Enhancing food security in sub-Saharan Africa: Investigating the role of environmental degradation, food prices, and institutional quality

In an era of global environmental challenges, understanding the dynamics of food production is crucial, particularly in regions prone to food insecurity and susceptible to climatic variations. Despite extensive research on agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a thorough examination of the combined effects of various determinants, including food prices and institutional quality, on food security remains limited. Using panel data from 2002 to 2020, this study explores the effects of agricultural land, population growth, environmental degradation, income per capita, food prices, capital formation, and institutional quality on food security in 32 SSA countries. Based on the Pedroni and Kao cointegration test outcomes, a long-run correlation between food security and its influencing factors is evident. The findings from the pooled mean group (PMG) models reveal that extended agricultural land leads to enhanced food security both in the short- and long-run. Likewise, population expansion, rising per capita income, and capital formation drive higher food demand, contributing positively to food security outcomes. Conversely, environmental degradation poses a significant threat, impairing food security in the SSA. Mixed results are observed with food prices, where higher prices can both enhance and reduce food security. The poor institutional quality in SSA correlates with food insecurity. Importantly, the Dumitrescu–Hurlin causality test results reveal bidirectional causality between food security and most variables, except for food inflation and institutional quality. The method of moments quantile regression (MMQR) strengthens the robustness of the study findings. Building on these insights, the study recommends focusing on sustainable land use practices, effective environmental management strategies, increased agricultural investment, governance reforms, and implementing balanced pricing mechanisms. [Display omitted] •Understanding food security is vital with rising climate threats in the SSA.•Poor institutions and environmental degradation hamper food security.•However, land use, income level, and capital formation boost it in the long-run.•Higher food prices can both enhance and reduce food production and security.•Sustainable farming and robust institutions are needed to improve food security.