Sustainable food systems for Africa

Titolo Rivista ECONOMIA AGRO-ALIMENTARE
Autori/Curatori Raymond Auerbach
Anno di pubblicazione 2019 Fascicolo 2018/3 Lingua Inglese
Numero pagine 20 P. 301-320 Dimensione file 213 KB
DOI 10.3280/ECAG2018-003003
Il DOI è il codice a barre della proprietà intellettuale: per saperne di più clicca qui

Qui sotto puoi vedere in anteprima la prima pagina di questo articolo.

Se questo articolo ti interessa, lo puoi acquistare (e scaricare in formato pdf) seguendo le facili indicazioni per acquistare il download credit. Acquista Download Credits per scaricare questo Articolo in formato PDF

Anteprima articolo

FrancoAngeli è membro della Publishers International Linking Association, Inc (PILA)associazione indipendente e non profit per facilitare (attraverso i servizi tecnologici implementati da CrossRef.org) l’accesso degli studiosi ai contenuti digitali nelle pubblicazioni professionali e scientifiche

From 48 years of farming systems research and extension practice, the author distils two conceptual models of the progression of small scale farmers in sustainable agriculture and of the characteristics of production, equity, natural resource management and sustainability, and their implications are discussed. The models inform a comparative analysis of a conventional and an organic development programme. They are linked to long term comparative organic farming systems research trials, which have been running for four years in South Africa’s Southern Cape. These trials compare organic and conventional farming systems, crop rotation and mono-cropping, biological and chemical pest and disease control and water use efficiency in cabbage, sweet potato and cowpea crops. In Africa the high cost and limited availability of agricultural inputs make agro-ecological approaches attractive, as they are practically possible (with low levels of external inputs) and improve carbon sequestration, dietary diversity and food quality. The challenges for viable organic farming systems are thus seen to include: improving soil fertility (especially available soil phosphate), controlling pests and diseases and convincing consumers of the quality of organic products. Benefits include: reduced dependency on externally-purchased agricultural inputs, lower soil acidity, higher soil water retention, sequestration of soil carbon, improved soil microbiology, better agrobiodiversity and elimination of poisons from the food chain. Support for small scale farmers will require technical and training support, market linkages and quality management.

Keywords:Organic Food System, African organic farming system, sustainable development under climate change.

