In an era where globalization intertwines economies, trade plays a critical role in shaping diets across the African continent. But the question remains, does increased food trade improve nutrition, or does it come with hidden health risks?
Income growth is a major driver of the nutrition transition, leading to a more diverse food environment and a declining share of staple foods in consumption.
A more diverse food supply can provide the basis for better nutrition but can also result in a higher availability of ultra-processed foods, including foods high in fats, sugars and/or salt, which can increase the prevalence of overweight and obesity.
Trade is an accelerator of the nutrition transition. Its effects on food availability, dietary patterns and nutritional outcomes can be widely diverse across countries, population groups and individuals.
This article explores the relationship between food trade, nutrient supply, and the double burden of malnutrition in Africa.
How Does Trade Influence Food Availability in Africa?
Africa’s reliance on food imports has been steadily increasing over the past two decades. Many African countries are net food importers, especially in regions like Northern and Western Africa, where natural resource constraints limit agricultural production.
Between 2001 and 2020, Africa’s net imports of key nutrients like calcium, potassium, and phosphorus increased significantly, reflecting a growing dependence on international markets to meet nutritional needs.
Trade has helped improve food availability by bringing in essential foods such as dairy products, grains, and fruits that might otherwise be scarce. However, the challenge lies in ensuring that these imported foods are not only energy-dense but also nutrient-rich.
Although imports are seen as the touchpoint solution to food availability, they are antagonistic to the agenda of increasing local food production and trade for smallholder farmers.
They dilute food prices for local food production vis-à-vis vie cost of production invested. As a farmer, your motivation for better returns is likely to nosedive if imports are sustained over investment in local food production. Priority needs to be given to local producers.
Can Trade Help Close Nutrient Gaps?
In theory, yes—trade can help close nutrient gaps. Many African countries cannot produce enough food to meet the population’s dietary requirements, particularly for micronutrients like vitamin A, calcium, and iron.
Imports allow countries to diversify food supplies and improve access to a broader range of nutrients. This is, however not sustainable. The better way is to ensure you quickly understand how you can utilize the foods at your disposal, their nutrition profiles and how to plan their meals to achieve diversity.
What is dietary diversity? You may be asking yourself. It refers to the variety or number of different food groups or items consumed over a specific period (mostly per day) and is often used as a proxy for nutrient adequacy and a measure of food access. In an ideal scenario in a day it is recommended to consume at least 5 food groups per day. Food groups include milk, eggs, legumes, starches, meats, vegetables, fruits, fats and oils and breast milk for infants.
It is key to note that not all imported foods are created equal. The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets 2024 report highlights that while staple foods and nutrient-rich products are traded globally, many low- and middle-income countries, including those in Africa, increasingly import ultra-processed foods high in fats, sugar, and salt.
Why Is Obesity Rising in Africa If There Are Still Nutrient Gaps?
The rise of obesity in Africa might seem paradoxical given persistent undernutrition. This phenomenon—known as the double burden of malnutrition—is becoming more common as countries undergo what nutrition experts call the nutrition transition.
Higher incomes, urbanization, and trade liberalization contribute to shifting diets from traditional foods to more processed and energy-dense products. According to the FAO, between 2000 and 2021, African countries saw a marked increase in imports of processed and ultra-processed foods, while the share of unprocessed foods declined.
In North Africa, where trade openness is higher, obesity rates among adults have reached 16 percent in 2022, reflecting the growing availability of unhealthy food products.
There are also contradictory findings when examining the effects of trade policies related to food and agriculture. One of the primary ways that trade affects nutrition and health is through trade liberalization.
In general, it seems that trade liberalization, improved food quality, and decreased undernutrition are broadly associated, according to the empirical evidence. According to other studies, trade—especially trade agreements—increases the availability of processed foods and raises the prevalence of obesity.
A narrow focus on the trade of particular food categories and their connections to nutritional outcomes may be required in light of the wide range of paths and impacts that food trade can have on nutrition.
Nevertheless, many pathways through which trade affects nutrition can be conceptualized. to distinguish the individual effects of trade openness and economic value on selected nutritional indicators.
Obesity has detrimental health effects that can empty the financial pockets of your household once it strikes and needs adoption of better dietary habits to prevent it.
Does Trade Make Healthy Diets More Affordable?
One of the biggest promises of trade is that it can lower food prices and increase access to diverse diets. This holds particularly true for nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and fish, which are often more expensive in domestic markets.
However, in many African countries, the affordability of healthy diets remains a challenge. Trade openness tends to lower prices for calorie-dense foods more than for nutrient-rich foods, making processed foods more accessible than fresh, healthy options.
Similarly, trade agreements between African nations are opening up new opportunities for intraregional trade in fresh produce, which could strengthen local food systems and promote healthier diets.
At FSPN Africa, we are championing the production and adoption of underutilized foods: African leafy vegetables, indigenous fruits, cereals and tubers. We are also promoting the consumption of agroecological foods like edible insects, spirulina and fish products, which are high in essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids and proteins.
How are we doing it? We are using digital avenues to reach out to you, the consumer. To ensure you are able to access nutrition and food system knowledge that guides you on practical ways to improve your diet, food trade and diversity. Make Community Virtual Hub your food systems information partner as you partner with us against hunger.
What Can Policymakers Do to Balance Trade and Nutrition?
Trade alone cannot solve Africa’s nutrition challenges—it needs to be aligned with nutrition-sensitive policies. Here are some recommendations:
- Promote trade in nutrient-rich foods: Governments can use trade agreements to prioritize the import of healthier foods over highly processed products.
- Strengthen regional trade: Boosting intraregional trade can reduce reliance on global markets and increase access to fresh produce.
- Tax unhealthy imports: Some countries, like South Africa, have introduced sugar taxes to curb the import and consumption of sugary beverages.
- Invest in local production: Supporting local farmers’ production of nutrient-rich foods can reduce the need for imports while improving livelihoods.
Is There Hope for a Healthier Future?
Absolutely. While trade presents both opportunities and risks, its role in improving nutrition outcomes largely depends on how countries design their trade and nutrition policies.
By fostering regional cooperation, investing in local food systems, and aligning trade agreements with public health goals, African nations can leverage trade to build more diverse, sustainable, and healthy diets.
Harnessing digital space is also a vital pathway to strengthening nutrition and trade. Consumers and all food handlers at different food systems nodes can interact openly in one space and drive better solutions. At FSPN Africa, our stronghold stands on digital interventions, and Africa embraces technological transitions to align with the global pace.
Final Thoughts
Trade is a double-edged sword—it can either bridge the nutrient gap or fuel the rise of unhealthy diets. The future of nutrition in Africa depends on striking the right balance between food availability, affordability, and quality.
By making nutrition a central pillar of trade policies, Africa can turn globalization into a powerful tool for improving health and well-being across the continent.
References
FAO. 2024. The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets 2024. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cd2144en
FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP & WHO. 2023. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023. Rome, FAO.
Joy, E.J.M., Ander, E.L., Young, S.D., et al. 2014. Dietary mineral supplies in Africa. Physiologia Plantarum. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.12144​:contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
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