Conclusion: Aiming at food security and sustainable economic growth

The report concludes that Africa's path to economic development lies in transitioning from a reliance on global export markets to a focus on domestic food self-sufficiency. It emphasizes the need for coordinated government support for smallholder farmers, investment in AgTech, and the adoption of sustainable, indigenous farming practices to mitigate the severe impacts of climate change, particularly in the Sahel region.

• African leaders should shift their focus from international agricultural trade toward the production of staple foods for domestic consumption and the advancement of regional trade. Prioritising staple foods and intensive smallholder farming can increase rural incomes and reduce poverty, eventually enabling the growth of agribusiness and large-scale exports.
• Climate change poses a significant threat to African agriculture, with the Sahel region experiencing the most substantial and sustained decline in rainfall recorded globally. While the IFs forecasting platform includes some climate effects, it may underestimate the total impact of temperature and rainfall variability, including floods, wildfires, and droughts.
• Agricultural technology (AgTech) and digital platforms can mitigate risks for smallholder farmers by providing non-traditional credit assessments, insurance, and direct connections to vendors. These tools are critical because commercial bank lending to the agricultural sector is currently less than 4%, hampered by high risks, lack of collateral, and poor infrastructure.
• A successful agricultural transition requires focusing on indigenous crops—such as cassava, cowpea, soybeans, and yams—and sustainable indigenous practices. Low- and lower-middle-income countries should prioritise food self-sufficiency and move up the agro-processing value chain before attempting to enter global export markets.

APA

le Roux, A., & Cilliers, J. (2026). Conclusion: Aiming at food security and sustainable economic growth. Institute for Security Studies. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=04-agriculture&topic=11-conclusion

Chicago

le Roux, Alize, and Jakkie Cilliers. Conclusion: Aiming at food security and sustainable economic growth. Institute for Security Studies, 2026. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=04-agriculture&topic=11-conclusion.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=le Roux |first1=Alize |last2=Cilliers |first2=Jakkie |title=Conclusion: Aiming at food security and sustainable economic growth |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=21 April 2026 |url=https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=04-agriculture&topic=11-conclusion |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{leroux2026conclusion, author = {le Roux, Alize and Cilliers, Jakkie}, title = {{Conclusion: Aiming at food security and sustainable economic growth}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2026}, month = apr, url = {https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=04-agriculture&topic=11-conclusion}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }