For decades, food insecurity has been endemic in parts of Africa because of climate
change, relatively low food productivity, and weak infrastructure for marketing and
distribution.Over the last couple of years, two external shocks, the COVID pandemic and war
in the Ukraine, have exacerbated preexisting vulnerabilities.

This policy brief explores three important issues:

1. First, it makes an emphatic case for shifting the narrative from a focus on food availability, to building resilient food systems in Africa.

2. Second, it tackles the thorny issue of food sovereignty, i.e. the ability of a country
to feed itself.

3. Third, it explores the potential to significantly increase food production via the
judicious use of fertilizers.