A review of the role of nature-based solutions in mitigating food insecurity in Africa

Abstract

• The study explores the role of nature-based solutions (NbS) in addressing food insecurity in Africa, with the broader goal of advancing knowledge in this field.
• To ensure food security for Africa’s growing urban population and meet global climate targets and SDGs, farmers and agricultural producers in semi-urban and peri-rural areas must bear both climatic and non-climatic factors such as floods, droughts, urbanization, land use changes, farmland removals, and deforestation due to shifting land use.
• The study identified agroforestry, permaculture practices, urban agriculture and rooftop gardens, wetland restoration, cover cropping and crop rotation, aquaponics, eco-friendly pest control, and community-based forest management as components of NbS that can help address food insecurity.
• Future research should also explore the development and implementation of supportive policy frameworks that facilitate the integration of NbS into national and regional food security strategies.