Food security in South Africa : first steps toward a transdisciplinary approach

Date
2013-02
Authors
Drimie, S.
McLachlan, M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SpringerLink
Abstract
The Stellenbosch University Food Security Initiative provides a platform on which a range of research projects has been developed, spanning different faculties and departments, including the health sciences, agricultural sciences, engineering, and the social sciences. Drawing on a selection of these projects, some of which are published in a special section of this issue of Food Security, the paper highlights key emerging findings and their implications for future work in this field in South Africa. It incorporates a range of perspectives on food security in the country, highlighting different dimensions of the subject. The paper argues that a systemic approach is required to address food insecurity in South Africa, combining rigorous disciplinary and interdisciplinary research with effective approaches to research-policy linkages and social learning. The review concludes that such an approach should be institutionalised at Stellenbosch University to inform the emergence of a resilient food system for the region in the 21st Century.
Description
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
The original publication is available at http://www.springer.com/life+sciences/agriculture/journal/12571
Keywords
Food security -- South Africa, Transdisciplinary research
Citation
Drimie, S. & McLachlan, M. 2013. Food security in South Africa : first steps toward a transdisciplinary approach. Food Security, February 2013, doi:10.1007/s12571-013-0241-4.