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Can a continuous growth of agriculture be achieved in the sub-Sahara region without inducing irreversible damage to the ecosystem? Until now, doubts have been expressed as to the actual capacity of the soils to sustain a desirable increase of production which can match the requirements of a fast-growing population. Thirty years of investigation and a renewed comprehensive interpretation of research data on soil fertility show that a sustainable agriculture growth could be a practical possibility in a savannah region.

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The results of 30 years of investigation in the West-African savannah were re-interpreted from the point of view of modern agronomical and environmental sciences. This example can be seen as a model for comparable regions worldwide.

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