About this Research Topic
Agri-food systems have been a major driving force for economic development in many sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). These systems provide employment opportunities for many people directly and indirectly at different nodes of the food system. Agri-food systems also provide raw materials for many industries, thereby facilitating the development of the industrial sector, and contribute to addressing malnutrition and food insecurity by providing people with nutritious food. This evidence suggests that the ability of African countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) depends greatly on the prevailing agri-food systems. However, current agri-food systems are not resilient or sustainable enough to supply countries with sufficient and nutritious food to meet the ever-increasing demand for it.
Climate change and variability present a great challenge for the 21st-century food systems in SSA. Evidence shows that poverty and food insecurity are more prevalent in SSA, particularly in areas where climate change and variability are more pronounced. For instance, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) reported that in 2018, over 256 million people in Africa were experiencing food insecurity. The COVID 19 pandemic is likely to exacerbate the situation as the food systems have been disrupted.
Hence, it is important to build resilient and sustainable food systems in Africa by strategically focusing on strengthening the adaptive capacity of smallholder producers to sustainably increase farm productivity and food supply. Also, ensuring rural farmers’ access and usage of climate information services is crucial in stimulating adaptation measures.
This Research Topic invites authors to submit original empirical research on the following themes (but not limited to):
1. The impact of climate change or variability on sustainable farm productivity and food security;
2. The role of adaptation strategies to climate change in ensuring sustainable rural farm productivity and food security;
3. Vulnerability to climate change and the sustainable food security nexus;
4. Understanding drivers of farmers’ access to climate information services;
5. The contribution of climate information services to the adoption of adaptation strategies.
Climate change and variability present a great challenge for the 21st-century food systems in SSA. Evidence shows that poverty and food insecurity are more prevalent in SSA, particularly in areas where climate change and variability are more pronounced. For instance, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) reported that in 2018, over 256 million people in Africa were experiencing food insecurity. The COVID 19 pandemic is likely to exacerbate the situation as the food systems have been disrupted.
Hence, it is important to build resilient and sustainable food systems in Africa by strategically focusing on strengthening the adaptive capacity of smallholder producers to sustainably increase farm productivity and food supply. Also, ensuring rural farmers’ access and usage of climate information services is crucial in stimulating adaptation measures.
This Research Topic invites authors to submit original empirical research on the following themes (but not limited to):
1. The impact of climate change or variability on sustainable farm productivity and food security;
2. The role of adaptation strategies to climate change in ensuring sustainable rural farm productivity and food security;
3. Vulnerability to climate change and the sustainable food security nexus;
4. Understanding drivers of farmers’ access to climate information services;
5. The contribution of climate information services to the adoption of adaptation strategies.
Keywords: Climate change, Adaptation/mitigation strategies, Climate information services, Farm productivity, Food security, Vulnerability
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
