The impact of climate change on food security in South Africa: Current realities and challenges ahead

Tshepo S. Masipa

Received: 28 Nov. 2016; Accepted: 23 June 2017; Published: 11 Aug. 2017

Copyright: © 2017. The Author(s). Licensee: AOSIS.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

This article aims to examine the impact of climate change on food security in South Africa. For this purpose, the article adopted a desktop study approach. Previous studies, reports, surveys and policies on climate change and food (in)security. From this paper’s analysis, climate change presents a high risk to food security in sub-Saharan countries from crop production to food distribution and consumption. In light of this, it is found that climate change, particularly global warming, affects food security through food availability, accessibility, utilisation and affordability. To mitigate these risks, there is a need for an integrated policy approach to protect the arable land against global warming. The argument advanced in this article is that South Africa’s ability to adapt and protect its food items depends on the understanding of risks and the vulnerability of various food items to climate change. However, this poses a challenge in developing countries, including South Africa, because such countries have weak institutions and limited access to technology. Another concern is a wide gap between the cost of adapting and the necessary financial support from the government. There is also a need to invest in technologies that will resist risks on food systems.

Introduction

The issues of climate change and its impact on food security are increasingly recognised in different parts of the world, including Africa. Africa is epitomised as the most vulnerable continent to climate changes (Bwalya 2013). Other studies also project that Africa is highly vulnerable to climate changes (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC] 2007; Liliana 2005; Vogel 2005; World Bank 2016). The studies mainly found that climate changes have a severe impact on agricultural land, which ultimately affects food security. The IPCC (2007) reports that in sub-Saharan Africa, agricultural productivity will decline from 21% to 9% by 2080. Liliana (2005) indicates that about two-thirds of Africa’s arable land is expected to be lost by 2025 because of the lack of rainfall and drought. South Africa is not immune to these impacts. It is worth noting that global population is continuing to rise and the rates at which climate change and production of agriculture and food have been increasing are not equal. The World Food Programme (WFP 2016) report shows that crop production yield per hectare is, on average, increasing at a rate below that of global populations, implying that food production, which has been unable to meet global demand, will struggle to do so in the immediate future, leaving millions of people and numerous countries facing the stark reality of having reduced food security. Against this backdrop, the article seeks to examine the impact of climate change on food security in South Africa. The need to conduct the current article is further accentuated by the recent occurrence of drought and the lack of rainfall that affected South Africa in 2016.

Apart from the ‘Introduction’ section, the remainder of the article is structured as follows: The ‘Contextualisation of food security, accessibility, availability and utilisation’ section conceptualises the term food security, in terms of food accessibility, availability and utilisation. The ‘Climate change and food security: Sub-Saharan Africa’s experiences’ section presents the impacts of climate changes on agriculture and food security in various African countries. The ‘Status of food (in)security in South Africa’ section reviews the status of food security in South Africa. ‘The role of Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries’ section outlines the role of the South African government, particularly the Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries (DAFF) to address food (in)security; and lastly the ‘Conclusion and recommendations’ section provides the conclusion and recommendations.

Contextualisation of food security, accessibility, availability and utilisation

The term food security was established in the 1960s in the international development literature (Osman 2002, cited in Le Page 2004). According to the World Food Summit (1996), food security exists when all people, at all times have access to sufficient nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food references for an active and healthy life. Schmidhuber and Tubiello (2007) add to the concept of food security by arguing it is affected by a multitude of factors which include the ability to be self-sufficient in food production through own production, accessibility to markets and the ability to purchase food items. Anderson (1990) defines food security in terms of the ability of individuals to obtain sufficient food on a day to day basis.

It is worth pointing out that food availability is often used to measure food security; hence the concepts are often used interchangeably. Thompson, Berrange and Ford (2010) clearly distinguish between the two by defining food availability in terms of the existence of sufficient quantities of food with appropriate quality. Similarly, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) defines food security in terms of three dimensions, namely food availability, food access and food use. The council suggests that a country must have sufficient quantities of food available on a consistent basis at both national and household level. Food access, on the other hand, refers to the ability of the nation and its households to acquire sufficient food on a sustainable basis (Aliber 2010). According to Ludi (2009), access to food refers to the ability of the country, communities and individuals to purchase food in sufficient quantities and quality. Another concept of food security involves food utilisation, which Negin et al. (2009) argue depends on how food is used, noting that although food availability and accessibility are necessary conditions for food utilisation, they are not sufficient conditions to reduce malnutrition. Wlokas (2008), on the other hand, argues that the direct impact of climate change on food security is through food availability due to changes in agricultural productivity. Similarly, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO 2011) reported that climate change affects the production rate and patterns of different food items.

Smith, Pointing and Maxwell (1993) define food security within the context of national food self-reliance, suggesting that a country should be able to produce and distribute adequate food that is needed by all its citizens. Reddy and Moetsane (2009), on the contrary, argue that food security does however not guarantee food security at a household level. The United Nation Development Programme (UNDP 2006) indicates that the concept of food security is closely linked to poverty, noting that the two concepts are interrelated and have an influence on one another. The report further reveals that poverty and unemployment have strong relationship with food insecurity, indicating that it begins with the loss of employment, which, in turn, leads to a significant degradation in the living standard.

From the preceding concepts, food security can briefly be defined in terms of food accessibility, availability, stability, utilisation and affordability. This is succinctly summarised by Ziervogel (2009), noting that food security is not just about food availability (production, distribution and exchange) but also about access (affordability, allocation and preference) and utilisation (food safety, nutrition and social value). In addition, the World Bank (2016) reported that climate change affects food utilisation capacity through changes in production rate and the pattern of various food items, and this, in turn, affects the nutritional requirements of the population.

