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What’s the big deal with food security and why you should care (even if your supermarket is stocked)
A thread
A thread
According to @FAO, 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 exists if everyone on the planet has access to sufficient food. Beyond having access to food, it’s also important to assure this food is 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 and 𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀.
Food security could be seen within 2 central angles: food consumption
and food production
Food consumption is a huge paradox. We live in a world where there's food for everybody. Yet, since 1/3 of all food produced goes to 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲, a staggering unbalance arises.
and food productionFood consumption is a huge paradox. We live in a world where there's food for everybody. Yet, since 1/3 of all food produced goes to 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲, a staggering unbalance arises.
1.9 billion adults are overweight or obese
462 million are underweight
462 million are underweight
Sometimes we jump into thinking that food security is ensured in some countries: if shelves are stocked, everyone has access to food, right?
It's a bit more complicated than that.
It's a bit more complicated than that.
Access to a healthy diet is a challenge for many households. In the UK, for example, fruits and vegetables became 30% more expensive in 2008! Still, the truth is that patterns in food consumption need to change. The way we eat should be aligned with what the planet has to offer.
Beyond changing consumption patterns, we should strike to achieve more sustainable ways of actually growing food. Off we go to food production
Food security is at stake, and there are loads of threats ahead of us.
Food security is at stake, and there are loads of threats ahead of us.
For example, the @UN are expecting the population to increase.
More people = more mouths to feed.
Simple as that. What's not that simple is the fact that we don't have more land to do this (unless we start to grow lettuce in Mars, I guess?)
More people = more mouths to feed.
Simple as that. What's not that simple is the fact that we don't have more land to do this (unless we start to grow lettuce in Mars, I guess?)
Climate change will further impact the way producers grow food in many ways. Pollinators (bees and other animals) are disappearing, and they are heavily needed in agriculture.
And then we have herbicides and how we can no longer fully count on them, due to herbicide resistance. While using herbicides has been a successful solution to grow large amounts of food for the past decades, farmers can no longer use them as much.
Oh and then there's #COVID19. According to the @UN , the pandemic slowed down markets, production and trade. Access to food got more limited, especially in countries where food systems were already vulnerable.
So what could we do?
Oh yes, after the panic we should really be talking about solutions. Talking about the problems won't solve a thing, so let's see some solutions.
Oh yes, after the panic we should really be talking about solutions. Talking about the problems won't solve a thing, so let's see some solutions.
Take a look at your food.
Aim for locally grown products. The less your food travels, the more sustainable it is (for most cases, there are some exceptions to this)
Aim for locally grown products. The less your food travels, the more sustainable it is (for most cases, there are some exceptions to this)
Climate action? Sign this petition for a start https://climateemergencyeu.org/
Wanna help bees and pollinators? I'm not gonna list solutions when @NatGeo already did it beautifully. Have a look: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/05/150524-bees-pollinators-animals-science-gardens-plants/
If you want to learn more about herbicide resistance, you can visit my website: https://sites.google.com/sheffield.ac.uk/thepathofleafresistance (yes, I'm here promoting my stuff too, it is what it is)
Food 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 is a problem that affects everyone.
It's not something that harms underdeveloped countries, only.
It's not a concern for undernourished people, only.
It's a big deal for all of us because we all share a truly humbling trait: we all need agriculture.
It's not something that harms underdeveloped countries, only.
It's not a concern for undernourished people, only.
It's a big deal for all of us because we all share a truly humbling trait: we all need agriculture.
