Food Security

Focus Area

Research Area

Food security is critical for economic stability, public health, and sustainable development. Our research explores agricultural productivity, food systems resilience, and policy interventions to ensure food availability, accessibility, and affordability. We examine the impact of climate change, trade policies, and technological innovations on global and regional food security.

policy brief
January 28, 2025•Dr. Phemelo Tamasiga
Agricultural Import Bans in Botswana: Evaluating Macroeconomic Trade-offs and SACU Revenue Implications Amid Criticism of ‘Bad Economics’
This policy brief analyzes Botswana’s horticultural import ban (2022–2025), aimed at boosting local agriculture and reducing import dependency. While benefiting farmers, the ban has raised food prices, fueled inflation, and disrupted SACU trade dynamics. Recommendations include investing in irrigation, adopting advanced agricultural technologies, building resilient market linkages, and revisiting trade policies to balance protectionism with regional commitments. These measures are vital for ensuring long-term agricultural success, fiscal stability, and economic diversification.
- Food Security
research doc
October 2, 2024•Prof. Helen Onyeaka
The ripple effects of climate change on agricultural sustainability and food security in Africa
Climate change impacts food security in developing countries, lowering agricultural output, disrupting supply chains, and widening the gap between rich and poor. This review investigates climate change's consequences for African food insecurity within the context of environmental degradation. It examines the complex demands on food security systems (availability, accessibility, utilization, stability) under changing climatic conditions. The review highlights farm production's vulnerability to temperature, precipitation, and weather pattern changes. It also explores factors shaping food insecurity: population growth, poverty, weak infrastructure, and inadequate early warning systems. Climate change affects food prices, availability, and income inequality, potentially leading to social unrest. Vulnerable groups (impoverished, elderly, disabled) face increased risks, with women facing additional gender inequalities. Comprehensive strategies are needed to address health disparities and consider vulnerable subgroups alongside broader food security measures in the face of climate change.
- Food Security
research doc
February 15, 2024•Prof. Helen Onyeaka
Assessing the vulnerability of food supply chains to climate change-induced disruptions
This scoping review examines the vulnerability of the food supply chain to climate change, analyzing 67 studies from 1526 publications. It highlights climate change’s impact on agricultural output, food access, quality, and safety, emphasizing the need for resilience measures. Most research focuses on extreme weather effects on production, but gaps remain in understanding socio-economic consequences and broader supply chain impacts. The review calls for expanded research to address these gaps and inform policies to strengthen food supply chain resilience against climate variability.
- Food Security
policy brief
November 7, 2023•Prof. Helen Onyeaka
Leaving No One Behind: A Policy Blueprint For Eradicating Hunger In Sub-saharan Africa
Hunger persists in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), affecting millions with food insecurity and malnutrition, hindering sustainable development. This challenge is compounded by climate change and socioeconomic inequalities, creating vulnerabilities. Key issues include high undernourishment rates, childhood stunting and wasting, vulnerability to shocks, and regional disparities. Addressing this requires sustainable agriculture, social protection, strengthened food systems, climate change action, and gender equality promotion.
- Food Security
research doc
October 10, 2023•Dr. Phemelo Tamasiga
Forecasting disruptions in global food value chains to tackle food insecurity: The role of AI and big data analytics – A bibliometric and scientometric analysis
This study explores AI’s role in forecasting and managing disruptions in global value chains to address food insecurity. Using bibliometric and scientometric analysis of Scopus and Web of Science data (1973–2022), it reveals a 13.78% annual growth in publications. China, the UK, and the USA lead in AI applications for supply chain resilience. Key themes include COVID-19’s impact on food chains, climate change, predictive agriculture models, and food price volatility. Findings offer policymakers and researchers insights to enhance food security and guide future research on managing disruptions in global value chains.
- Food Security
research doc
September 20, 2023•Prof. Helen Onyeaka
Climate-smart agriculture as a possible solution to mitigate climate change impact on food security in Sub-Saharan Africa
Climate change threatens global food security, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where droughts, floods, and storms exacerbate food crises. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) offers a potential solution, combining innovation, technology, research, stakeholder engagement, and data to boost food production, optimize resource use, and enhance regional food security. CSA has successfully increased agricultural productivity in parts of SSA, building resilient food systems against climate change impacts. Sustained, widespread CSA adoption requires greater stakeholder involvement in development and adaptation to local needs. Expanding CSA's scope beyond mitigation to prevention and control can further its positive impact, contributing to UN SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger) and 13 (Climate Action).
- Food Security
research doc
August 11, 2023•Prof. Helen Onyeaka
Preventing chemical contaminants in food: Challenges and prospects for safe and sustainable food production
Chemical food contamination poses significant health risks, hindering SDG 3. This article explores contamination sources, health impacts, and naturally occurring toxins. It highlights the role of food production processes (processing, packaging, transport, storage) in contamination. Legislative measures, surveillance, and enforcement are crucial for minimizing contamination. The article advocates for continuous efforts to reduce chemical use in food production, considering the economic burden of related illnesses. Global best practices can bridge knowledge gaps, benefiting developing nations.
- Food Security
research doc
March 1, 2023•Prof. Helen Onyeaka
Food safety in vulnerable populations: A perspective on the challenges and solutions
Vulnerable populations are a particular group that are not capable of fending for themselves due to a number of limitations. Among many things, of particular concern is the food safety challenges faced by these individuals and the high risk of susceptibility to foodborne diseases. In this paper, an attempt is made to point out the various challenges faced by vulnerable populations that make them more susceptible to foodborne illness than other healthy adults. Also, the paper highlights possible improvement pathways through which these people can have access to safe and nutritious food, and the current interventional steps taken to address the food safety risk associated with food handling activities of food meant for vulnerable groups.
- Food Security
research doc
December 6, 2022•Dr. Phemelo Tamasiga
Food insecurity and outcomes during COVID-19 pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
This paper examines the impact of COVID-19 on food security indicators (accessibility, availability, utilization, stability) in nine sub-Saharan African countries. Using OLS regression, the study finds that rising COVID-19 levels negatively affect all four indicators, disrupting food supply chains. It highlights the need to address diet, nutrition, affordability, and supply chain disruptions, recommending investments in agricultural infrastructure, agro-processing, and transport. Additionally, income shocks from lockdowns exacerbated food insecurity, underscoring the need for affordable, sustainable social protection systems, especially for the informal sector.
- Food Security
research doc
August 10, 2022•Prof. Helen Onyeaka
Food waste and circular economy: Challenges and opportunities
This study explores resource recovery from food waste to advance circular economy principles, addressing the economic and environmental challenges of food waste. Using bibliometric analysis of 155 articles (2015–2021), it identifies eight key themes, including anaerobic digestion, life cycle assessments, and consumer behavior. Findings emphasize the need for collaboration among governments, private sectors, and researchers to promote circularity, reduce greenhouse emissions, and address food supply chain inefficiencies. The study highlights opportunities for upcycled food acceptance and calls for targeted research in developing countries to implement circular economy practices effectively.
- Food Security

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Member Publications

Food Security