International food trade policies for the improvement of socioeconomic conditions of rural population in developing countries. The case of African Continental Free Trade Agreement

The subject of this paper are International food trade policies in developing countries, with a specific focus on the African Continent Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The aim of the paper is evaluating if AfCFTA could be possible solution for boosting intra-regional trade and improving the agri-food sector. To achieve the aim, the contribution was divided into two parts. From the study of the sector in the continent, both strengths and challenges emerge, and based on the results’ discussion, conclusive remarks on the AfCFTA realization process and its effects are presented in the final part of the contribution. Concerning methods to achieve this subject the analysis of the agri-food sector was carried out with the aim of highlighting the links between the development of agriculture and the development of international trade in agricultural products. In order to correctly frame the analysis, it was decided to precede it by a review of the literature regarding selected articles based on keywords as Africa, agriculture, food, trade and policy. The results of investigation have demonstrated that in the light of the difficulties that the African countries have in the agri food- sector, and taken into consideration the forecast population growth that will lead to increases in food demand, the development of trade policies could represent an option also for improving the agri-food sector and reducing the countries reliance on food imports from outside of the continent.