• Nutrition-Sensitive Procurement Policies: Integrate locally processed, fortified foods into institutional feeding programs, such as school meals or maternal health initiatives, to stabilize demand and improve nutritional outcomes.
• Capacity Building for Processors: Provide training in nutrient-preserving processing, regulatory compliance, and business development. This includes incubator programs for youth- and women-led food ventures.
• Public–Private Partnerships [PPPs]: Incentivize partnerships between governments, NGOs, and private sector actors to co-develop value chains for nutrition-oriented products, especially in underserved areas.
• Monitoring and Evaluation Systems: Embed nutrition and gender metrics into food system assessments to guide policy and investment. Indicators should track not just production or income, but access to the market, actual dietary outcomes, and the affordability of nutritious processed foods.

7. Conclusions

West Africa faces an urgent need to reorient its food systems toward nutrition outcomes. The region continues to struggle with a triple burden of malnutrition, climate-induced agricultural stress, demographic pressure, and systemic infrastructure gaps highlighting the limitations of yield- and export-focused agricultural models. This article argues that food processing, strategically embedded within Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture (NSA) and Nutrition-Smart Agriculture (NSmartAg), offers a transformative pathway to align food systems with nutritional, equity, and sustainability goals. When guided by nutritional objectives, food processing can significantly enhance the food system performance. It reduces post-harvest losses, preserves micronutrients, improves food safety, and increases the seasonal availability of diverse, culturally acceptable foods. Additionally, it supports value addition, creates markets for biofortified and underutilized crops, and offers inclusive economic opportunities especially for women and youth active in informal food economies. Yet, these benefits remain underrealized due to persistent policy, infrastructure, financing, and knowledge barriers. Unlocking this potential demands a shift in how food processing is valued in policy and practice. Governments should institutionalize food processing within agriculture and nutrition strategies, promote cross-sectoral alignment, and invest in nutrient-dense value chains and decentralized infrastructure. Access to affordable, efficient technologies and rural transport systems must also be expanded. Human capital development is equally critical. Training for small-scale processors, extension agents, and nutrition educators should integrate technical, business, and nutrition content, with an emphasis on gender equity. Generating consumer demand through behavior change, communication and clear food labeling can reinforce supply-side progress. Robust monitoring systems must track both nutritional and socio-economic outcomes. These insights should inform adaptive policy and investment strategies. Ultimately, embedding food processing within NSA and NSmartAg represents a paradigm shift that reimagines food systems as platforms for health, dignity, and resilience.