Food and nutrition security policies in Africa

Abstract

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 2 – Zero Hunger – reminds us of the importance of adequate food and nutrition security policies. These agendas are confronted with dynamic challenges in the broader interplay of rapid urbanisation, climate change, nutrition transitions, and jobless growth. This chapter introduces the concept of food and nutrition security. It focuses on the status quo of food security policies in Africa by referring to the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme and other relevant regional and national policies. The chapter illuminates related recent developments as part of the globalised and industrialised agri-food system. Although the human right to food holds the state into account in terms of food and nutrition security, neoliberal interests have strongly shaped the sphere of the agri-food system. Powerful actors such as supermarket chains, multinational agri-input companies, and financiers influence food availability, access and the stability of prices and supply, and quality, composition, and safety. Thus, it remains of utmost importance to engage with peoples’ needs and ‘responses from below’, including a vital informal food sector. This chapter concludes with recommendations for future food and nutrition security policies in Africa.