Markets, Climate Change, and Food Security in West Africa

West Africa is one of the most food insecure regions of the world.  High food and energy prices in 2008 had the immediate consequence of sharply increasing the number of hungry people and brought the role of markets in food access and availability around the world into the spotlight, particularly in urban areas.  In this article, the interaction between markets, food prices, agricultural technology and development is explored in the context of West Africa.  To improve food security in West Africa, sustained commitment to investment in the agriculture sector will be needed to provide some protection against global swings in both production and world markets.  Climate change mitigation programs are likely to force global energy and commodity price increases in the coming decades, putting pressure on regions like West Africa to produce more food locally to ensure a stable food supply for the most vulnerable.