Biodiversity and Food Security in Sub‐Saharan Africa: Evidence From a Dynamic Spatial Durbin Model

ABSTRACT

This study examines the effect of biodiversity on food security in 40 Sub‐Saharan African countries over the period 2001–2022. Food security is measured using a composite Food Security Index constructed through Principal Component Analysis, while biodiversity is proxied by the Red List Index. To account for temporal persistence, spatial dependence and cross‐country spillover effects, the analysis employs a Dynamic Spatial Durbin Model. The results indicate that biodiversity has no statistically significant effect on the aggregate Food Security Index in either the short or the long run. However, disaggregated analyses reveal that biodiversity significantly improves Average Dietary Energy Supply Adequacy and the Share of Dietary Energy Supply Derived from Cereals, Roots and Tubers but has no significant effect on Average Protein Supply or Per Capita Food Supply Variability. Furthermore, robustness analysis using the prevalence of undernourishment demonstrates that biodiversity significantly reduces food deprivation, confirming that its contribution becomes more evident when food security is measured through specific nutritional outcomes rather than composite indicators. Among the control variables, food production and political stability improve food security, whereas unemployment and rapid population growth reduce it. The study underscores the need to integrate biodiversity conservation into agricultural and food security policies while promoting regional cooperation in ecosystem management across Sub‐Saharan Africa.