Ensuring Africa's Food and Water Security

On June 11, at Roundtable discussion "Regional Security Governance: International Experience and African Practice," Alexander Sokolov, Deputy Director of Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEK) and Head of UNESCO Chair on Future Studies of National Research University Higher School of Economics, discussed promising areas of science and technology development for ensuring food and water security in Africa.

HSE World Economy and International Affairs, and Center for African Studies

Lecture for HSE students and Roundtable "Regional Security Governance: International Experience and African Practice," organized by HSE Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, and Center for African Studies, took place at HSE with participation of the African Union Commission representatives, including H.E. Ambassador, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security department Mr. Bankole Adeoye and Ms. Patience Zanelie Chiradza, Director of the Governance and Conflict Prevention Directorate.  

Ensuring food and water security were identified among ten priorities for South Africa's science and technology development under Alexander Sokolov led Foresight study performed by ISSEK in partnership with South African National Advisory Council on Innovation.

 South Africa's food security faces the following challenges:
-       Agriculture is not on the list of Government priorities
-       Food expenditure occupies 60-80% of total household income
-       Malnutrition of 25% of under-five children
-       Growing number of overweight/obese people (>60% women)

To find effective solutions, Alexander Sokolov outlined recommendations for the South African government and proposed a number of specific measures, including: 
-       encouraging individuals to build sustainable agri-businesses that drive and contribute to local economies
-       regulation for GM products and processes more effectively
-       enabling a greater use and acceptance of modern biotechnology
-       developing a regulatory framework for the use of personalised nutritional status information
-       zero impact agriculture
-       embedding the water sector in the 4^th industrial revolution
-       off-grid and decentralized wastewater and sanitation solutions
-       future oriented water and sanitation solutions
-       application of big data mining technologies in agribusiness and water supply.

Using the iFORA big data analytics system developed by ISSEK, a map of Africa's future food security up to 2050 was created, including trends and potential developments.

The Springer Nature book “21st Century Foresight: Shaping the Future for Sustainable Social, Economic and Environmental Development in South Africa” presents the study results.