Global Problems the World Is Facing Today: Food Security

In the modern era, the world is suffering from global problems that have resulted in adverse effects on the population. People are suffering from the exposed issues which at times results in death. In this discussion, my primary focus will be on the problem of food security which possesses a significant threat to the society across the world. Food security has emerged to be a crucial issue to people since many are enduring adverse effects attributed to hunger. The population is continually growing creating the need for more food supplies which indeed are not readily available. Based on the United Nation statistics by 2050 the world will be expected to feed an estimated number of about nine million people. Therefore, at the time, the demand for food would be 60% higher than it is in the modern days (Breene, 2016). Hence, more agricultural and industrial production of food substances would be expected to meet the needs of the community members. Indeed, this is quite a challenge since even in the current days, food is scarce. The United Nations have even formulated a goal of putting an end to hunger, enhancing individual nutrition and attaining food security. Thus, affirming how crucial food security is to the people around the globe.

Fundamentally, food security is achieved when all people in the surrounding have adequate access to safe food that is nutritious enough to meet their daily requirements, and that promotes a healthy life as well as sustains the planet into the future. However, attainment of this aspect has been a significant challenge following the shortcomings witnessed in both production and consumption of food substances. Notably, many nations are currently facing the issue of double burden attributed to undernutrition and hunger. People have also developed conditions such as overweight and obesity. Today, in every three individuals around the world one suffers from malnutrition. In essence, today the prevalence rate of cases associated to obesity, overweight and other non-communicable diseases that are dietary related such stroke, type II diabetes and cardiovascular illnesses have substantially increased in both developing and developed nations. Arguably, in the global perspective there exist more overweight individuals than underweight. However, a combination the two aspects account for almost half of the world’s population (Global Food Security, 2018). At the same time, there exist some individuals facing the problem of hunger. Such individuals suffer from malnutrition attributed to lack of essential micronutrients. Thus, deteriorating their health as well as reducing their life expectancy.

Essentially, the number of individuals in the world who goes hungry has continuously been increasing every year. Such occurrences have raised incidences of nutritional deficiencies thus making the issue be among most significant threat that community members are experiencing regarding health. Most countries are producing adequate supplies but do not have set backgrounds that would support maintenance of the condition in future. However, the problem is that in the modern days, people are not able to access food that adequately meets their needs (Vuuren, 2018). Indeed, this affirms why food security has been established as a worldwide challenge that demands to be addressed before its impacts can become more severe. Nevertheless, the process is hindered by the complexity of ensuring that both national and worldwide population has sufficient access to food supplies (Breene, 2016). Arguably, the issue of food security raises global concerns because it is primarily not just about being surrounded by varieties of food substances but also serves a great deal to the economy and society in general.

With regard to food security, there are specific issues that act as threats to food security. Firstly, population growth. In the contemporary world, parents are giving birth to children every single day. Countries vary in fertility rate with some being more fertile than others. Hence, their population considerably raises day by day. For instance, according to the estimations by United Nations, Africa is expected to grow from a population of 1 to 2 billion by 2050 (Breene, 2016). Arguably, this is a significant increase that shall demand the community to be supplemented with more food. In case agricultural production does not increase, the African population will be subjected to hunger resulting in nutritional deficiencies. Also, many are likely die since food is an essential requirement for survival. Other developed and developing countries also suffer from similar occurrences following the fact that in every nation parents are giving birth to young ones. Therefore, rising in population which highly contributes to food insecurity.

Secondly, change in tastes which influences people to prefer particular types of food. Notably, this has been attributed to the rise in incomes. People in the community who are granted the opportunity to work in the emerging economies earn an enormous amount of capital. Therefore, such individuals are progressively changing their mode of eating by embracing the western diets which entail consumption of grain-intensive poultry and livestock products. Currently, China has the highest use of grain products. Ideally, this is because the nation embraces high growth in population. Hence, to meets its needs it forced to direct its resources in the production of grain products (Brown, 2013). Further, as people’s income raise they tend to eat more meat as compared to other vegetables. In essence, such incidences at times subjects individuals to health problems such as obesity. Most of the developed countries are experiencing a similar occurrence since people are putting adequate effort to raise their standards. Developing nations are also working hard to improve their economy. In the process, individuals’ tastes are consistently changing to incorporate grain products. Indeed, this leaves a substantial future gap that serves as a threat to food security.

Climate change has also been a significant threat to the aspect of global food security. Drought is the most adverse condition that the world is experiencing which is reducing food availability to people. Water is an essential requirement for human survival as well as for growing crops. The demand for water is rapidly increasing to facilitate the growth of plants required in the supplement of community members’ diet. However, the random changing weather pattern caused by global warming makes it hard for the population to indulge in agricultural practices. Indeed, this acts as a significant threat to food security since soon people will no longer depend on crops. Perhaps, individuals are likely to endure nutritional deficiencies attributed to lack of essential foodstuffs. Essentially, drought also reduces engagement in irrigation following the unavailability of water (Thompson, 2016). Countries which depends entirely on irrigation experiences adverse effects since food becomes an issue forcing them to direct their efforts in the production of grain related products. Climate change also results in high temperatures that significantly disrupts the growth of crops.

