Structural agricultural vulnerabilities and climate stress threaten cassava, a key food security crop in Africa
Original framing: “Climate change could pose a major risk to cassava in Africa: Study sets out what can be done now” — Phys.org
Cassava was introduced to Africa during the colonial period as a cash crop, displacing more diverse and resilient indigenous food systems. Historical land dispossession and the prioritization of export crops have weakened local food sovereignty and ecological resilience.
Cassava's vulnerability is not solely a product of climate change but is deeply rooted in historical patterns of land dispossession, monoculture farming, and the marginalization of indigenous agroecological knowledge.
By integrating traditional farming practices with scientific research and empowering local communities, we can build more resilient food systems. Historical parallels in Latin America show that monoculture leads to ecological degradation, while diverse agroecological systems enhance resilience. The path forward requires a systemic shift in agricultural policy that centers the voices of smallholder farmers and restores ecological balance.