Food Security in Southern Africa: A loaf in hand is worth two in the oven?

The briefing examines food insecurity in Africa, highlighting that sub-Saharan countries are the most food insecure globally. It discusses the role of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), the G-8's New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, and the challenges posed by trade barriers and the Doha Round impasse. The authors argue that while trade is essential, it must be part of a comprehensive policy package including agricultural investment and financial innovation to ensure long-term food security.

• Sub-Saharan African countries are the most food insecure globally, with Burundi, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of Congo ranking lowest on the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) index, each facing a 60 per cent deficit in required calorie intake.
• The Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) aims for food security by 2015 by requiring member states to spend at least 10 per cent of annual budgets on agriculture, but many governments fail to meet this; nearly 30 countries spend less than 5 per cent.
• The G-8's New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition intends to accelerate private capital flow to African agriculture and scale new technologies, with an estimated goal of lifting 50 million people out of poverty over 10 years.
• African exports face significant trade barriers in developed markets due to burdensome regulatory standards, including sanitary- and phytosanitary-related measures and private standards imposed by First World supermarket chains regarding carbon footprints and preservatives.
• The impasse of the Doha Round of trade negotiations negatively impacts economic growth and food security in Africa, leading the African Union to pursue a continent-wide free trade area by 2017.
• There is a tension between food self-sufficiency and trade; while some, such as South African wheat farmers, argue for self-sufficiency indices to prevent shortages during export bans, critics argue this reduces national income and purchasing power.

APA

Zunckel, H. E., & Botha, L. (2012). Food Security in Southern Africa: A loaf in hand is worth two in the oven? International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/iisd_tkn_perspectives_sept_2012.pdf

Chicago

Zunckel, H. E., and L.H. Botha. Food Security in Southern Africa: A loaf in hand is worth two in the oven? International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2012. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/iisd_tkn_perspectives_sept_2012.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Zunckel |first1=H. E. |last2=Botha |first2=L.H. |title=Food Security in Southern Africa: A loaf in hand is worth two in the oven? |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=September 2012 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/iisd_tkn_perspectives_sept_2012.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{zunckel2012food, author = {Zunckel, H. E. and Botha, L.H.}, title = {{Food Security in Southern Africa: A loaf in hand is worth two in the oven?}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2012}, month = sep, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/iisd_tkn_perspectives_sept_2012.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }