[LUM#15] “We need to rethink the entire food system”
Climate change, political instability, and population growth… In Africa, perhaps more than anywhere else, the issue of food security remains a challenge. What are the key issues? What measures can be utilized? Patrick Caron, a researcher at the ART-Dev laboratory and former chair of the High-Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) of the United Nations Committee on World .
To fully understand what we’re talking about here, could you explain what is meant by food security?
The main definitions we refer to are those from 1974 and 1996, developed during the first two World Food Summits. We can refer to the most recent one, which states that “food security exists when all people, at all times, have economic, social, and physical access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their nutritional needs and dietary preferences, enabling them to lead active and healthy lives.”
In Africa, what are the major challenges regarding food security?
Let’s start by saying that there is no single “Africa,” so anything we say must be qualified. That said, one of the distinctive features of this continent is its population growth (INED). The projected increase of 1 to 2 billion in the world’s population will primarily affect African countries, even though food availability—whether in terms of calories or protein—is lower there than on other continents. 800 million people worldwide, a large proportion of whom are in Africa, are hungry (FAO report), and this figure could worsen given demographic trends, rapid urbanization, and the context of climate and health crises. Micronutrient deficiencies and the rapid spread of obesity-related issues also make nutrition the number one public health problem. We need to rethink food systems as a whole.
What do you mean by “food systems”?
It refers to the way we organize ourselves to produce and consume our food. These systems are at the heart of the transitions ahead. They leave their mark on the environment at both the local and global levels. Agriculture accounts for one-third of global jobs (World Bank data). Africa’s population is predominantly rural, and the conditions are not in place to create jobs outside the agricultural sector, as has historically been the case on other continents. At the same time, the incredible growth of cities and major metropolitan areas raises—more acutely than elsewhere—the very thorny issue of urban food supply.
What will be the environmental impacts?
Large regions remain sparsely populated, particularly in Central Africa. How will this development model play out, and what will be its consequences—both local and global? Will we deforest these areas as we have done in the Amazon or in Southeast Asia? What will be the consequences for global environmental public goods?
On biodiversity, climate, desertification, and the renewal of productive capacities? On our health? We also know, as we saw in the case of Ebola, that changes to environments and ecosystems linked to production can give rise to emerging diseases.
Africa is also plagued by numerous conflicts; how can political instability impact food security?
The tensions and conflicts plaguing Africa have a twofold impact on agricultural and food issues. On the one hand, they restrict vulnerable populations’ access to food; on the other, they undermine productive capacities themselves. The agricultural sector therefore plays a major role in ensuring regional development and preventing the escalation of conflicts, for example in the Sahelian regions.
The role of the informal economy in Africa is often discussed. What influence does it have on trade and production systems?
This is indeed one of Africa’s distinctive features: the coexistence—especially in the agri-food sector—of informal and formal sectors, which sometimes results in a very stark dichotomy. In some countries, such as South Africa, for example, on one hand there are large farms that supply highly structured markets through large-scale retail chains. On the other hand, there are small-scale producers who rely on subsistence farming, the sale of some surplus produce, and jobs that are not exclusively agricultural. The informal economy plays a vital role beyond the agricultural sector—through street vendors, markets, and barter—supporting many families and facilitating access to food for many people.
Is this a hindrance to local economies?
This informality isn’t just a way to avoid taxes or health inspections; these are social structures that, in times of crisis, contribute to the resilience of these societies. So it isn’t necessarily a problem that needs to be solved. Overall, Africa is teeming with innovation and ingenuity; there is a constant evolution in dietary habits and a phenomenal capacity for creativity. These are all assets worth promoting!
Speaking of resilience, what lessons can the West learn from Africa?
It’s fair to say that the West has a lot to learn from Africa, particularly regarding the role of the informal sector, adaptation, innovation, and community engagement. At the same time, the immense and challenging transitions that African countries will have to undergo will lead them to follow specific paths, different from those taken by OECD countries. They have the intellectual, material, and creative resources to do so, and I believe that our African friends can shape the future of the world.
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*Actors, Resources, and Territories in Development (ART-Dev)
– (CIRAD – CNRS – UPVM – UPVD – UM)