Poverty is yet another threat to food security. Most people, particularly in the developing countries, are not able to readily access food due to lack of money. Instead, they starve since they cannot affords enough food that meets their needs. Further, poverty results in consumption of unbalanced diet thus exposing such individuals to nutritional illness such obesity (Brown, 2013). Notably, many believe that overweight is only for the rich. However, even the poor are at risk of developing such conditions following consumption of only one line of food substances. Lastly, there is the aspect of troubled farmers who are losing the desire to focus on farming as their occupation. Fundamentally, this is more witnessed in the developing nations where industrial activities are considered primary to economic development (Breene, 2016).  The fall of interest in farming has been to land grabbing. Thus, farmers are left with small lands that cannot be used for large-scale agriculture. The soil has also degraded in quality resulting in low production to the few who chooses to maximize on farming. Climate changes have made farmers to abandon farming as their source of income because it has reached a point where losses are consistently made. In essence, this has made food prices to rise following their inadequate availability.

Nonetheless, there are established strategies which can help solve the global problem of food security. Firstly, offering adequate support to the small-scale farmers. Most farmers in the developing countries are less productive compared to other developed nations such as the U.S. and Canada. Therefore, they mainly engage in small-scale farming to necessitate support of their families. Financial aiders and governments should offer capital assistance to such individuals so that they can broaden their farming scope. Further, education and training on the best way to handle crops would result in higher production. Education also informs the farmers on the best available seeds and fertilizer that would yield high harvests (Renton, 2017). Undoubtedly, this would serve as a significant solution to the widespread problem of food security since with substantial production people can sustain themselves.

Secondly, adoption of low water productivity. Water is a vital requirement for the survival of both humans and crops. Therefore, there should be methods designed to ensure that the little available is maximally used. Such approaches include improvement of the irrigation system applied by farmers. At times, the irrigation method employed results in water wastage. With occurrences of the unpredictable weather which even causes drought, farmers should conserve available water that can be used in times when the climate does not favour crop growing. Farmers should also adopt the system of planting crops that use little water to avoid over-consumption of the little available. Ideally, this would reduce the issue of food security as food will always be available from farmers who utilize their water efficiently. Thirdly, reduction of food wastage. According to Verchot (2014), 30-50% of the produced food s wasted primarily because of inadequate preparation (Verchot, 2014). For instance, some farmers harvest their produce without sufficient storage facilities resulting in wastage of the extra food. America is the dominant victim that needs to recount its methods since the wasted food can be used in feeding other needy countries.

Moreover, reduction of poverty among community members. Lack of funds particularly in the developing counties has forced many to endure hunger. In the contemporary world, the cost of purchasing food commodities is consistently rising due to high demand as well the difficulties faced in their production. Therefore, the poor in the society are forced to stay hungry or eat an unbalanced diet. Thus, exposing them to nutritional deficiencies. However, when poverty is reduced individuals will easily be able to access food that meets their nutrients need. Notably, poverty can only be reduced when the government engages in economic activities that create employment opportunities for the community members. Further, government engagement in trade facilitates a constant flow of food hence able to support the needy at all times. Land grabbing is yet another significant issue that threatens food security. Policies that curbs this incident should be established and strictly followed. Usually, people with substantial lunches of land do not use them for farming (Renton, 2017). Such land should be given to farmers who would productively use it and in the process facilitate eradication of the global problem of food security.

Overall, it is apparent that food security is a significant problem that is experienced globally. Food is an essential requirement needed for human survival. Therefore, it should be readily available to meet the needs of people. However, this has not quite been achieved since people in different parts of the world are suffering from hunger or engaging in unhealthy consumption of foodstuffs. Notably, food security is achieved when people can readily access safe food that meets their nutritional requirements and sustains their survival in the future. In every year, the number of individuals who go hungry has continuously been increasing. Indeed, this has exposed them to nutritional deficiencies that shorten their length of stay. The notable threats to food security in the world include the rising population, climate change, poverty among community members and presence of troubled farmers. They are strategies which can help offer food security such as reduction of poverty, provision of adequate support to farmers and formulation of policies that eradicates incidences of land grabbing.

References

Breene, K. (2016, January 18). Food security and why it matters. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/01/food-security-and-why-it-matters/

Brown, L. (2013, October 15). Global Food Security: 10 challenges. Retrieved from https://www.theglobalist.com/global-food-security-10-challenges/

Global Food Security. (2018). The challenge - Global Food Security. Retrieved from https://www.foodsecurity.ac.uk/challenge/

Renton, A. (2017, December 2). Eight ways to solve world hunger. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/jun/08/eight-ways-solve-world-hunger

Thompson, S. (2016, September 21). Four threats to global food security and what we can do about them. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/four-threats-to-global-food-security-and-what-we-can-do-about-them-65676

Verchot, M. (2014, July 25). 5 ways to improve global food security. Retrieved from https://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-agriculture/5-ways-improve-global-food-security.html

Vuuren, J. (2018). 6 Critical Global Issues. Retrieved from https://www.gvi.co.uk/blog/6-critical-global-issues-what-are-the-worlds-biggest-problems-and-how-i-can-help/