Africa’s Cities Are Growing Fast, but Food Logistics Struggle to Keep Up
By 2050, African cities are expected to be home to 1.4 billion people, double the current 700 million, according to the OECD. Rapid Urbanization is putting enormous pressure on food logistics, now one of the weakest links in Africa’s development. Ensuring a steady, affordable, and sustainable food supply for the cities of tomorrow has therefore become a matter of national sovereignty.
The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) estimates that urban food demand on the continent could reach between $200 billion and $250 billion annually. Local producers currently cover 80% of that demand but face major hurdles in moving goods through distribution networks that are often disorganized and prone to collapse.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that one-third of all food produced globally for human consumption never reaches the end consumer. In Africa, this figure climbs to 50%, representing enough food to feed 300 million people.
Fragile Supply Chains, Massive Losses
The issue is largely structural. A 2024 report from Cornell University identifies major shortcomings in the transport networks connecting rural farming areas to urban markets. Poor road conditions, delivery delays, and rising distribution costs reduce both farmer incomes and food availability
« poor secondary roads and informal checkpoints often create major delays in food delivery. To address these issues, the company is investing in multimodal transport systems that combine road, rail, and river networks, along with traceability tools that help track goods all the way to the end consumer.» Hugo Capdevielle I Agribusiness expert at Africa Global Logistics (AGL)
Storage is another major bottleneck. Cold chain infrastructure, such as refrigerated warehouses, cold rooms, and crop cooling systems, remains rare and largely inaccessible to most farmers across the continent. As a result, post-harvest losses are particularly severe for perishable goods. In Nigeria, for example, 40% of all harvests spoil before they reach the market. That translates to $2.2 billion in losses each year, according to multiple sources.
These weaknesses are compounded by the lack of integration between food supply flows and urban planning, the widespread dominance of informal trade, the absence of real-time market data, and the frequent exclusion of small-scale producers from modern supply chains.
Innovation Offers a Way Forward
Digital solutions are starting to bridge some of these gaps, though they remain mostly limited to specific regions or sectors. In Kigali, the Master Plan 2050 includes urban agriculture, upgraded transport systems, and green technology as part of a strategy to reinforce food systems. In Nairobi, startups such as Twiga Foods are connecting farmers directly with urban retailers through digital platforms, reducing post-harvest losses from 30% to 4%.
Beyond digital tools, logistics companies like AGL are investing directly in rural operations. In West Africa, AGL is building food consolidation and storage hubs closer to farms. “For example, in Côte d’Ivoire, we have invested in Bouaké and Ferkessédougou to better organize the movement of food to national and regional markets,” said Capdevielle.
The company also provides services tailored to meet producer needs. In Chad, AGL has introduced a sesame seed cleaning service to improve product quality for export. In Kenya’s coffee sector, the company handles grading, sorting, blending, packaging, and shipping according to each client’s specifications.
Building a Stronger Urban Food Governance Model
While these initiatives signal progress, they face structural barriers such as fragmented markets, limited seed funding, and the lack of regulatory support systems.
Governments have a central role to play in scaling up these efforts. “Building logistics infrastructure depends heavily on public-private partnerships. In Abidjan, for instance, our collaboration with the autonomous port allowed us to create a major agro-export hub. These joint models are essential to address food sovereignty challenges,” said Capdevielle.
The AGL expert also emphasized the need for better alignment of customs and phytosanitary standards across African countries. “It would cut logistics costs and open new markets for producers. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could be a powerful tool in that direction,” he added.
Upgrading food logistics is not a secondary concern. It is a foundational requirement for managing urban growth, improving food access, and driving long-term structural change across the continent.