Climate change and food security: Sub-Saharan Africa’s experiences

The United Nations Development Report reported that one in four households in sub-Saharan Africa cannot access adequate food (United Nations 2012). The IPCC (2007) shows that Southern Africa has higher climate change vulnerability and predicts that the consequences could be severe, exerting far-reaching impacts on the livelihoods of many people. According to the IPCC (2007), agricultural productivity will decline from 21% to 9% by 2080 due to climate change in sub-Saharan Africa. The report indicates that rising temperatures in precipitation are likely to reduce the production of stable food by up to 50%. In Tanzania, Pedram, David and Navin (2011) reported that by 2050, the projected increase of 2 °C will reduce the average production of maize, sorghum and rice by 13%, 8.8% and 7.6%, respectively. Knueppel, Demment and Kaisser (2009) argue that lower levels of education attainment are directly linked with the high food insecurity in Tanzania.

A study by Gutu, Bezabih and Mengistu (2012) reveals that in Ethiopia, food production faces severe challenges due to climate change, noting that the annual production losses to climate variability significantly increase from year to year. The European Commission (2009) report similarly shows that climate change in Africa will reduce crop yields and in turn will increase the price of food that will force people to change production and consumption patterns. Vogel (2005) argues that sub-Saharan Africa is highly vulnerable to food insecurity, pointing out that drought, flooding and pest outbreaks are some of the stressors on food security. Schmidhuber and Tubiello (2007) argue that global warming will have significant negative effects on food security, with an estimate of between 5 and 170 million people at risk of hunger by the year 2080. In South Africa, Hendriks (2005) argues that South Africa is nationally food secure; however, between 58% and 73% of households experience food insecurity.

From the preceding, it is clear that climate change presents a high risk on food security in sub-Saharan countries, from crop production to food distribution and consumption. To mitigate these risks, there is therefore a need for an integrated policy approach to protect the arable land against global warming. In addition, rural small-scale farmers need to be given more support to improve their agricultural production, particularly at household level.

From Figure 1, it can be denoted that since 1965, Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions have been considerably low and the amount of arable land was high. However, since 2001, CO₂ emissions have been volatile and have increased, and the amount of arable land has decreased significantly. This decrease is caused by an increase in global warming (World Bank 2016). Drought severity has increased with global warming, degrading available arable land. Many households in rural areas are dependent largely on subsistence farming for survival, and with a decrease in arable land, these households will face a lack of food security.

FIGURE 1: Carbon dioxide emissions and arable land.

Global warming will have significant negative effects on food security, with estimates of an additional amount of between 5 and 170 million people at risk of hunger by the year 2080 (Statistical Review on World Energy 2016). To mitigate the impact of CO₂ emissions on food security, Barrett (2002) suggests that there should an implementation of a policy targeting the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as maintenance and recovery of soil in areas affected by climate change. This would assist subsistence farmers which are in need of increased food production to be a more appropriate solution. Figure 2 illustrates trends of crop production and population growth.

FIGURE 2: Crop production and population growth.

Figure 2 illustrates that crop production per hectare has historically been volatile, while population growth rate has been relatively constant over the past 20 years. From Figure 1, it can be denoted that over the last two decades, the population has, on an average, been growing at a rate higher than that of crop production. The production of crops comprises maize, rice, wheat and soybean. The challenge of food security is exacerbated by an increase in population which is greater than the rate of food production, resulting in an increase in the number of households to feed. In essence, the demand for food exceeds the supply of food, thus leading to food shortage. This is confirmed by the World Bank (2016), reporting that global population continues to rise; however, the growth rate between food production and population growth is not equal. The crop production yield per hectare is, on average, increasing at a rate below that of global population.

Table 1 shows that over the past two decades, the population has on average been growing at a rate higher than that of crop yields. From 1996 to 2016, the average growth of crop production is 1.05% and of population is 1.27%. This raises a concern as it implies that food security is seriously challenged, as the population growth is greater than the crop production. This implies that food production will not be able to meet global demand for food, leaving millions of people having reduced food security.

TABLE 1: Crop yield growth rate per hectare and population growth rate.

Lobell et al. (2008) argue that to increase food production, yield per hectare must increase. If yield per hectare increases at a rate slower than that of population, then food shortages experienced throughout the world will only get worse, aided by global warming. The effects of global warming on crops depend greatly on region and type of crop. However, it seems that poorer countries, more prone to be affected by global warming, need to adjust their crops to a greater extent than their more developed counterparts (Lobell et al. 2008).

To address some of the aforementioned challenges, the Department of Environmental Affairs (2013) reported that farmers have adopted various strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change on their farming, which include:

reducing planting areas of certain crops, such as wheat
planting crop varieties with a shorter growing period
delaying the start of planting according to rainfall
investing in additional machinery to shorten planting time
collecting rainwater by creating furrows near planted areas
increasing the use of irrigation.

Status of food (in)security in South Africa

The South African government committed itself to half poverty levels between 2004 and 2014. In his State of the Nation Address (2014), the president of the Republic of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, noted that food security was re-prioritised as one of the top priorities for the government. This is because climate change and its impact on food in(security) is increasingly recognised as a major concern in different parts of the world, including South Africa. One of the main components in meeting that goal is household food security. Compared to other African countries, South Africa is largely considered as a food secure nation, producing sufficient staple foods and having the capacity to import food in order to meet the basic nutritional requirements of its population (FAO 2008). Hart and Aliber (2009) similarly argue that South Africa seems to be food secured at the national level, but the same cannot be said at household level, particularly in rural areas, where majority of the people largely depend on agriculture. Landman (2004), however, found that food security is a serious challenge that still persists in South Africa.

In addition, embedded in Section 26 and 27 1(b) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996 is the right to access sufficient food and water. This is also in line with South Africa’s millennium development goals of reducing poverty by half by 2015. The national food security indicators reported that South Africa has been able to meet the food needs of its growing population over the years, there are however no clear statistics to ascertain food security at household level (Statistics South Africa 2009). Hendriks (2005) found that in South Africa, a large proportion of households in rural areas are vulnerable to incidences of food insecurity.

Knueppel et al. (2009) and De Cock (2012) similarly found that South Africans living in rural households are most strongly affected by climate change. More worryingly, Earl (2011) noted that hunger and malnutrition are still prevalent in South Africa and this is as a result of inequalities in accessing productive land.

Demetre, Yul and Zandile (2009) ascertained that more than 14 million people, or about 35% of the South African population, are vulnerable to food insecurity. According to the authors, an individual is classified to be food insecure if he or she receives less than 2261 Kilocalories per day, which is equivalent to R211 per person per month. In Johannesburg, Rudolph (2012) revealed that there is a strong relationship between employment, income and food insecurity. His study concluded that members of households with full time jobs were more likely to be food secured than those with part-time jobs. According to Bonti-Ankomah (2001), the main challenge of food security in South Africa is access to food. This is because food access is determined by demand and purchasing power. Another problem exacerbating food insecurity in South Africa is high unemployment, which limits many households in purchasing food. Figure 3 demonstrates trends of food adequacy at household and provincial level, respectively.

FIGURE 3: Household food adequacy by province over the period 2009–2015.

The survey shows that over 80% of people in eight provinces have adequate food access, except in Free State (FS), averaging below around 70%. The survey further indicates that during 2015, food inaccessibility was most serious in Free State where 20% of the households have inadequate food access, followed by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) at 15% and Eastern Cape at around 10%. Western Cape (WC) had the least food security problems at around 5%, followed by Limpopo (LP) at around 4.3%. According to the FAO 2008 report, high levels of unemployment and inadequate social welfare are the major contributors to food insecurity in South Africa.

The South African government uses various methods to assess food security. These include General Household Survey (GHS), Income and Expenditure Index (IES), Labour Force Survey (LFS) and Community Survey (Statistics South Africa 2015). However, due to the complexity of measuring food security, these methods yield different results. The FAO (2008) reports that black South Africans constitute the majority of poor and food insecure households, which are largely found in rural areas. Factors such as lack of access to finance, communication infrastructure, education and skill development facilities prevent households from engaging in agricultural farming. In 2008, the World Bank (2010) estimated that 39.26% of the total South African population live in rural areas and 65% of them were identified as poor. These statistics suggest that interventions to combat food insecurity in South Africa should largely be directed to rural areas. This is further emphasised by Machete (2004) arguing that the South African government needs to give more support to the small-scale farmers to improve agricultural production, particularly at the rural household level.

In summary, countries differ in terms of the exposure and vulnerability to climate change. Therefore, South Africa’s ability to adapt and protect its food security will depend on the understanding of risks and the vulnerability of various food items to changes in climate. More importantly, understanding how such spillover effects will affect households, particularly in rural areas as they rely heavily on agriculture, is important given that South Africa is currently faced with droughts, resulting in lack of rainfall, rivers drying out, loss of livestock and farmers’ production decreasing very significantly. From Table 2, it can be noted that household is a significant determinant for food security. It is therefore important for the government to implement strategies to address food security at the household level. Furthermore, it is vital to educate communities, particularly in rural areas, on how to maintain their farming during harsh climate changes. The section below outlines efforts taken by the government to assist household farming.

TABLE 2: The Impact of climate change on food security.

The role of Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries

South Africa’s integrated food security strategy of 2002 identified specific challenges for food security. Some of the key areas include:

weak institutional support networks and disaster management systems
inadequate and unstable household food production
lack of purchasing power
poor nutritional status.

The strategic document also specified priority areas to address challenges of food security, namely:

increasing household food production
increasing food trade and distribution
increasing income opportunities
improving nutritional status
enhancing institutional support networks
providing capacity building.

The integrated food security strategy serves as a guideline to the DAFF to contribute towards addressing food security in South Africa. In addition, the DAFF developed a Zero Hunger Strategy, which is aimed at combating hunger. The objectives of the strategy include:

to provide an effective mechanism for the coordination of national, provincial and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to pursue a common goal of increasing food security
to ensure the establishment of effective support structures for farmers through capacity building and institutional strengthening
to demonstrate opportunities for diversification and increasing income through the production of vegetables, small stock and small-scale aquaculture
to build an effective capacity at the local level through intensive training and access to information that will provide support to the farming communities
to evaluate the impact of the interventions, to identify gaps and quantify constraints that still need to be addressed and to make recommendations.

Another programme developed by the DAFF is the Production Strategy. The strategy aims to position primary agriculture by targeting subsistence farmers, small-scale farmers and commercial production for the purpose of improving food safety and security in South Africa. The strategy identifies five pillars of food security: food availability, affordability, stability of supply, food accessibility and utilisation. It is the responsibility of the provincial and local governments to ensure that the national programmes to address food security reach the communities (Department of Environmental Affairs 2013).

Conclusion and recommendations

The purpose of this article was to examine the impact of climate change on food security in South Africa. This was accentuated by the occurrence of drought that affected the country recently in 2016. From the discussion, food security was found to be a multifaceted concept affected by climate change through food accessibility, availability, accessibility, utilisation and affordability. Agriculture plays a vital role in ensuring food security; it is therefore important to eradicate greenhouse emissions. Figure 2 demonstrates that food insecurity is further exacerbated by an increase in population which is greater than the rate of food production, resulting in food shortage. With the lack of rainfall and drought, South Africa is likely to face food insecurity in the future. Another concern is the country’s high levels of unemployment and poverty, which limit many households to access and purchase food. This can further worsen risks of food insecurity. This article therefore suggests that a fight against food insecurity requires not a blanket approach but a multipronged strategy to address other socio-economic challenges such as poverty and unemployment. The article further established that the vulnerability of food security to climate change differs from country to country. Therefore, South Africa’s ability to adapt and protect its food security will depend on the understanding of risks and the vulnerability of various food items to changes in climate. This is important given that South Africa is currently faced with droughts, resulting in the lack of rainfall, rivers drying out, loss of livestock and farmer’s production decreasing very significantly. This article shows how arable land fit for agriculture is becoming scarce through global warming. This calls for a technological intervention, so that agriculture food items can resist the effects of global warming. However, the challenges of adapting to climate changes in most developing countries, including South Africa, are more difficult because such countries have weak institutions and limited access to technology. Another concern is a wide gap between the cost of adapting to climate change and the necessary financial and educational support from the government. There is also a need to invest in technologies that will resist and manage climate risks to food security and also to address the vulnerabilities and weaknesses in food systems.

