Beyond Technology: Gender and Indigenous Knowledge Systems as Foundations of Sustainable Food Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa

Never Assan, Hillary Marufu, Luke Mapiliyao, Culver Mvumi · 2026 · Global Multidisciplinary Perspectives Journal

Summary. Women and Indigenous knowledge systems drive sustainable food innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa through both product development (climate-resilient crops, traditional foods) and process innovation (fermentation, agroecological practices). The study finds that women lead food processing and value addition, creating adaptive, context-specific solutions. However, structural inequalities prevent scaling. A new Gendered Indigenous Innovation Framework shows that integrating gender-responsive and Indigenous knowledge approaches improves food quality, reduces waste, enhances climate resilience, and strengthens livelihoods.

Read the original

@article{assan-2026-beyond-technology-gender-indigenous-knowledge,
  title   = {Beyond Technology: Gender and Indigenous Knowledge Systems as Foundations of Sustainable Food Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa},
  author  = {Never Assan and Hillary Marufu and Luke Mapiliyao and Culver Mvumi},
  journal = {Global Multidisciplinary Perspectives Journal},
  year    = {2026},
  doi     = {10.54660/gmpj.2026.3.3.33-41},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.54660/gmpj.2026.3.3.33-41}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Beyond Technology: Gender and Indigenous Knowledge Systems as Foundations of Sustainable Food Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa
AU  - Never Assan
AU  - Hillary Marufu
AU  - Luke Mapiliyao
AU  - Culver Mvumi
JO  - Global Multidisciplinary Perspectives Journal
PY  - 2026
DO  - 10.54660/gmpj.2026.3.3.33-41
UR  - https://doi.org/10.54660/gmpj.2026.3.3.33-41
ER  - 

Details

DOI

10.54660/gmpj.2026.3.3.33-41

Categories

food-systems, indigenous-innovation, climate-and-environment, general-innovation

Added

2026-09-01