Competition, trade, and sustainability in agriculture and food markets in Africa
Abstract
Abstract Food and agriculture accounts for around one-third of global emissions reflecting the effects of consumption in high-income countries on production and land use around the world. These effects include those transmitted through international trade such as in the constituents of animal feed for meat. African countries face a dual challenge of adapting to the growing effects of climate change in the shape of extreme weather, and increasing agriculture and food production as part of developing their economies. At the same time, there is increasing concentration in the production and trading of agriculture and food products, globally and within Africa. This article considers the interaction of concentration and responses to climate change in food markets through a focus on meat and animal feed, and the developments in maize and soybeans in East and Southern Africa. The possible role for competition policy as part of a wider reform agenda is proposed.
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Several recent studies indicate that market concentration in the food sector is also a growing problem in sub-Saharan Africa, affecting markets for soybeans, fertilizer, poultry, and seeds.
“Several recent studies indicate that market concentration in the food sector is also a growing problem in sub-Saharan Africa, affecting markets for soybeans, fertilizer, poultry, and seeds (Shamba Centre 2023; Roberts 2023).”
From Corporate concentration and power matter for agency in food systems (2025) · cites this paper as Roberts 2023
Even in the absence of evidence of explicit collusion, heightened corporate concentration can lead to harmful outcomes, such as higher food prices.
“Even in the absence of evidence of explicit collusion, some studies suggest that heightened corporate concentration can lead to harmful outcomes, such as higher food prices (Hovhannisyan et al. 2019; Roberts 2023).”
From Corporate concentration and power matter for agency in food systems (2025) · cites this paper as Roberts 2023
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- Authors
- Roberts, S.
- Affiliations
- University of Johannesburg (ZA)
- Corresponding author
- Roberts, Simon
- ORCID
- Roberts, Simon
- Venue
- Oxford Review of Economic Policy
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2023-01-01
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 147-161
- ISSN
- 0266-903X (ISSN-L)
- 1460-2121
- OpenAlex
- W4320009261
- Cited by
- 9
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2
- FWCI
- 1.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Oxford Review of Economic Policy (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- SOAS Research Online (SOAS University of London) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Economics of Agriculture and Food Markets
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Agricultural economics and policies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact
- Keywords
- agricultural trade, food markets, market concentration, competition policy, climate change adaptation, meat production, animal feed, maize, soybean, sustainability, Eastern and Southern Africa, Africa
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