The Role of Agrifood Circularity and Sustainable Farming Towards Food System Transformation in Africa

Abstract

Food systems around the world are not sustainable in their current status; they rank as a major contributor to national carbon emissions and continue to contribute to the loss of biodiversity. Further millions, especially women, suffer from hunger and malnutrition. The COVID-19 pandemic showed us how easy it is to reverse gains achieved due to the fragility of global food systems. There is a need to ensure increased inclusivity and equity. Food systems in Africa in the current state require an urgent transformation through agri-food circularity and sustainable farming principles. This paper provides information that can lead to food systems transformation in Africa through use of agrifood circularity principles and sustainable farming principles. This paper through a theoretical review of thematic literature highlights the role agrifood circularity towards sustainable farming food system transformation in Africa, it further provides how agrifood circularity principles can be promoted to achieve food system transformation. Agrifood circularity, regenerative agriculture and agroecology principles have the capacity if properly integrated to lead to a sustainable food system transformation in Africa. Governments in Africa and across the world will find these findings useful to entrench agrifood circularity principles in the farming systems so as to achieve inclusive and sustainable food systems transformation.