Impacts of climate change on food systems in Africa: a systematic review

Résumé

Background African countries experience weak food systems due to threats posed by climate change in various parts of the continent. The adverse effects from climate change negatively affect agricultural production. Objectives This systematic review examines the impacts of climate change on food systems. Methodology Peer-reviewed articles from Google Scholar, Scopus, Science Direct and Gray literature were reviewed. PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews were followed to come up with relevant articles for this study. A total of 17 articles published between 2014 and 2024 were systematically reviewed. A data extraction table was developed to capture information of all the studies that were included in this systematic review. Studies that did not focus on the production aspect of food systems in Africa were excluded. Quality and risk of bias were checked by using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Results A review of 17 peer-reviewed studies revealed consistent evidence that climate change is driving persistent hunger across Africa and undermining progress toward ending hunger by 2030. 76% of the studies reported significant declines in staple crop yields linked to ENSO variability, prolonged droughts, and extreme weather events. 59% of the papers highlighted the spread of 2 new pests and diseases, such as fall armyworm, exacerbated by rising temperatures, while Agricultural Production Estimates confirmed widespread production losses in 2022–2023. Nutrition outcomes are worsening, with 71% of the studies documenting increased food insecurity, undernourishment rising from 15.6% in 2014 to 19.7% in 2022, and child stunting persisting above 30% in many regions. Food price volatility was noted in 65% of the papers, with shocks triggering spikes of up to 50%, while 41% reported post-harvest losses and food safety risks. Regional patterns reveal distinct vulnerabilities: chronic desertification in the Sahel, alternating drought–flood cycles in East Africa, heavy reliance on rain-fed maize and ENSO sensitivity in Southern Africa, and water scarcity and heat stress in North Africa. Common cross-cutting challenges include declining nutrient quality, post-harvest losses, and weak institutional capacity to implement adaptation measures. Conclusion We found that various policy propositions should be followed by the governments on the continent if sustainable food systems are to be realized.

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