The Digitalisation of Food Supply Chain in Africa: Opportunities and Barriers

Digitalization of the food supply chain is gaining increasing attention around the world. The COVID-19 outbreak and the Russian-Ukraine conflict, appear to have increased this interest as both situations have a direct impact on the food supply chain. Supply chain digitalisation can help to improve supply chain efficiency, reduce waste and improve traceability. In Africa, digitisation could address some of the challenges facing food supply chains, including inadequate infrastructure, lack of access to information and limited visibility. However, despite several opportunities, the application of digital technologies in African food supply chains is still limited by several obstacles. This article aims to provide an overview of the opportunities and barriers associated with digitalising the food supply chains in Africa. It identifies key technologies that have the potential to transform food supply chains and examines the challenges faced by the adoption of digital technologies in Africa. Finally, the study will suggest possible solutions to overcome these obstacles and maximize the potential of digitalisation in the African food supply chains.