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Book (series)The opportunity cost of not repurposing public expenditure in food and agriculture in sub-Saharan African countries
Background paper for The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024
2024Also available in:
No results found.Repurposing public support to food and agriculture has gained significant global attention. However, resources allocated to support the food and agriculture sector may not be high enough for significant repurposing in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper shows that most governments in 18 sub-Saharan African countries have allocated small shares of their budget to agriculture since 2004. Their narrow fiscal space and budget implementation capacity constrain any sizable increase in the budget allocated to agriculture. In this paper, an innovative policy optimization modelling tool helps us assess what would happen if the limited budget allocated to the crops and livestock sectors in six of the sub-Saharan African countries were reallocated optimally across different policy support measures and subsectors/commodities, under the same budget constraint. It shows public expenditure is being allocated inefficiently in all six countries and the needed reallocations to solve such allocative inefficiencies, which would result in higher agrifood output growth, thousands of off-farm jobs being created in rural areas, and millions of people getting out of poverty or being now able to afford a healthy diet. -
Book (stand-alone)Desalination for agricultural development: Addressing opportunities and challenges in the context of climate change and the global agricultural commodity market
Expert consultation workshop report
2025Also available in:
No results found.The integration of desalination into agricultural practices presents a transformative opportunity to address water scarcity in a rapidly changing climate. This guidance document has highlighted the technological advances, agronomic opportunities, economic challenges, environmental impacts and social considerations associated with doing so.Technologically, desalination has evolved significantly, offering viable solutions for both seawater and brackish water, with reverse osmosis leading the way. However, the high costs and energy requirements of desalination remain significant challenges, particularly for widespread agricultural use. Innovations in energy efficiency, brine management, and the potential for resource recovery from brine are promising developments that could lower costs and environmental impacts in the future.Agronomically, desalinated water can support high-value crops, and it has the potential to support food security in regions facing severe water scarcity. However, the unique chemical composition of desalinated water, including low nutrient content and the potential for phytotoxicity, necessitates careful management to avoid adverse effects on soil health and crop productivity. Blending desalinated water with water from other sources and adjusting fertilization practices can mitigate some of these concerns.Economically, the viability of desalination for agriculture depends on the value of the crops being irrigated, the proximity of desalination plants to agricultural lands, and the availability of financing mechanisms. The high cost of desalinated water requires targeted subsidies, public–private partnerships, and innovative financing models to make it accessible and sustainable for farmers, particularly in developing regions. Further research is needed to analyse the costs and benefits of desalination for “strategic” crops in water-scarce areas – such as cereals and animal fodder – which are intended to contribute to food security.Environmental sustainability is a critical consideration, with desalination’s energy intensity and brine disposal posing significant risks. The shift towards renewable energy sources and the development of brine valorization strategies are essential steps towards reducing the environmental footprint of desalination. Moreover, the potential for desalination to contribute to aquifer recharge and prevent overextraction of freshwater resources offers additional environmental benefits. -
Brochure, flyer, fact-sheetExpanding market opportunities for freshwater fish 2024
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This publication is the main outcome of a technical workshop on ‘Market system approach for resilient agri-aquaculture food systems in desert and arid countries’ organized by the FAO sub-regional office for North Africa from 13 to 15 October 2022 in Tunis, Tunisia. The workshop brought together experts from Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Tunisia as well as FAO staff with the aim of developing a work programme for the development of the sub-sector. The experts discussed and developed three categories of intervention: (i) Expanding market opportunities for freshwater fish; (ii) Improving opportunities to expand freshwater aquaculture and inland fisheries production; (iii) Promoting business opportunities for youth and women in inland fisheries and aquaculture food systems. These programmes concept notes were put together in this business portfolio of investment and are addressed to potential donors seeking to financially support sustainable aquaculture and inland fisheries development in the arid lands of North African countries.
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