Information is Power, Technology is Apropos and Food Security is a Must in Africa in the Post COVID-19 African States

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of new media information technology on food security. It specifically determines the extent to which new media technologies such as Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and many more, are agents of development and underdevelopment in food security in Africa. Drawing on systematic qualitative method, thus study assesses how new media technologies have posed positive and negative threats to food security in Africa. The findings showed that while new media technologies have aided food productivity, availability, and accessibility, the same cannot be said about food quality and utilization. The findings indicated that technology has enabled farmers to detect, adapt, and navigate dangerous climate change. However, it showed that the same new media technologies, through advertisement have been used to make huge profits at the expense of the good health of consumers, who are deceptively forced to consume unhealthy food produced through the means of Genetic Modified Organisms (GMOs). The paper recommends more organic food production through the use of new media technologies with more humane initiatives in Africa. It also recommends that food standardization and regulation agencies in African countries should create nationwide awareness, through new media technologies against the consumption of GMO foods that could impair their general well-being. This paper contributes and deepens knowledge on how farmers can detect and adapt to climate change for food security, using digitalized new media technologies in Africa. Keywords: Food security, Africa, New media, CSR, Agenda setting, Agroecology