Food Security
Food security is the condition in which all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. The concept encompasses four key pillars: availability of food in sufficient quantities, economic and physical access to food, utilisation of food through adequate diet and nutrition, and stability of the other three dimensions over time. Food security is a critical development indicator and policy priority for governments, international organisations and development agencies worldwide. In Africa, food security remains a pressing challenge due to factors including climate variability, conflict, inadequate infrastructure, limited access to agricultural inputs and technology, and rapid population growth. The African Union has made food security a central pillar of its Agenda 2063 development framework, emphasising agricultural transformation and rural development. International bodies such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization monitor global food security through indicators including the prevalence of undernourishment and the Global Hunger Index. Trade agreements such as the African Continental Free Trade Area aim to improve food security by facilitating the movement of agricultural products across borders. Food security intersects with multiple sectors including agriculture, water management, energy, trade, health and climate adaptation. Threats to food security include droughts, floods, pest outbreaks, armed conflict, economic shocks and disruptions to supply chains. The concept has evolved from a focus purely on food availability to a broader understanding that includes access, utilisation and resilience.
Food Security Updates
IMF says Nigeria reforms boost stability but millions still in poverty
By: Reuters 9th June 2026 The International Monetary Fund said Nigeria's sweeping reforms have strengthened economic stability and investor confidence, but warned on Tuesday... →
SA: Cyril Ramaphosa: Address by South Africa's President, Reply to debate on Presidency Dept Budget Vote 2026/27, Parliament, Cape Town (03/06/2026)
5th June 2026 South Africans expect of all of us not simply to diagnose the country’s problems, but to work together to solve them. They expect leadership,... →
Land reform that works: What successful farmers can teach us
By: Econ3x3 4th June 2026 A popular narrative holds that land reform has failed. But evidence from a study across four provinces tells a different story. Success is not... →
S&P flags Middle East oil risk for South Africa, warns low growth an outlier among peers
By: Reuters 2nd June 2026 S&P Global Ratings warned on Tuesday that rising oil prices from the Middle East crisis pose a growing risk to South Africa's consumer-led economy,... →
Africa Economic Brief - Unpacking Nigeria’s 2010-2024 Inflation Dynamics and Policy Implications - Volume 17 | Issue 1
2nd June 2026 Inflation has remained persistently high in Nigeria. It rose from 7–8% in the mid-2010s to a peak of 35% in 2024 following major policy shocks,... →
Chief Economists' Outlook: May 2026
2nd June 2026 The May 2026 Chief Economists’ Outlook opens on a more pessimistic note than the January edition. Drawing on consultations and survey responses... →
Farming insurance is now essential as climate shocks intensify
1st June 2026 South Africa’s farmers are once again confronting the harsh realities of a changing climate. Recent heavy rainfalls and hail events have devastated... →
Ethiopian election expected to hand leader Abiy's party a landslide win
By: Reuters 1st June 2026 Ethiopia will hold parliamentary and regional elections on Monday that analysts expect Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's party to win in a landslide,... →
SA: Khumbudzo Ntshavheni: Address by Minister in The Presidency, at the Opening Session of the International Security Forum 2026 on challenges and threats to international security in the context of the emergence of the multipolar world (26/05/2026)
29th May 2026 The emergence of a multipolar world is reshaping the international security landscape. While the diffusion of power creates opportunities for... →
MKP joins SACP’s 'Conference of the Left' amid ANC abstinence 
By: Thabi Shomolekae 29th May 2026 The MKP has confirmed it will attend the South African Communist Party’s Conference of the Left on Friday, this as alliance partner of the SACP,... →
