Agricultural Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Socio-Political Case Study of Push–Pull Technology and Biocontrol in Kenya

Agricultural innovation is vital for addressing sub-Saharan Africa's food insecurity, land degradation, and climate change challenges. Biocontrol technologies have been developed and promoted as sustainable pest management methods to help achieve food security, protect the environment, and reduce poverty. Despite strong experimental evidence, their widespread adoption has not met the expectations of developers. Push–Pull Technology (PPT), developed by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), exemplifies this gap between research success and large-scale implementation. While biocontrol solutions have garnered scientific and development interest, they are often viewed through a linear, technology-focused perspective that overlooks the social, political, and institutional factors shaping their utilisation.
To address this gap, the thesis considers agricultural innovation as a socio-political process rather than merely a technical one. It explores why promising biocontrol innovations such as PPT have yet to be adopted by millions of farmers across Africa and how pathways to innovation can become more inclusive and sustainable. The study employs a multi-scalar approach that combines a systematic review of literature, ethnographic research in Western Kenya, and an analysis of policy and institutional landscapes to connect farmer experiences with broader systemic contexts.
Drawing on Science and Technology Studies, political ecology, and innovation systems thinking, the thesis presents a synthesis of micro- and macro-level innovation dynamics. It proposes pathways towards more participatory, context-aware, and policy-aligned agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa.