A sustainable future for Africa through continental free trade and agricultural development

Janssens, C., Havlik, P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5551-5085, Boere, E., Palazzo, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8167-9403, Mosnier, A., Leclère, D., Balkovic, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2955-4931, & Maertens, M. (2022). A sustainable future for Africa through continental free trade and agricultural development. Nature Food 3 (8) 608-618. 10.1038/s43016-022-00572-1.

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Project: REmote Climate Effects and their Impact on European sustainability, Policy and Trade (RECEIPT, H2020 820712)

Abstract

Developing and integrating agricultural markets may be key to addressing Africa’s sustainability challenges. By modelling trade costs from farm gate to potential import markets across eight African regions, we investigate the impact of individual components of continental free trade and the complementary role of domestic agricultural development through increased market access for farmers and agricultural intensification. We find that free trade would increase intra-African agricultural trade sixfold by 2030 but—since it does not address local supply constraints—outside food imports and undernourishment would reduce only marginally. Agricultural development could almost eliminate undernourishment in Africa by 2050 at only a small cost of increased global greenhouse gas emissions. While continental free trade will be enabled in Africa through the African Continental Free Trade Area, aligning this with local agricultural development policies is crucial to increase intra-African trade gains, promote food security and achieve climate objectives.

Item Type: Article
Research Programs: Biodiversity and Natural Resources (BNR)
Biodiversity and Natural Resources (BNR) > Integrated Biosphere Futures (IBF)
Depositing User: Michaela Rossini
Date Deposited: 18 Aug 2022 17:42
Last Modified: 09 Sep 2024 12:45
URI: https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/18163

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