Acknowledgements

Competing interests

The author declares that he has no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced him in writing this article.

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Frontiers in Animal Science vol: 6 year: 2026
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13. Enhancing the Resilience and Adaptive Capacity of Smallholder Farmers to Drought in the Limpopo Province, South Africa
Sydney Shikwambana, Ntokozo Malaza, Bongani Ncube
Conservation vol: 2 issue: 3 first page: 435 year: 2022
doi: 10.3390/conservation2030029

14. Food Security and Weather Events: A Multidimensional Analysis in the West African Sahel for 2001–2017
Oudah Yobom, Julie Le Gallo
Journal of Asian and African Studies vol: 60 issue: 5 first page: 2972 year: 2025
doi: 10.1177/00219096231225949

15. The Evolution of Food Security: Where Are We Now, Where Should We Go Next?
Morteza Akbari, Pantea Foroudi, Mohana Shahmoradi, Hamid Padash, Zahra Shahabaldini Parizi, Ala Khosravani, Pouria Ataei, Maria Teresa Cuomo
Sustainability vol: 14 issue: 6 first page: 3634 year: 2022
doi: 10.3390/su14063634

16. State of the Environmental Challenges on Changing Climate in Southern Africa
Ziphozakhe Theophilus Shasha
International Journal of Sustainability in Business and Economics vol: 1 issue: 1 year: 2025
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17. Perceived ideal number of children among adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa: does exposure to family planning messages matter?
Million Phiri, Musonda Lemba, Liness Shasha, Milika Sikaluzwe, Simona Simona
BMC Women's Health vol: 23 issue: 1 year: 2023
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18. The Nutrition Transition and the Double Burden of Malnutrition in Sub-Saharan African Countries: How Do These Countries Compare with the Recommended LANCET COMMISSION Global Diet?
Johanna H. Nel, Nelia P. Steyn
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health vol: 19 issue: 24 first page: 16791 year: 2022
doi: 10.3390/ijerph192416791

19. “Are They Aware, and Why?” Bayesian Analysis of Predictors of Smallholder Farmers’ Awareness of Climate Change and Its Risks to Agriculture
John N. Ng’ombe, Moses C. Tembo, Blessing Masasi
Agronomy vol: 10 issue: 3 first page: 376 year: 2020
doi: 10.3390/agronomy10030376

20. Farmers’ perceptions and adaptation strategies in facing climate change: A study of shallot farmers in Batu City, Indonesia
Titis Surya Maha Rianti, Sri Hindarti, Lia Rohmatul Maula, P. Kanjan, A.K. Yoshida, Wahyudi, Warkoyo, R. Ramadhan, A. Sangsawang, A. Boonyapakdee
BIO Web of Conferences vol: 143 first page: 01004 year: 2024
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21. Adapting to climate change: Reflections of peasant farmers in Mashonaland West Province of Zimbabwe
Tinashe M. Mashizha
Jàmbá Journal of Disaster Risk Studies vol: 11 issue: 1 year: 2019
doi: 10.4102/jamba.v11i1.571

22. Is climate finance aiding food security in developing countries? A focus on Sub-Sahara Africa
Andrew Phiri, Isaac Doku
Cogent Economics & Finance vol: 12 issue: 1 year: 2024
doi: 10.1080/23322039.2024.2312777

23. Development, physico-chemical and sensory analysis of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) muesli
S. Cloete, M. de Wit, A. du Toit
Acta Horticulturae issue: 1452 first page: 309 year: 2026
doi: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2026.1452.41

24. Ruminant contribution to enteric methane emissions and possible mitigation strategies in the Southern Africa Development Community region
Mompoloki Seketeme, Othusitse R. Madibela, Thabo Khumoetsile, Innocent Rugoho
Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change vol: 27 issue: 7 year: 2022
doi: 10.1007/s11027-022-10026-5

25. Climate-smart agricultural practices among rural farmers in Masvingo district of Zimbabwe: perspectives on the mitigation strategies to drought and water scarcity for improved crop production
Thandiwe Annastacia Mpala, Mulala Danny Simatele
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems vol: 7 year: 2024
doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2023.1298908

26. A Review of the Socio-Economic, Institutional, and Biophysical Factors Influencing Smallholder Farmers’ Adoption of Climate Smart Agricultural Practices in Sub-Saharan Africa
Bonface O. Manono, Shahbaz Khan, Kelvin Mutugi Kithaka
Earth vol: 6 issue: 2 first page: 48 year: 2025
doi: 10.3390/earth6020048

27. Building adaptive capacity: Reducing the climate vulnerability of smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe
Tinashe Mitchell Mashizha
Business Strategy & Development vol: 2 issue: 3 first page: 166 year: 2019
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28. Planting date and tillage effects on yield and nutrient uptake of two sorghum cultivars grown in sub-humid and semi-arid regions in South Africa
Kaya Mrubata, Adornis Dakarai Nciizah, Pardon Muchaonyerwa
Frontiers in Agronomy vol: 6 year: 2024
doi: 10.3389/fagro.2024.1388823

