Tropentag, September 10 - 12, 2025, Bonn "Reconciling land system changes with planetary health"

Creating value from waste: Consumer acceptance of pig manure fertilisers in sub-Saharan Africa urban agriculture

¹University of Abomey-Calavi, School of Science and Technics of Animal Production, Benin
²University of Kassel / University of Göttingen, Animal Husbandry in the Tropics and Subtropics, Germany
³University of Parakou, Dept. of Sci. and Techn. of Animal Prod. and Fisheries, Benin
⁴University of Abomey-Calavi, Research Unit on Integrated Soil and Crop Management, Laboratory of Soil Science, Benin

Abstract

Urban pig farming is expanding rapidly across sub-Saharan Africa, driven by growing food demand and accelerating urbanisation, especially as nearly 58 % of the population is projected to reside in cities by 2050. Recycling pig manure as fertiliser offers a sustainable alternative to chemical inputs, but consumer perception remains a critical barrier. This study assessed consumer perceptions and acceptance of vegetables produced using pig manure-based fertilisers in urban areas of Benin. A face-to-face survey using a semi-structured questionnaire was conducted among 397 consumers in major urban areas of Benin, with 90.4 % of responses collected in the cities of Cotonou, Porto-Novo, and Abomey-Calavi. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses (chi-squared and Fisher’s exact tests), and multinomial logistic regression were used to explore associations and identify predictors of consumer acceptance. The findings revealed that 76.1 % of participants were willing to consume vegetables fertilised with processed pig manure, while an additional 14.9 % expressed conditional acceptance, contingent on certification of the fertiliser’s safety. Willingness was significantly associated with religion (p < 0.05), education (p = 0.027), age (p = 0.029), and perceived risks associated with the use of the pig manure-based to produce vegetables (p < 0.05). In the regression model, perception of risks was a strong negative predictor for both unconditional (p = 0.002) and conditional acceptance (p = 0.006). General concern about consumption of such vegetables also significantly reduced unconditional acceptance (p = 0.031). The main concerns expressed by respondents included potential health risks (76.4%), religious or cultural beliefs (32.9%), and perceived impacts on taste or quality (27.9 %). Additionally, 74.5 % believed that these fertilisers could be harmful to the environment, and 39.8 % associated them with unpleasant odors. Addressing these concerns through targeted awareness campaigns, transparent communication, and safety certification could build consumer trust. Such efforts are essential to support the safe reuse of pig manure and foster more sustainable, inclusive urban agri-food systems in sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords: Consumer perception, organic fertiliser, pig manure, sub-Saharan Africa, urban agriculture, waste valorisation

Contact Address: Karl-Loïc Mawussé Icoutchika, University of Abomey-Calavi, School of Science and Technics of Animal Production, Abomey-Calavi, Benin, e-mail: ikarlloicgmail.com