Dorvlo, S.Y., Mkandawire, E., Mentz-Coetzee, M. et al. (27 more authors) (2025) Transforming African food systems: perspectives from the Food Systems Network for Africa (FSNet-Africa). Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 23. 102289. ISSN: 2666-1543
Abstract
African food systems face significant challenges, including poverty, inequality, climate change, and unsustainable practices. To ensure access to safe and nutritious food while addressing socio-economic and environmental issues, fundamental changes are necessary. A collaborative and inclusive research agenda that engages diverse stakeholders through case-study research, aligning with continent-wide frameworks such as Agenda 2063, the CAADP, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is vital. There are few cross-case analyses that bring together empirical case study research to evaluate and provide holistic appraisals of African food systems. This perspectives paper aims to provide such a synthesis from the empirical case studies generated under the Food Systems Research Network for Africa (FSNet-Africa) project. 19 case study projects in six African countries, were conducted by 83 researchers. Five key focus areas were identified: food system governance, indigenous crops and African foods, innovations for sustainable production among small-scale farmers, consumer preferences, and food loss and waste. The findings emphasise an urgent need for collaboration to address food security and nutrition challenges in Africa. Major priorities for transforming African food systems include inclusive engagement and the integration of indigenous knowledge to improve local food choices and resilience, and reducing food loss through capacity-building efforts and changing perceptions of waste. Future research should focus on governance, indigenous crops, and innovations in sustainable production to drive a transformative shift in African food systems. These priority areas will be critical for the next global and regional development agenda, reflecting the needs and aspirations of underrepresented communities across Africa.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2025 The Authors. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Keywords: | Food systems, Governance, Indigenous crops, Food security, Food loss, Transformative foods |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Business (Leeds) > Management Division (LUBS) (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 29 Aug 2025 09:36 |
Last Modified: | 29 Aug 2025 09:36 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102289 |
Sustainable Development Goals: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:230881 |