29. A critical analysis of global sustainable food system recommendations and their transformative potential – with a focus on Sub-Saharan African settings
Penelope Milsom, Susannah Mayhew, Paula Dominguez-Salas, Aloisia Katsande, Frank Tchuwa, Daimon Kambewa, Scott Slater, Helen Walls
Agriculture and Human Values vol: 43 issue: 2 year: 2026
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30. Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in BRICS Countries: Lessons From South Africa
Mesha Ramavather, Samuel Bangura
International Journal of Applied Research in Business and Management vol: 6 issue: 1 year: 2025
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31. Climate Change in Africa and Vegetation Response: A Bibliometric and Spatially Based Information Assessment
Oladayo Amed Idris, Prosper Opute, Israel Ropo Orimoloye, Mark Steve Maboeta
Sustainability vol: 14 issue: 9 first page: 4974 year: 2022
doi: 10.3390/su14094974

32. Eco-innovation and agricultural sustainability: empirical evidence from South Africa’s agricultural sector
Yasser Buchana
Innovation and Development vol: 15 issue: 1 first page: 113 year: 2025
doi: 10.1080/2157930X.2023.2268913

33. Exploring the effect of climate change on food supply chains in Africa: a systematic review with a focus on South Africa
Merishca Naicker, Denver Naidoo, Rob Slotow, Mjabuliseni Simon C. Ngidi
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems vol: 9 year: 2025
doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2025.1604839

34. Simulating daily sediment transport using the Water Quality and Sediment Model (WQSED)
David Gwapedza, Denis Arthur Hughes, Andrew Robert Slaughter, Sukhmani Kaur Mantel
Modeling Earth Systems and Environment vol: 9 issue: 4 first page: 3759 year: 2023
doi: 10.1007/s40808-023-01726-1

35. Informing Equitable Water and Food Policies through Accurate Spatial Information on Irrigated Areas in Smallholder Farming Systems
James Magidi, Barbara van Koppen, Luxon Nhamo, Sylvester Mpandeli, Rob Slotow, Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi
Water vol: 13 issue: 24 first page: 3627 year: 2021
doi: 10.3390/w13243627

36. The effect of the food insecurities in farming and non-farming households: lesson learnt from households in the Francis Baard district municipality, Northern Cape Province of South Africa
MN Shushu, JW Swanepoel, VM Mmbengwa
South African Journal of Agricultural Extension (SAJAE) vol: 49 issue: 2 first page: 43 year: 2021
doi: 10.17159/2413-3221/2021/v49n2a12793

37. Can Famine Be Averted? A Spatiotemporal Assessment of The Impact of Climate Change on Food Security in The Luvuvhu River Catchment of South Africa
Geoffrey Mukwada, Sabelo M. Mazibuko, Mokhele Moeletsi, Guy M. Robinson
Land vol: 10 issue: 5 first page: 527 year: 2021
doi: 10.3390/land10050527

38. The nutritional feed gap: Seasonal variations in ruminant nutrition and knowledge gaps in relation to food security in Southern Africa
Andrew S. Cooke, Honest Machekano, Lovemore C. Gwiriri, Jonathan H. I. Tinsley, Gleise M. Silva, Casper Nyamukondiwa, Andrew Safalaoh, Eric R. Morgan, Michael R. F. Lee
Food Security vol: 17 issue: 1 first page: 73 year: 2025
doi: 10.1007/s12571-024-01509-1

39. Uncovering the Research Gaps to Alleviate the Negative Impacts of Climate Change on Food Security: A Review
Muhammad Shahbaz Farooq, Muhammad Uzair, Ali Raza, Madiha Habib, Yinlong Xu, Muhammad Yousuf, Seung Hwan Yang, Muhammad Ramzan Khan
Frontiers in Plant Science vol: 13 year: 2022
doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.927535

40. Melhoramento genético de plantas para adaptabilidade às mudanças climáticas
Carla Michelle da Silva, Gênesis Alves de Azevedo, Luan Felipe da Silva Frade, Alice Vitória Rodrigues Barreto, Junior Viegas Soares, Marília Palheta da Silva, Michelle dos Santos Oliveira, Daniela Ferreira Marques, Joás de Souza Gomes, Renê Elizeu das Flores Canuto, Antônio Veimar da Silva
Revista de Gestão e Secretariado vol: 15 issue: 9 first page: e4161 year: 2024
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41. Climate change and food security in sustainable finance: a South African perspective
Mashford Zenda
Frontiers in Climate vol: 8 year: 2026
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42. The effects of urbanisation pressures on smallholder staple food crop production at the fringes of African cities: Empirical evidence from Ghana
Ibrahim Abu Abdulai
Cogent Social Sciences vol: 8 issue: 1 year: 2022
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43. Using ABM to Study the Potential of Land Use Change for Mitigation of Food Deserts
Asmamaw A. Gebrehiwot, Leila Hashemi-Beni, Lyubov A. Kurkalova, Chyi L. Liang, Manoj K. Jha
Sustainability vol: 14 issue: 15 first page: 9715 year: 2022
doi: 10.3390/su14159715

44. Improving biofortification success rates and productivity through zinc nanocomposites in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Richa Parashar, Shadma Afzal, Monalisha Mishra, Nand K. Singh
Environmental Science and Pollution Research vol: 30 issue: 15 first page: 44223 year: 2023
doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-25293-1

45. The ripple effects of climate change on agricultural sustainability and food security in Africa
Helen Onyeaka, Uju M. Nwauzoma, Adenike A. Akinsemolu, Phemelo Tamasiga, Keru Duan, Zainab T. Al‐Sharify, Kehinde Favour Siyanbola
Food and Energy Security vol: 13 issue: 5 year: 2024
doi: 10.1002/fes3.567

