What transforming food system and land use practices mean for Africa.
Although some aspects of African agriculture may benefit from climate change, rising temperatures and the extreme events they drive, such as droughts and floods, appear
more likely to threaten crops and livestock across the continent. Climate change can have less direct effect too, by affecting the pollinators, pests, weeds and parasites.
Nonetheless, these changes have already been linked to rising food prices, reduced food security, and increased malnutrition- three trends that show little signs of slowing.
As the climate so heavily influences agriculture, changes that reduce yields can threaten food security.
According to the IPCC, by 2021, up to 260 million Africans are likely to suffer from food insecurity as a result of climate-driven crop failure, loss of livestock, and a lack of water.
Ann Kalibata, A Special Envoy United Nations Food System Summit feels that the decision people make adversely affects our food system. She said people really need to come out of their comfort zone and start coming up with the solutions that are going to help through.
She says, "An avocado that comes from here in Africa to go to Europe must be size 22, only 10 percent of Avocado produced in Africa are size 22, what happens to water that goes on to produce the other ones?"
In Kenya, for example, small-scale farming accounts for roughly 76 per cent of the total agricultural output. The future of food security in the country, therefore, lies in safeguarding small-scale farmers.
In order to transform our food system and put our land to use, we should innovate and create Eco-friendly farming systems, such as ecological farming that protects and enhances the natural resource base while raising agricultural productivity.
