Demographic Projections, the Environment and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Given above-average population growth, feeding sub-Saharan Africa’s future population is an important challenge. This paper considers what we know about the relationship between population and food security and what population projections suggest will be the case over the next half century. It considers how the major sources of population change will affect food security in Africa during this period. Furthermore, it articulates the implications of population shocks, including HIV/AIDS and conflicts, on food security. The paper also discusses the implications of population increases on the environment and the use of land. Finally it suggests that land reform can be used to ameliorate some of the negative consequences of growth on food security.