46. Dynamic agricultural supply response under Agricultural Transformation Agenda in Nigeria
Christianah Funmilayo Ojo, Akeem Abiade Tijani, Adetomiwa Kolapo, Temitope O. Ojo
Discover Sustainability vol: 6 issue: 1 year: 2025
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47. Rooted in Resilience: Climate Change and Mental Health Narratives of Makgobistad’s Emerging Adults
Vukile Ncango, Caroll Hermann, Eugene Lee Davids
South African Journal of Psychology year: 2026
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48. Multidecadal Land Use Patterns and Land Surface Temperature Variation in Sri Lanka
Randika K. Makumbura, Jayanga Samarasinghe, Upaka Rathnayake, Maman Turjaman
Applied and Environmental Soil Science vol: 2022 first page: 1 year: 2022
doi: 10.1155/2022/2796637

49. Understanding Food Insecurity Among Food Producers in Northern Ghana
Balikisu Osman, James Boafo
Journal of World Affairs: Voice of the Global South vol: 2 issue: 1 first page: 29 year: 2026
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50. Revising precipitation – water storages – vegetation signatures with GRACE-based data assimilation
Helena Gerdener, Jürgen Kusche, Kerstin Schulze, Gohar Ghazaryan, Olena Dubovyk
Journal of Hydrology vol: 612 first page: 128096 year: 2022
doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.128096

51. Introducing experiences from African pastoralist communities to cope with climate change risks, hazards and extremes: Fostering poverty reduction
Walter Leal Filho, Habitamu Taddese, Mulubrhan Balehegn, Daniel Nzengya, Nega Debela, Amare Abayineh, Edison Mworozi, Sampson Osei, Desalegn Y. Ayal, Gustavo J. Nagy, Nsani Yannick, Saizi Kimu, Abdul-Lateef Balogun, Esubalew Abate Alemu, Chunlan Li, Henry Sidsaph, Franziska Wolf
International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction vol: 50 first page: 101738 year: 2020
doi: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101738

52. Assessment of the Long-Term Impact of Climate Variability on Food Production Systems in South Africa (1976–2020)
Thulani Ningi, Maremo Mphahlele, Vusimusi Sithole, Jabulile Zamokuhle Manyike, Bernard Manganyi, Saul Ngarava, Moses Herbert Lubinga, Lwazi Dladla, Solly Molepo
Climate vol: 13 issue: 1 first page: 8 year: 2025
doi: 10.3390/cli13010008

53. Assessment and prediction of seasonal land surface temperature change using multi-temporal Landsat images and their impacts on agricultural yields in Rajshahi, Bangladesh
Abdullah-Al-Faisal, Abdulla - Al Kafy, A N M Foyezur Rahman, Abdullah Al Rakib, Kaniz Shaleha Akter, Vinay Raikwar, Dewan Md. Amir Jahir, Jannatul Ferdousi, Marium Akter Kona
Environmental Challenges vol: 4 first page: 100147 year: 2021
doi: 10.1016/j.envc.2021.100147

54. Financialization, Food Sovereignty, and Oral Health: A Structured Narrative Review Within the One Health Framework for Sustainable Food Systems
Maria Antoniadou, Theodoros Varzakas, Martin Caraher
Foods vol: 15 issue: 15 first page: 2718 year: 2026
doi: 10.3390/foods15152718

55. Perceptions of ujeqe and amaranthus, a potential supplement for improved food and nutrition security of South Africa
NR Olusanya, U Kolanisi, NZ Ngobese, C Mayashree
African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development vol: 24 issue: 2 first page: 25489 year: 2024
doi: 10.18697/ajfand.127.23815

56. Adaptation to Climate Change and Impact on Smallholder Farmers’ Food Security in South Africa
Abiodun A. Ogundeji
Agriculture vol: 12 issue: 5 first page: 589 year: 2022
doi: 10.3390/agriculture12050589

57. Integration of indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) into climate change mitigation and adaptation endeavours: milestones and gaps in South Africa and Zimbabwe’s climate policy frameworks
Louis Nyahunda
Climatic Change vol: 177 issue: 11 year: 2024
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58. Potential significance of kenaf ( Hibiscus cannabinus L.) to global food and feed industries
T. C. Kujoana, W. J. Weeks, M. M. Van der Westhuizen, M. Mabelebele, N. A. Sebola
Cogent Food & Agriculture vol: 9 issue: 1 year: 2023
doi: 10.1080/23311932.2023.2184014

59. Investigating the democracy and environmental sustainability nexus in 52 African countries: Evidence from two‐stage least squares and quantile regression
Chimere O. Iheonu, Obumneke Bob Muoneke, Shedrach A. Agbutun
Social Science Quarterly vol: 104 issue: 5 first page: 1006 year: 2023
doi: 10.1111/ssqu.13293

60. Performance of tropical and subtropical maize inbred lines under well-watered and drought-stressed environments
Sweetbird P. Dube, Admire I. T. Shayanowako, Funso Kutu, Julia Sibiya
Euphytica vol: 220 issue: 9 year: 2024
doi: 10.1007/s10681-024-03395-2

61. Modeling climate change impact on dryland wheat production for increased crop yield in the Free State, South Africa, using GCM projections and the DSSAT model
Caroline F. Ajilogba, Sue Walker
Frontiers in Environmental Science vol: 11 year: 2023
doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2023.1067008

62. Impact of climate change on agricultural production and food security in Somalia: a case study of Jowhar district
Abdinasir Omar Osman, Mohamed Said, Dayah Abdi Kulmie
Environmental Research Communications vol: 8 issue: 5 first page: 055038 year: 2026
doi: 10.1088/2515-7620/ae699e

63. THE IMPACT OF CHANGING WEATHER PATTERNS ON MAIZE YIELD IN SOUTH AFRICA: EVIDENCE FROM QUANTILE REGRESSION
Vusi Mbewana, Mbongeni Ngubane, Irrshad Kaseeram
F1000Research vol: 15 first page: 481 year: 2026
doi: 10.12688/f1000research.178130.1

