There are numerous programs geared towards ensuring that every person in the United States and indeed the world has enough food to eat. The problem of food insecurity in developed nations is
not only a question of having food to eat, but also having health food to eat because paradoxically, food insecurity and obesity go hand in hand. One major player contributing to the efforts of ensuring that poor have enough to eat is the academy of nutrition and dietetics. The government intervenes through aid programs that bring the much needed help to those in need of it. However, recent budget cuts because of the recession have caused elimination of the safety net that secures many food insecure people. To meet the need of the needs of the needy in the community, well to do community members have joined efforts to assist the government where it falls short. The problem with food insecurity is especially severe in developing nations. Worldwide, more than a fifth of the population has no possession or means of earning. The problem with the current programs designed to deal with the food insecurity issue is that they do not ensure food sovereignty. Food sovereignty is the ability of the people in a community or household to control their food sources, composition, and every aspect pertaining to day-to-day food requirements (Sizer & Whitney, 2013). The current programs designed to fight food insecurity only provide food to the food insecure individuals without enabling them to feed themselves in the future. This creates a dependence where if the program no longer exists, the problem persist. The problem can only be fully addressed if the people are provided with food and a means to feed themselves in the future.
Why pockets of hunger exist in both developed and developing nations
There are many threats that compound the threat of food production, distribution, and access throughout the world. In many developed nations, food is readily available to people in grocery and departmental stores, however, the challenge is having enough money to purchase the food. In developing nations, where most of the people are dependent on subsistent farming, food insecurity often result because of a lack of availability to food because of drought or prolonged conflict. Other factors such as population growth, climate change, and loss of arable land contribute to development of pockets of hunger. Every minute, the world population increases by 149 people. This is accompanied by a decline in arable land because of erosion, urbanization, and climate change. Every day the farmers try to feed more people with less and less resources. The result is higher food prices for those living in developed countries and total inaccessibility of food for those living in developing nations (Sizer & Whitney, 2013).
The environment and world hunger
Climate change is occurring because of the accelerated use of fossil fuel; this is no longer an academic debate. The continued burning of fossil fuel is increasing the worlds atmospheric temperature and carbon dioxide. While this has beneficial advantages to the photosynthesis process because of the increased availability of carbon dioxide, there are serious consequences to because the increased temperature decrease the availability of water in the soil while increasing the plant need for water because of the warmer ambient temperature. Any food chain irrespective of its component is dependent on plant life at its very basic level. The changing world temperature disrupts plant life, which in turn disrupt the entire food chain for its most basic level. Lower food production capped with increasing world population result in food scarcity, especially in areas where the population lack economic might. The changing climate is resulting in an increased in temperature with render some areas, especially those near the tropics, unfit for agriculture because of low soil and high atmospheric temperature. The increase of temperature in temperate regions facilitates the spread of tropical diseases and pests that affect crop production in these areas because most crops have evolved in the absence of these challenges (Bernstein, 2013). Overall, changes in the environment increase food insecurity and contribute to world hunger.
References
Bernstein, H. (2013). Food sovereignty: a skeptical view. Journal of peasant studies. 1-19
Sizer, F. & Whitney, E. (2013). Nutrition: Concepts and controversies. Stamford: Cengage Learning.
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