Starving rich: linking natural resource endowment and food insecurity in Africa

Fabrice Ewolo Bitoto (), Doel Hermann Toukam () and Thierry Messie Pondie ()
Additional contact information
Fabrice Ewolo Bitoto: University of Dschang
Doel Hermann Toukam: University of Yaoundé II
Thierry Messie Pondie: University of Dschang

Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, 2025, vol. 106, issue 2, No 3, 217-257

Abstract: Abstract Given that eating, and especially eating well, is one of our most basic human needs, millions of people in Africa still do not have enough to eat. In African countries rich in natural resources, the problem of food insecurity is acute. The aim of this article is to analyse the effect of natural resource rents on food insecurity in Africa. The study covers 42 African countries for the period 2001 to 2020. Using several estimation techniques, we found that natural resources increase food insecurity. In other words, dependence on natural resources has a negative effect on food security. The use of system GMM leads to the same result. In addition, we find that the quality of institutions, income inequality, and conflict are channels through which natural resources amplify food insecurity in Africa. Therefore, to break the curse of resources in the food sector, we encourage economic and agricultural diversification by supporting local agriculture through the promotion of rural entrepreneurship in order to reduce food insecurity. In addition, invest the money made from the exploitation of these natural resources in agricultural projects, to finance farmers and build basic infrastructures, which will have a positive impact on food security. Furthermore, combat corruption at all levels of power. An effective approach could include a more equitable redistribution of political power among the various social groups. Finally, improve the quality of governance and increase the resources allocated to agricultural development.

Keywords: Natural resource; Food insecurity; Institutions; Africa; O13; Q18; O55; P37 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s41130-025-00233-4 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:roafes:v:106:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s41130-025-00233-4

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.springer ... nomics/journal/41130

DOI: 10.1007/s41130-025-00233-4

Access Statistics for this article

Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies is currently edited by Stephan Marette and Ronan Le Velly

More articles in Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().