Food at a crossroads

Despite increasing food production over the past 30 years, over 60% of Africa’s population faced moderate to severe food insecurity in 2022.

Africa is at a crucial turning point. While the continent holds enormous agricultural potential, weaknesses along the food supply chain, from transport and logistics to storage – continue to drive up food prices, cause post-harvest losses, and leave communities exposed to climate shocks, conflicts, and global disruptions.

Transport and Trade: The missing links

Just four key commodities account for nearly 45% of caloric intake across Africa. Yet a significant portion of these staples are imported from Europe, South Asia, and beyond, making efficient transport systems absolutely critical to securing reliable access to food.

Ports: The first gate

Ports are the main entry point for many staple foods. In fact:

• 14% of all food traded in Africa arrives via seaports.

• That number jumps to 22% for landlocked countries, and 37% for the lowest income nations.

However, many African ports are hindered by outdated infrastructure, poor logistics systems, and limited capacity, especially when it comes to handling agricultural commodities. These limitations lead to delays, increased costs, and large quantities of food failing to reach their intended destinations.

Just 10 key ports currently handle the equivalent of 78 billion kilocalories annually, underscoring the urgency of investing in better port facilities and regulatory frameworks to support reliable food flows.

Roads: The long journey

Once food clears port, it still faces a challenging journey inland. On average, food in Africa travels 4,000 km over 23 days – four times longer than in Europe.

This extended timeline increases the risk of spoilage and waste. Poor road conditions, congested borders, and inefficient regulations contribute to costly delays and unreliable supply chains, particularly in low-income countries, where access to affordable food is most critical.

Storage: The hidden crisis

Storage is often overlooked, but it’s a critical component of Africa’s food security. Without proper storage infrastructure:

• 20% of cereals,

• 25% of rice and maize, and

• up to 40% of fruits and vegetables

  are lost in Sub-Saharan Africa before they even reach consumers.

Between 2010 and 2022, post-harvest losses of cassava, maize, rice, and wheat increased from 22.5 million to 33.8 million tons – equivalent to 30% of total imports of those crops.

Investing in modern storage technologies, better training, and local logistics can help reduce this waste and improve food availability year-round.

What’s the Solution?

There’s no single fix to Africa’s food supply chain challenges. But targeted, strategic investments can make a meaningful difference:

• Upgrading transport networks: roads, railways, and ports – to reduce delays and improve reliability.

• Streamlining logistics and regulations to cut lead times and lower trade costs.

• Promoting intra-regional trade to balance food supply between surplus and deficit areas.

• Expanding modern storage infrastructure to reduce waste and ensure food stability.

• Supporting policy reforms that encourage agricultural development and improve rural market access.

By addressing these bottlenecks, Africa can move toward a more resilient, affordable, and sustainable food system.

This article is based on a feature originally published by the World Bank. You can read the full article here: Food at a Crossroads – World Bank