As supply chains around the world are disrupted and the demand for certain types of food drops following the COVID-19 outbreak, questions have begun to emerge about Africa and its ability to ensure food security for its citizens. While parts of the continent have faced recent food production challenges due to droughts, floods and swarms of locusts, Africa continues to have enough staple food to feed the majority of its citizens thanks to local farming and imports from other parts of the world.
However, the outbreak of COVID-19 has highlighted the continent’s need to concentrate its efforts on becoming self-sufficient when it comes to the production of certain food like wheat, maize, rice and proteins, as well as value-addition and processing of raw materials. More formalised or efficient value chains in other parts of the world mean that countries in Africa will continue to import certain foods, but thanks to the current global outlook there is an opportunity for Africa to refocus and benefit from the competitive advantages which exist on the continent – arable land, affordable labour, good rainfall in parts and available fresh-water mass.