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Although collaboration is vital in addressing global environmental sustainability challenges, research understanding on stakeholder engagement in climate-smart production innovation adoption and implementation, remains limited. In this paper, we advance knowledge about stakeholder collaboration by examining the roles played by stakeholders in scaling up ecological sustainability innovations. Using the illustrative context and case of green cocoa industry in Ghana, the analysis identified three distinctive phases of stakeholder engagement in ecological sustainability innovations implemented from 1960-2017. We highlight defining periods of ecological challenges encompassing the production recovery sustainability initiative phase solely driven by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD)-a governmental body responsible for production, processing and marketing of cocoa, coffee and sheanut. During the period, major initiatives were driven by non-governmental organisations in collaboration with COCOBOD to implement the Climate-Smart agriculture scheme in the cocoa sector. The findings have implications for cocoa production research and stakeholder collaboration in environmental innovations adoption.

Farmers growing desire for no shade cocoa system has reiterated the scepticism about the impact of research on farmers' adoption of cocoa Agroforestry. In this study, we assess farmers' perception about shade trees and how that influences their adoption of cocoa Agroforestry. Five cocoa growing communities in the Eastern Region of Ghana and 91 cocoa farmers were purposively sampled and interviewed. The result showed that the most desirable shade trees among the farmers were Spathodea campanulata, Terminalia superba, and Terminalia ivorensis while Alstonei boonei was the least desirable. About 87 % of farmers introduced shade trees at different stages of cocoa farm establishment while 13 % of farmers had existing trees at establishment. Farmers with less than 11 years farming experience and those with Senior High education kept the recommended number (15-18) of shade trees ha − 1 . Most farmers related the importance of shade trees to the good growth of cocoa associated crops (37 %) and as source of fodder (31 %), while higher cocoa yield and low education on the importance of shade trees were major reasons farmers removed shade trees. In conclusion, collaboration between farmers and other stakeholders in the cocoa sector is essential in reversing the growing hunger for no shaded cocoa system. This collaboration must focus on educating farmers on the importance of shade trees, and by providing money and agro-inputs support to farmers as impetus for the adoption of cocoa Agroforestry in Ghana.

Aims The objective was to estimate the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen (Ndfa) by legume (Gliricidia sepium) trees for the benefit of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) trees in agroforestry systems. Methods Four sites where cocoa and gliricidia were intercropped and one site where gliricidia, cocoa, and orange trees were grown as separate stands were selected in Ghana. Ndfa in gliricidia and cocoa leaves (from all sites) and in shoot axes (in one site only) was assessed by the 15 N natural abundance technique. Cocoa trees distant (> 10 m) from the closest gliricidia were used as reference plants. Results With few exceptions, leaves of gliricidia and cocoa trees growing in proximity had similar δ 15 N, whereas the foliar δ 15 N value of gliricidia was lower than that of distant cocoa trees. The Ndfa in gliricidia leaves ranged from 22 to 50% of total leaf N and was 48% in the shoot axis. Root nodules, found only after the wet season, always showed the inner red color indicating effective N 2 fixation and the occurrence of Rhizobium tropici and Rhizobium etli. The annually produced shoots of gliricidia, theoretically suitable to become green manure after pruning, contained 31.4 to 38.0 kg N ha −1 derived from the atmosphere. Conclusions Gliricidia sepium trees are able to take advantage of the association with rhizobial symbionts to fulfill, at least in part, the N needs of their rapidly growing shoots. In mixed-stand agroforestry systems, with intercropped gliricidia and cocoa trees, the amount of N derived from the atmosphere that could enter the soil if the pruned shoots of gliricidia trees are used as green manure could diminish the need for N fertilizers for cocoa trees.

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