Article

Harnessing digital technologies for food security in developing countries: A focus on conflict-affected regions (literature review)

Szilvia Veress Juhaszne, Zoltan Rajnai
Abstract

Food insecurity has become an increasingly urgent global challenge, particularly in conflict-affected developing countries where armed violence, climate-related shocks, institutional fragility, and market disruptions undermine the resilience of food systems and threaten sustainable development. The aim of this study was to examine how digital technologies can contribute to strengthening food security governance in conflict-affected regions, with particular emphasis on Sub-Saharan Africa, and to develop an integrated framework supporting monitoring and decision-making processes. The research adopted a qualitative approach based on an integrative literature review, comparative case analysis, and conceptual framework development. The findings demonstrated that digital technologies can significantly enhance the monitoring and management of food security by improving information availability, supply chain transparency, risk assessment, and early warning capabilities. Mobile-based advisory systems facilitate communication with vulnerable populations and support agricultural decision-making. Remote sensing and GIS technologies enable the continuous observation of environmental and agricultural conditions, while blockchain-based solutions can improve transparency and accountability within food supply chains. Furthermore, predictive analytics and artificial intelligence offer new opportunities for anticipating food security risks and supporting evidence-based humanitarian interventions. Based on these findings, the study proposed an integrated digital food security monitoring framework that combines household-level monitoring, environmental observation, supply chain transparency, and predictive decision-support functions within a unified socio-technical system. An illustrative pilot implementation scenario was also presented to demonstrate the practical applicability of the proposed framework. The results may support policymakers, humanitarian organisations, development agencies, and food security practitioners in designing more effective, data-driven, and resilience-oriented monitoring systems for conflict-affected environments

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Received 02.02.2026

Revised 22.04.2026

Accepted 12.06.2026

Published 30.06.2026

https://doi.org/10.63341/esbur/1.2026.160
Retrieved from Vol. 17, No. 1, 2026
Pages 160-171

Suggested citation

Veress Juhaszne, S., & Rajnai, Z. (2026). Harnessing digital technologies for food security in developing countries: A focus on conflict-affected regions (literature review). Ecological Safety and Balanced Use of Resources, 17(1), 160-171. https://doi.org/10.63341/esbur/1.2026.160

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