Water plays an important role in food security and provides the basis for healthy ecosystems and human well-being. The relationship between water and food production is key to creating resilient and sustainable food systems. This chapter will discuss the effects of water quality and scarcity with respect to food security in Africa. The effects of water availability and its usage in the African landscape and how this has impacted food security will be highlighted. Lastly, issues concerning water pollution and food safety will be tackled to identify knowledge gaps that impede food security in Africa in its efforts toward attaining the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Acid mine drainage (AMD) continues to threaten water quality in many mining regions globally. Data paucity renders it challenging to inform appropriate water quality management strategies for a succinct scientific understanding of the effects of AMD on freshwater ecosystems. The current study investigated the effects of AMD collected from a defunct coalmine in Mpumalanga, South Africa, on freshwater ecosystems using a risk-based approach on five indigenous species, Adenophlebia auriculata, Burnupia stenochorias, Caridina nilotica, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Oreochromis mossambicus in 2016. Species responded differently to AMD after 96 hours and 240 hours of exposure in static experimental test designs. Burnupia stenochorias was more sensitive to AMD after 96 and 240 hours of exposure, whereas O. mossambicus was tolerant during short-term exposure, but became more sensitive after 240 hours of exposure than the other species tested. The availability of metals in AMD was directly associated with dil...