Russian Fertilizers as an Element of Strengthening Africa’s Food Sovereignty

Abstract

Over the past few years, amid the pandemic and other crises in the world markets, food security in Africa has once again become a key issue in international relations. However, what is important for the food sovereignty of the continent is not only the uninterrupted supply of food but also the gradual localization of food production in Africa, which requires increased fertilizer consumption, making the transition from the concept of “food security” to “food sovereignty” relevant. In general, it can be argued that the problem of Africa’s food sovereignty is not related to land scarcity but primarily to Africa’s position in the global value chains in the world’s food markets, as well as its dependence on imports of semi-finished food products. The key role in maintaining import dependence is played by influential lobbying and financial groups, intermediaries linked to transnational corporations, traders, and a number of other international actors. Structural imbalances in economic development have so far prevented most African countries from producing fertilizers domestically, which has led to an increase in fertilizer imports. In recent years, Russian exporters have managed to significantly strengthen their presence in African food and agricultural markets, bringing their share of the African fertilizer market to 20%. This article deals with the main trends of the movement toward food sovereignty in Africa, primarily considering the role of fertilizers in this process. For the first time, an analysis of the strategies of major Russian fertilizer suppliers in Africa is provided.