Food Security: A Pathway Towards Improved Nutrition and Biodiversity Conservation

Abstract

AbstractFood is required by all living things without which life processes will be on halt. Food security defined by the United Nations’ Committee on World Food Security is a condition in which people have access to adequate, safe, and nutritious food at all times that meet their dietary needs for a healthy life. The importance of biodiversity in the conservation of African foods for the sustenance of healthy and nutritious diets cannot be overemphasized. It is crucial for improving food security, conservation, livelihood, human well-being, and ecosystem services in Africa, and can be said to be a basis the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 and 2. However, there has been a steady decline in species biodiversity for food and agriculture at the level of genetic composition, species, and ecosystem levels resulting in deteriorating diet quality and subsequently increase in the risk of malnutrition. The natural resources which may serve as for food include diverse vegetation, various species of sea life, including fishes, crabs, prawns, and shrimps, as well as animals. All of these have been depended on by mankind since time immemorial. Some African countries have been using some biodiversity friendly approaches, yet their usage needs to be amplified to increase the potentials of food security and biodiversity across Africa. These approaches can increase the plant and animal sources by increasing their ability and ensures sustained production for the long-term survival of mankind. However, the biodiversity that underpins much of modern agriculture is fast disappearing as our reliance on plants and animal species has led to increased biodiversity loss which puts food security livelihoods and health at risk. In this chapter, some biodiversity friendly approach as it enhances food security in Africa is expounded. Biodiversity conservation strategies practised in Africa, plant and animal sources of biodiversity, and the application of biodiversity friendly approaches to food production are also discussed. Likewise, the peculiarity of Africa potentials towards the biodiversity of food and animals is well captured in this chapter.KeywordsAgricultureConservation strategiesFood securitySustainable Development GoalsWest Africa