64. Influence of Climate on Conflicts and Migrations in Southern Africa in the 19th and Early 20th Centuries
Mphethe I. Tongwane, Teke S. Ramotubei, Mokhele E. Moeletsi
Climate vol: 10 issue: 8 first page: 119 year: 2022
doi: 10.3390/cli10080119

65. A Technological Perspective of Bringing Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Food Security Together in South Africa
Annegrace Zembe, Livhuwani David Nemakonde, Paul Chipangura, Christo Coetzee, Fortune Mangara
Sustainability vol: 16 issue: 16 first page: 6844 year: 2024
doi: 10.3390/su16166844

66. Ensuring food sovereignty and nutritional sustainability in Egypt
Zdeňka Gebeltová, Joseph Phiri, Klára Bartoňová, Michal Steininger, Karel Malec, Vojtěch Blažek, Jiří Mach, Mansoor Maitah, Jiří Marušiak, Robert Koželský, Emil Flegel
Heliyon vol: 10 issue: 24 first page: e40007 year: 2024
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e40007

67. Drought and its impacts on small-scale farmers in sub-Saharan Africa: a review
Shenelle Lottering, Paramu Mafongoya, Romano Lottering
South African Geographical Journal vol: 103 issue: 3 first page: 319 year: 2021
doi: 10.1080/03736245.2020.1795914

68. The transboundary effects of climate change and global adaptation: the case of the Euphrates–Tigris water basin in Turkey and Iraq
Eleftherios Giovanis, Oznur Ozdamar
Empirical Economics vol: 68 issue: 4 first page: 1935 year: 2025
doi: 10.1007/s00181-024-02690-0

69. Nourished Nations: Investigating the Dynamics of Food Security, Energy Efficiency and Trade Openness in Emerging Economies
Manogna R. L, Aishwarya Naidu, Peeyush Kumar Jha
Food and Energy Security vol: 14 issue: 3 year: 2025
doi: 10.1002/fes3.70088

70. Rural households’ perception of climate change in the central and north Gondar zones, northwest Ethiopia
W Awoke, G Agitew
African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development vol: 22 issue: 113 first page: 21362 year: 2022
doi: 10.18697/ajfand.113.19400

71. Integrated analysis of local agricultural practices, community-led interventions, and climate change impacts on food insecurity in rural Azad Kashmir
Nabila Khurshid, Abdul Manan Gohar
Scientific Reports vol: 15 issue: 1 year: 2025
doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-82749-1

72. Household food insecurity among refugees: examining variations across different climatic contexts in Ugandan refugee settlements
Michael T. Wagaba, Christopher G. Orach, Alex Mulyowa, Maiya G. Block Ngaybe, Arthur Bagonza, Aggrey David Mukose, Justine Bukenya, Calvin Murungi, Hilde Bastiaens, Jean-Pierre Van Geertruyden
Global Health Action vol: 19 issue: 1 year: 2026
doi: 10.1080/16549716.2026.2702832

73. Plasma activated water offers food security opportunities by increasing shelf life of freshwater fisheries products in South Africa
Kay Howard, Frederich Henneke, Olivia J. B. Chalwin-Milton, Carel J. Oosthuizen, Peter Johnston, Kirsty L. Bayliss
Food Security vol: 15 issue: 3 first page: 839 year: 2023
doi: 10.1007/s12571-022-01334-4

74. Promoting Ecological Citizenship: Social Work Approach to Save the Environment for Sustainable Livelihood
Thabisa Matsea
Southern African Journal of Social Work and Social Development year: 2025
doi: 10.25159/2708-9355/18277

75. Exploring farmers’ seasonal climate forecast needs: Co-producing forecasts for food security
Andrew Thatcher, Olivier Crespo, Peter Johnston, Ammaarah Darsot
South African Journal of Science vol: 121 issue: 7/8 year: 2025
doi: 10.17159/sajs.2025/18998

76. Climate Change and African Agricultural Resilience: A 10‐Year Comprehensive Review of Adaptive Capacity, Policy, and Environmental Stewardship
Chibuzor Onyinye Okonkwo, Kahsay Tadesse Mawcha, Rumbidzai Changwa, Dennis Ndolo, Olubukola Oluranti Babalola
Plant-Environment Interactions vol: 7 issue: 4 year: 2026
doi: 10.1002/pei3.70191

77. Socio-Economic Benefits of Colophospermum mopane in a Changing Climate in Northern Namibia
Andreas Nikodemus, Azadeh Abdollahnejad, Alpo Kapuka, Dimitrios Panagiotidis, Miroslav Hájek
Forests vol: 14 issue: 2 first page: 290 year: 2023
doi: 10.3390/f14020290

78. Drought Tolerance Mechanisms in Grain and Vegetable Amaranthus Species: Physiological, Biochemical and Molecular Insights
Mulisa Nkuna, Pfunzo Gavhi, Alice Mwanjiwa Kanyerere, Vivian Chigozie Ikebudu, Nzumbululo Ndou, Andrew Faro, Ibrahima Zan Doumbia, Rachel Fanelwa Ajayi, Azwimbavhi Reckson Mulidzi, Nike Lewu, Takalani Mulaudzi
Horticulturae vol: 11 issue: 10 first page: 1226 year: 2025
doi: 10.3390/horticulturae11101226

79. Water-Energy-Food Security and Health in South Africa
Eli Dearden, Kei Otsuki, Willem J. J. Assendelft, Joost Hopman, Floor van der Hilst
JAMA Network Open vol: 9 issue: 7 first page: e2623340 year: 2026
doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.23340

80. THE IMPACT OF CHANGING WEATHER PATTERNS ON MAIZE YIELD IN SOUTH AFRICA: EVIDENCE FROM QUANTILE REGRESSION
Vusi Mbewana, Mbongeni Ngubane, Irrshad Kaseeram
F1000Research vol: 15 first page: 481 year: 2026
doi: 10.12688/f1000research.178130.2

