The Time is Now: Improving Global Food Security

The Time is Now: Improving Global Food Security

            Every day I walk into the dining hall and glance around aimlessly at the different stations of food. I feel defeated after looking at all of my options and finding nothing that seems to appeal to me. The meals seem dismal and repetitive. I finally decide on something that will fulfill my hunger, and then as I look down at my plate, I realize that I have absolutely nothing to complain about. I see colorful and necessary nutrients. I have protein, fruits, and vegetables readily available to me, and most importantly, I am finishing the day with a full stomach. 827 million people in the world cannot say the same, and that needs to change.

            What many people do not realize is that the main problem of food security is not that there is not enough food, but rather that it is not being used efficiently to feed humans. Up to a third of the world’s calories are wasted. Developed areas of the world continue to over consume, while developing countries struggle to eat. In developed countries, such as the U.S., we have easy access to food. We can simply go to the grocery store or walk into the dining hall. Many people, including myself, do not realize how lucky we are.

Developing countries face agricultural inefficiency that has become increasingly detrimental due to erratic weather and population growth. A large amount of developing countries not only rely on agriculture as a source of food but also for the health of the economy.  People rely on their crops as a source of income, and when the crops aren’t growing people are left with little money and nourishment. So, what can we do to solve this problem?

            Being grateful and less wasteful is not a bad idea, but it is not going to solve the problems of malnourishment and starvation in the developing world. Funding, education, and continuous research will help to improve agricultural production and decrease the number of hungry people. Government funding to establish climate smart agriculture and education for farmers in developing countries will be extremely beneficial by improving crop yields and availability. Introducing diverse and weather resistant crops and using techniques to improve soil quality are just a few of the ways to strengthen food security in areas that are currently struggling. I believe that non-profit organizations should also have a strong presence in these countries to help bring knowledge and resilience to these areas.

            Although a large portion of the world will never know what it is like to truly be starving, we cannot ignore those who do not have access to a guaranteed meal every day. We cannot ignore the fact that the world agricultural output will need to grow by 60-70% to feed the world’s rapidly growing population. Spreading food security awareness is the first step. Secondly, organizations and government officials need to work with developing countries to implement new agricultural practices that are adaptable. The world is growing and it is not getting any less hungry. The time is now to figure out how we are going to satisfy these growing global needs. So from now on, when I walk into the diner, I’m going to remember that the entire world does not have the opportunity to choose between a chicken sandwich and a salad, and that improving food security needs to be a priority.