Food Insecurity

Food insecurity is the inability to access reliable, sufficient, affordable, nutritious food. Almost 800 million people in the world are suffering from hunger and malnutrition as a result of food insecurity. The United Nations World Food Programme predicts that almost 270 million people are living in famine conditions across the globe. Most hungry individuals live in developing countries. However, there are millions more in developed countries, such as the United States, who go to bed each night hungry. Children are the most visible victims of malnutrition.

Paradoxically, the world produces enough food to feed everyone without clearing a single acre of land (Bloomberg, 2020). So why does food insecurity exist? The most common causes are:

• Poverty (often caused by oppression, wars, excessive world population, and climate change)
• Physical conditions (such as medical conditions, physical factors [including poor dental health], social factors, gender, and age)

For instance, there is a direct connection between food insecurity and gender inequalities. Empowered women are better able to gain access to food, be providers for their families, and lead their families. In addition, birth control education helps reduce birthrates and allows for family planning and economic freedom.

Feeding a Hungry World

What can each of us do to help alleviate food insecurity and reduce hunger across the world? Here are some things to consider:

• Support climate change initiatives. Climate change is impacting food production on many levels. Droughts, flooding, ocean pollution, warming temperatures, etc. are all impacting the types, amounts, and where food can be obtained.
• Provide food, equipment, time, and/or cash donations to soup kitchens and food banks.
• Support microloans to small businesses and access to credit so individuals can create businesses and/or farm can help people in poorer countries combat poverty.
• Support healthy agricultural practices that improve organic farming practices, reduce pesticide use, reduce overgrazing and deforestation, encourage crop rotation to support soil fertility, encourage composting, and encourage proper waste disposal.
• Help develop communities that are harmonious, connect their members, support peace, reduce the chances of conflict, and help heal the psychological and social effects of generations of poverty and hunger.
• Support family planning programs so women can have agency over their bodies and how many children they have.
• Support the education of girls and women, and support programs that provide women with a small herd of goats or cattle, or a small flock of geese, microloans, etc.
• Eat locally available foods so that rural food producers and Indigenous communities can benefit by improved health, enhanced plant security and nutrition, and the reduction of poverty.
• Support sustainable fishing and aquaculture that does not rely on densely packed “fish farming,” does not contribute to water pollution, and does not harm other species (such as turtles, whales, dolphins, and bycatch) in the process.
• Reduce your food waste. Every year, almost one third of all food produced (1.3 billion tons) is never consumed. Be a mindful eater. Eat less.
• Eat less meat and eat more plant-based foods. Almost half the grain in the world goes to feed livestock. Cutting meat consumption by half could free up to 25% of the world’s grain supply for humans. In addition, sheep, goats, and cows produce greenhouse gases, so eating less of them would reduce emissions.
• Request that produce buyers relax quality standards related to appearance or create separate product lines to sell aesthetically imperfect produce. Buy imperfect products with variations in size, shape, or color.
• Educate friends, family, colleagues, and others about food waste to help remove inefficiencies in the system.

With almost a billion people in the world suffering from food insecurity and the effects of hunger and malnutrition (many of them children), we all have the ability to help. Consider what you can do today to reduce food waste and support programs that help all individuals get the healthy foods they need to thrive!

For more information on hunger and malnutrition, check out the Course, Hunger and Malnutrition by clicking here

Other References

Bloomberg. (2020). No more hunger: How to feed everyone on earth with just the land we have. Retrieved May 7, 2022 from https://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/32348-no-more-hunger-how-to-feed-everyone-on-earth-with-just-the-land-we-have