81. Multi-stakeholder perceptions of drought utilizing a conceptual framework for drought
S.J Lottering, P. Mafongoya, R.T. Lottering
South African Geographical Journal vol: 105 issue: 1 first page: 115 year: 2023
doi: 10.1080/03736245.2022.2154524

82. Assessing climate change impacts on military academies: a comparative analysis of the United States Military Academy and the South African Military Academy
Mark Read, Hennie Smit, Ivan Henrico, Babalwa Mtshawu, Lesley Welman
Climate Risk Management vol: 51 first page: 100784 year: 2026
doi: 10.1016/j.crm.2025.100784

83. Using Nanochelating Technology for Biofortification and Yield Increase in Rice
Saideh Fakharzadeh, Maryam Hafizi, Mohammad Ali Baghaei, Maral Etesami, Maryam Khayamzadeh, Somayeh Kalanaky, Mohammad Esmaeil Akbari, Mohammad Hassan Nazaran
Scientific Reports vol: 10 issue: 1 year: 2020
doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-60189-x

84. The Opportunity for Nutrition Education to be a Mechanism for Climate Resilience: Experiences From a Facilitator-Led Programme in Diverse Contexts
Jessica Ronaasen, Thea Wynne, Linda Biersteker, Warren Farrer, Liana Steenkamp
Australasian Journal of Early Childhood vol: 51 issue: 3 first page: 325 year: 2026
doi: 10.1177/18369391251408649

85. Interrogating the climate variability and food security nexus: does the food security dimension matter?
Malebogo Bakwena, Mavis Kolobe, Lesego Sekwati
Cogent Food & Agriculture vol: 12 issue: 1 year: 2026
doi: 10.1080/23311932.2026.2645214

86. Breeding of Vegetable Cowpea for Nutrition and Climate Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa: Progress, Opportunities, and Challenges
Tesfaye Walle Mekonnen, Abe Shegro Gerrano, Ntombokulunga Wedy Mbuma, Maryke Tine Labuschagne
Plants vol: 11 issue: 12 first page: 1583 year: 2022
doi: 10.3390/plants11121583

87. The effect of heterogeneous adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices on household food and nutrition security of small-scale urban crop farmers in eThekwini Municipality
Nolwazi Z. Khumalo, Melusi Sibanda, Lelethu Mdoda, Jamie Males
PLOS Climate vol: 4 issue: 1 first page: e0000551 year: 2025
doi: 10.1371/journal.pclm.0000551

88. Contribution of home gardens to household food security in Umzimvubu Local Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Baphumelele Z. Msengana, Denver K. Naidoo, Lelethu Mdoda, Nthabeleng Tamako
Cogent Food & Agriculture vol: 11 issue: 1 year: 2025
doi: 10.1080/23311932.2025.2565714

89. Evaluation of Future Climate and Potential Impact on Streamflow in the Upper Nan River Basin of Northern Thailand
Miyuru B. Gunathilake, Yasasna V. Amaratunga, Anushka Perera, Imiya M. Chathuranika, Anura S. Gunathilake, Upaka Rathnayake, Roberto Coscarelli
Advances in Meteorology vol: 2020 first page: 1 year: 2020
doi: 10.1155/2020/8881118

90. Systematic review of government strategies for sustainable crop production in Botswana: navigating climate change challenges
Boitshwarelo Lorato Masocha, Paidamwoyo Mhangara, Botlhe Matlhodi, Daniel Mmereki, Oagile Dikinya
Agriculture & Food Security vol: 13 issue: 1 year: 2024
doi: 10.1186/s40066-024-00506-z

91. The battle to achieve Sustainable Development Goal Two: The role of environmental sustainability and government institutions
Justice Gyimah, Benjamin M. Saalidong, Louis K. M. Nibonmua, Olutosin Ademola Otekunrin
PLOS ONE vol: 18 issue: 9 first page: e0291310 year: 2023
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291310

92. Women-led sustainable irrigation improved indicators of nutritional status in children from Northern Benin
Douglas Taren, Halimatou Alaofè, Jennifer Burney, Hanqi Luo, Parminder S. Suchdev, Julie M. Long, Rosamond Naylor
Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition vol: 44 issue: 1 year: 2025
doi: 10.1186/s41043-025-01168-8

93. Climate Change and Health Preparedness in Africa: Analysing Trends in Six African Countries
Samuel Kwasi Opoku, Walter Leal Filho, Fudjumdjum Hubert, Oluwabunmi Adejumo
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health vol: 18 issue: 9 first page: 4672 year: 2021
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18094672

94. Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Security in Southern Africa: A Review of the Vulnerability of Smallholder Agriculture and Food Security to Climate Change
Charles Samuel Mutengwa, Pearson Mnkeni, Aleck Kondwakwenda
Sustainability vol: 15 issue: 4 first page: 2882 year: 2023
doi: 10.3390/su15042882

95. South Africa’s multiple vulnerabilities, food security and livelihood options in the COVID-19 new order: An annotation
Hosea O. Patrick, Ernest N. Khalema, Oluremi A. Abiolu, Enioluwa J. Ijatuyi, Rhoda T. Abiolu
The Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa vol: 17 issue: 1 year: 2021
doi: 10.4102/td.v17i1.1037

96. The impact of lateral boundary forcing in the CORDEX-Africa ensemble over southern Africa
Maria Chara Karypidou, Stefan Pieter Sobolowski, Lorenzo Sangelantoni, Grigory Nikulin, Eleni Katragkou
Geoscientific Model Development vol: 16 issue: 7 first page: 1887 year: 2023
doi: 10.5194/gmd-16-1887-2023

97. Nutrition and Sustainable Development Goals: The Impact of Sustainable Development Goal 2 on Multi‐Sectoral Outcomes in the Democratic Republic of Congo
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Original Research