Rural people mostly grew their own food. But in the city, the daily meal became a commodity to be bought and sold.
Articles on African food systems
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The world faces compounding crises in food availability. Efforts in Sierra Leone to address these challenges could serve as a foundation for wider food security initiatives.
Under certain conditions, climate can amplify security risks, with implications for lasting peace.
Food security has six dimensions: availability, access, stability, utilisation, agency and sustainability.
Commitments made on the global stage must now be followed through with policy and regulatory reform at national, regional and continental levels.
These organisations are ideally placed to contribute their fine-grained local knowledge. They intimately understand the specific needs of the most vulnerable in their communities.
Research questions the idea that getting commercial seeds and fertilisers to smallholder farmers will double yields and incomes.
Small and medium-scale farmers and agri-businesses in Southern and Eastern Africa, which are at the heart of inclusive food value chains, are not receiving fair prices for their produce.
Globally, experts are beginning to recognise that focusing on one aspect of food overlooks the trade-offs or sacrifices people make.
Stronger agricultural R&D systems will enable agriculture to power Africa’s transformation.
Barriers to independent national decision making in farming need to be challenged if agricultural sustainability is to be developed.
African governments risk repeating mistakes of the 20th century with damaging consequences for poverty, food security and economic development.
As the global South transitions to a predominantly urban future, food offers a way to understand the role of cities in future development.
To overcome food insecurity, especially in a pandemic, Nigeria’s emergency preparedness requires a total overhaul of it’s agri-food supply chain.
It’s time to redesign food systems that deliver healthy foods, allow farming families to make a good living, and support thriving societies.
Top contributors
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Senior Fellow, Department of Agricultural Economics, Stellenbosch University
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Co-director; Bureau of Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), Stellenbosch University
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Research Associate in Earth Observation and Food Security, University of Manchester
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Principal Scientist, Innovation Systems for the Drylands., CGIAR
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Principal Scientist and Associate Professor, CGIAR
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Economist at the Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development, University of Johannesburg
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Assistant Professor, Department of History, West Virginia University
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Senior Lecturer in Water-Food Security, Department of Mechanical, Aerospace & Civil Engineering, University of Manchester
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DeWitt Wallace Professor of Geography, Director of Food, Agriculture & Society Program, Macalester College
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CIGI chair in Gloal Migration and Development, Professor of Geography and Enviromental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University
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Research Associate, Global Development Institute, University of Manchester
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Professor of Economics, Centre for Competition, Regulation & Economic Development, UJ, and at SOAS University of London; advisor Shamba Centre for Food & Climate, University of Johannesburg
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Research Director, Climate Action, CGIAR
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Professor, Business School, Adelaide University
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PhD candidate in the School of Government, University of the Western Cape