Article published by the Foods Journal, January 2025.
Africa is grappling with severe food security challenges driven by population growth, climate change, land degradation, water scarcity, and socio-economic factors such as poverty and inequality. Climate variability and extreme weather events, including droughts, floods, and heatwaves, are intensifying food insecurity by reducing agricultural productivity, water availability, and livelihoods. The continent’s current food systems are unsustainable, lacking resilience to climate shocks and relying heavily on rain-fed agriculture with inadequate infrastructure and technology.
Africa remains one of the world’s most food-insecure regions, with millions of people experiencing chronic hunger and malnutrition. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), as of 2023, approximately 282 million people in Africa were undernourished, representing over 20% of the continent’s population.
Food security varies significantly across regions in Africa. West Africa and the Sahel face recurring food crises driven by drought and conflict, while East Africa, particularly Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia, suffers from prolonged droughts that have led to severe food shortages. Southern Africa, although relatively more food secure, is increasingly impacted by climate change, with countries like Zimbabwe and Malawi experiencing periodic food crises. Meanwhile, North Africa, generally more food secure, faces challenges related to water scarcity and the effects of climate change on agriculture.
Despite these challenges, efforts are underway to improve food security across the continent. Initiatives such as the African Union’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) focus on enhancing agricultural productivity and resilience through investment in agriculture, infrastructure, and research. International organizations, governments, and NGOs are also working to provide emergency food aid, improve agricultural practices, and build resilience to climate change.
Given the ongoing threats posed by climate change to agricultural productivity, food security, and livelihoods across Africa, developing climate-resilient food systems is crucial. This requires a multifaceted approach, including crop diversification, improved water management, policy support, investment in research, and international cooperation. By implementing these strategies, Africa can protect its food security and ensure a sustainable future for its people.
These are extracts from an article written by Belay Simane, Thandi Kapwata, Natasha Naidoo, Guéladio Cissé , Caradee Y. Wright, and Kiros Berhane, January 2025. To read the full article, follow the link here.