G-20 Food Security in Africa: Measures to Strengthen the G-20 Agenda

The G-20 has progressively prioritised global food security since 2009, focusing on price volatility, agricultural productivity, and humanitarian tools. However, the document argues that these efforts have had few measurable effects in Africa due to a lack of implementation of regulatory reforms and insufficient investment. It specifically highlights the negative impact of market-distorting biofuel policies and agricultural protectionism in developed countries, which undermine food security for smallholders in the developing world. The author recommends that South Africa use its G-20 membership to push for the regulation of commodity speculation, the elimination of agricultural subsidies, and increased funding for African agriculture.

• The G-20 has established a comprehensive food security framework since 2009, including the L’Aquila Agricultural Food Security Initiative, the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme, and the Action Plan on Food Price Volatility and Agriculture adopted in November 2011.
• Despite the G-20's stated commitments, there has been a failure to implement necessary regulatory reforms within member states, particularly regarding the regulation of speculation in financial and commodity markets, which is identified as a primary driver of food price volatility.
• Agricultural protectionism and subsidies in middle- and higher-income countries distort international prices and disadvantage the world's poorest countries; tariffs for agricultural products in these nations are on average four times higher than for non-agricultural products.
• The G-20 has been reluctant to reform biofuel policies that international research indicates have a deleterious effect on food security in the developing world, opting instead for further research.
• The G-20's approach to food security often prioritises information flow over tangible regulation and has failed to commit significant funds to investment in African agriculture.
• South Africa's membership in the G-20 provides a strategic opportunity to advocate for the removal of trade restrictions, the regulation of commodity speculation, and increased investment in African agriculture.

APA

Bramley, C. (2013). G-20 Food Security in Africa: Measures to Strengthen the G-20 Agenda. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Policy-Briefing-73.pdf

Chicago

Bramley, Cerkia. G-20 Food Security in Africa: Measures to Strengthen the G-20 Agenda. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2013. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Policy-Briefing-73.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bramley |first1=Cerkia |title=G-20 Food Security in Africa: Measures to Strengthen the G-20 Agenda |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=September 2013 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Policy-Briefing-73.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bramley2013g20, author = {Bramley, Cerkia}, title = {{G-20 Food Security in Africa: Measures to Strengthen the G-20 Agenda}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2013}, month = sep, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Policy-Briefing-73.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }