Exploring the Relationship between Energy and Food Security in Africa with Instrumental Variables Analysis

Abdulrasheed Zakari, Jurij Toplak and Luka Martin Tomažič
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Abdulrasheed Zakari: School of Business, Faculty of Business and Law, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
Jurij Toplak: Alma Mater Europaea ECM, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
Luka Martin Tomažič: Alma Mater Europaea ECM, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 15, 1-14

Abstract: The well-being of human populations and their sustainable development are strongly predicated on energy and food security. This is even more true of Africa due to often suboptimal food production, undernourishment, and extreme poverty. This article researches the relationship between energy and food security using Cobb–Douglas production functions based on the World Development Indicators data for 28 African countries. The methodological approach includes cross-sectional dependence and unit root tests, instrumental variables two-stage least-squares and generalized method of moments, and panel Driscoll–Kraay standard errors. Results suggest that the promotion of energy security promotes food security. This is possible because food production and distribution are energy-intensive. Therefore, energy is fundamental to achieving food security and zero hunger. The availability, affordability, accessibility, and acceptability of energy can thus help to fix the growing agricultural production shortage in Africa. An important policy focus should be on achieving energy security.

Keywords: energy security; food security; sustainable development; Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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