Africa – Food insecurity, exacerbated by rising global food prices, is becoming an increasingly pressing issue.
According to World Economic Forum, food price inflation is affecting a significant portion of countries worldwide, particularly impacting low and middle-income nations.
Rising Food Prices and Food Insecurity
The World Bank reports that food price inflation exceeds 5% in many countries, with some experiencing double-digit increases. This situation is most acute in regions like Africa, North America, Latin America, South Asia, Europe, and Central Asia.
Efforts to Combat Food Insecurity
The World Bank is actively addressing this crisis in 90 countries, with a planned $45 billion funding expected to benefit 335 million people. One of its major initiatives is the $766 million West Africa Food Systems Resilience Program.
Innovations in Food Production
Entrepreneurs worldwide, supported by platforms like Uplink from the World Economic Forum, are also contributing to solutions. Norwegian firm Desert Control has developed a special clay that increases soil water retention and nutrient capacity, turning deserts into fertile land. Terraxy, a Saudi Arabian company, has introduced biodegradable mulch and soil conditioners to facilitate desert plant growth.
Hydroponics as a Sustainable Solution
Kenya-based Hydroponics Africa is another winner in the Uplink challenge, demonstrating how to grow food crops and animal fodder using minimal water and no soil, showcasing hydroponics as a sustainable and space-efficient farming method.
IMF’s Response to Food Crisis
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is also responding to the global food crisis by increasing emergency funding to the most affected countries, including Bangladesh, Benin, Cabo Verde, Mauritania, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, and Zambia.
World Economic Forum’s Food Systems Initiative
The World Economic Forum highlights the urgency of the situation, with around 45 million people in 43 countries facing a food insecurity emergency. The Forum’s Food Systems Initiative focuses on transforming food systems to ensure affordable, nutritious, and healthy food for all by 2030. This includes advocating for regenerative agriculture and strengthening food supply chains.
These global efforts aim to address the immediate challenges of food insecurity while working towards long-term sustainable solutions in agriculture and food distribution.