An analysis of BRICS food policies, strategies and trade in achieving zero hunger - lessons for South Africa

Abstract

This article examines the major food security policies and strategies pursued by the member countries of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) economic bloc against the backdrop of their food trade, with a specific focus on South Africa. The article builds on existing literature and draws from extensive document analysis covering food policy documents, food trade data, and a wide range of related development issues for the affected countries. The article concludes that BRICS food trade is being conducted in an environment that is characterised by significant policy differentials. It is revealed that South Africa exports more food than Russia, India and China despite severe constraints on the country’s food sector that makes it the most food-insecure country within the bloc, despite having the lowest population. It is clear that South Africa’s policies and strategies for addressing food insecurity are inadequate when compared to those of other BRICS member countries. On the other hand, other BRICS countries have implemented a range of successful policies such as crop diversification, contract farming, urban farming and agriculture mechanisation, the adoption of which would be highly beneficial to South Africa in its quest to improve its overall food security positioning within the BRICS family.