Jel codes:Q01, Q50

  1. Auerbach, R. (1990). An Experiment in Low-input Maize Production in KwaZulu. Development Southern Africa, 7(1).
  2. Auerbach, R. (1993). Farming systems research evaluation of maize production practices in southern KwaZulu. MSc thesis, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
  3. Auerbach, R. (1994). Sustainable Development: Developing what to sustain whom? New Ground, 15, 38-41.
  4. Auerbach, R. (1995). People, farming and research: How can South African science contribute to sustainable agricultural development? South African Journal of Science, 91, 3-6.
  5. Auerbach, R. (1999). Design for participation in ecologically sound management of South Africa’s Mlazi River catchment. PhD thesis, Wageningen Agricultural University, Netherlands.
  6. Auerbach, R. (2013). Transforming African agriculture. In Auerbach, R., Organic farming: African experiences in resilience and sustainability. Rome: Food and Agricultural Organization.
  7. Auerbach, R. (Ed.) (Forthcoming). Organic Food Systems: Meeting the needs of Southern Africa. Wallingford, UK: Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau International (cabi).
  8. Auerbach, R. (Forthcoming a). The developing organic sector in Southern and Eastern Africa; what have we learned about sustainable development? In Organic Food Systems: Meeting the needs of Southern Africa. Wallingford, UK: Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau International (cabi).
  9. Auerbach, R. (Forthcoming b). Supporting vulnerable communities in the Eastern Cape: Assessing the rainfall evidence. In Auerbach, R. (Ed.), Organic Food Systems: Meeting the needs of Southern Africa. Wallingford, UK: cabi.
  10. Brady, N., & Weil, R. (2016). The nature and properties of soils. 15th edition. New York: Pearson Education International.
  11. De Wit, M.J., & Stankiewicz, J. (2006). Changes in surface water supply across Africa with predicted climate change. Science, 311(5769), 1917-1921.
  12. Eckert, C., Auerbach, R. & Lorentz, S. (Forthcoming). Comparative Water Use Efficiency and water retention in the Mandela Trials. In Auerbach, R. (Ed.), Organic Food Systems: Meeting the needs of Southern Africa. Wallingford, UK: cabi. epopa (Export Programme for Organic Products from Africa) (2008). Organic exports – A way to a better life? Export promotion of organic products from Africa. Stockholm: Swedish International Development Agency.
  13. ipcc (2018). Global Warming of 1.5 .C, an ipcc special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5 .C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty. Working Group II, Inter-government Panel on Climate Change.
  14. Jenkinson, D., & Johnson, A. (1977). Soil organic matter in the Hoosfield barley experiment. Wheathamsted, UK: Rothamsted Experimental Station 1976.
  15. Maeder, P., Fliessbach, A., Dubois, D., Gunst, L., Jossi, W., Widmer, F., Oberson, A., Frossard, E., Oehl, F., Wiemken, A., Gattinger, A., & Niggli, U. (2006). The DOK experiment (Switzerland). In Raupp, J., Pekrun, C., Oltmanns, M., & Koepke, U.
  16. (Eds.), Long-term field experiments in organic farming. Berlin: Verlag Dr Koster. International Society of Organic Agriculture Research.
  17. Mashele, N., & Auerbach, R. (2016). Evaluating crop yields, crop quality and soil fertility from organic and conventional farming systems in South Africa’s Southern Cape. South African Journal of Geology, 119(1), 25-32.
  18. Munk, N. (2013). The Idealist: Jeffrey Sachs and the quest to end poverty. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart.
  19. Ramaila, M., Mahlangu, S., & du Toit, D. (2011). Agricultural productivity in Africa: A literature review. Pretoria: Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
  20. Raupp, J., Pekrun, C., Oltmanns, M., & Koepke U. (2006). Long-term Field Experiments in Organic Farming. International Society of Organic Agriculture Research. Berlin: Verlag Dr Koster.
  21. Sachs, J. (2005). The end of poverty: How we can make it happen in our lifetime. London: Penguin Books.
  22. Scialabba, N. (2007). Organic agriculture and food security. OFS/2007/5. Rome: Food and Agricultural Organization.
  23. Sibiya, M., Labuschagne, N., Habig, J., & Auerbach, R. (Forthcoming). Initial assessment of microbiological soil health indicators in the Mandela Trials Forthcoming. In Auerbach, R. (Ed.), Organic Food Systems: Meeting the needs of Southern Africa. Wallingford, UK: cabi.
  24. Troosters, W., & Auerbach, R. (2011). Supporting farmer groups in South Africa. Paper delivered at the African Union/World Food Programme/IFOAM session on ‘Putting vulnerable rural people at the centre of the agenda: ecosystem and community-based approaches to resilient rural livelihoods. 17th Conference of the Parties, United Nations Conference on Climate Change, Durban, South Africa.
  25. unctad (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) (2008) Best practices for organic policy (Accessed 3 June 2018). -- Available at: http://unctad.org/en/Docs/ditcted20073_en.pdf.
  26. unctad (2016) Financing organic agriculture in Africa (unctad/web/ditc/ted/2016/6). -- Available at: http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/webditcted2016d6_en.pdf (Accessed 3 June 2018).
  27. Wilson, F., & Cornell, V. (2014). Overcoming Poverty and Inequality: Guide to Carnegie 3 Conference. saldru, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. -- Available at www.carnegie3.org.za/docs/Carnegie3_April13_WEB.pdf (accessed 3 July 2018).

  • Guest Editorial Future food availability is not only an agricultural topic, but also a society issue Catherine Macombe, Raymond Auerbach, Andrea Raggi, Roberta Salomone, in ECONOMIA AGRO-ALIMENTARE 3/2019 pp.293
    DOI: 10.3280/ECAG2018-003002
  • Prevalence and correlates of food insecurity in rural Nigeria: A panel analysis Oluwakemi Adeola Obayelu, Emem Ime Akpan, Ayodeji O. Ojo, in Economia agro-alimentare 2/2021 pp.1
    DOI: 10.3280/ecag2-2021oa12344
  • Sustainable Agricultural Marketing and Agribusiness Development Savanhu Howard Manyere, pp.16 (ISBN:9781800622524)

Raymond Auerbach, Sustainable food systems for Africa in "ECONOMIA AGRO-ALIMENTARE" 3/2018, pp 301-320, DOI: 10.3280/ECAG2018-003003