The Global Food Crisis How Can We Prevent a Hunger Pandemic The Global Food Crisis - How Can We Prevent a Hunger Pandemic?

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Global Food Crisis - How Can We Prevent a Hunger Pandemic?

 

Six hundred and ninety million people worldwide are suffering from hunger or malnutrition, according to the World Food Programme; and 79 nations are on the brink of famine with high hunger levels and extreme malnutrition conditions.

 

We must do more than simply respond to crises when hunger arises; rather, we must take an antidotal approach in order to preemptively combat this threat and halt its progression.

 

Climate Extremes

 

Climate extremes are leading to an unprecedented hunger crisis worldwide, leaving millions living in moderate or severe food insecurity with over half a billion at risk of famine. 

 

Severe food insecurity causes malnutrition, stunts children's growth and impedes farmers from cultivating enough to feed their families; in addition, it contributes to conflicts over land and water, migration crises with long-term security repercussions, fuels conflicts over ownership of resources such as land or water rights, drives people from their homelands, fuelling conflicts over land ownership rights - all which contribute to global security risks that threaten global security.

 

As opposed to viewing this crisis solely from its humanitarian aspects, we need to look at it as part of a larger global food system which is composed of multiple variables and influences from multiple angles - these could include factors like:

 

Weather events have played a critical role in global food price increases this year. They have contributed to drought and conflict in Africa while endangering harvests from some of the world's major producers in Asia and Latin America - particularly drought which kills livestock and reduces crop production; flooding destroys crops destroying them while driving up prices further increasing food insecurity and poverty.

 

As part of our efforts to combat disasters, it's also critical that agricultural productivity and resilience improve. This means investing in better farming practices that use less resources and fertilizer while simultaneously improving food storage systems and decreasing trade barriers between surplus regions and those who require assistance.

 

Rethinking our response to food crises must become our focus, shifting away from firefighting towards prevention. An effective global climate strategy must include investments in agriculture and climate adaptation measures as well as policies that foster more equitable global trade rules, address environmental degradation, and support climate finance. Small-scale food producers - particularly women, children and indigenous communities - should be equipped with the tools they need to make sound food choices and protect themselves against shocks in the future. 

 

We must place these voices at the centre of decision-making processes in order to create a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive global food system.

 

Economic Shocks

 

Economic systems around the globe are interdependent to such an extent that any major fluctuations in either supply or demand can have wide-reaching repercussions. Economists refer to such events as "economic shocks," though short-term or even financial shocks could also apply. 

 

A financial shock would include something such as sudden stock market instability; demand shocks could include investments by major export markets reducing their spending or companies cutting investment spending significantly; while negative economic shocks tend to cause greater instability than positive ones as often times they come with hidden costs or gains not priced into the system when prices have not adjusted accordingly.

 

Climate change-driven drought in Africa's Sahel region has rendered food production harder, leading to rising food costs and making life harder for families, making essentials harder for households to afford and increasing political unrest and violence.

 

Reconsidering how the world responds to crises is necessary if we want to prevent a global hunger pandemic. Gone should be the days of firefighting; now is the time to act preemptively by taking measures to maintain food supplies globally.

 

This requires strengthening efforts at the World Trade Organization and engaging in dialogue with foreign governments to ensure they do not impose export bans during a pandemic. Furthermore, providing adequate funds will be required for international assistance programs.

 

While the global community has come together in support of Ukraine in its fight against Russia's illegal invasion, we must also devise a Marshall Plan for those worldwide who are hungry. A less hungry world means more stability and peace. By making your donation today we can work toward creating a world in which no family remains hungry - together helping millions of children and women overcome the hunger shocks which prevent them from realizing their full potential.

 

Conflict

 

Weather extremes, armed conflict and economic shocks like rising prices are contributing to an unprecedented global hunger crisis that places millions of children and girls at risk; without intervention by us and their governments, their lives and futures could suffer severely in coming decades.

 

COVID-19 pandemic, Ukraine war and skyrocketing food prices are contributing factors of today's crisis, yet its roots go back years. A consistent theme over time has been that countries and communities in conflict, poverty and fragility often experience the highest rates of hunger due to reliance on imports which makes them vulnerable to global economic, trade and political events that influence food price fluctuations.

 

World leaders must act strategically and prioritize the wellbeing of their people over ideological considerations. Take Lebanon for instance - which imports 72% of its wheat from Ukraine and Russia; thanks to an agreement mediated by Turkey guaranteeing Ukrainian wheat exports, Lebanon was spared the consequences of any Russian-Ukrainian war that could have disrupted vital supplies and sent food prices skyrocketing.

 

Soaring food prices are one of the primary drivers of hunger across the globe, especially among poor countries that lack sufficient means to purchase more affordable foods and other essentials; further compounded by other economic and climate shocks.

 

Families reaching acute food insecurity or emergency levels of malnutrition must make hard choices in response. Selling their assets such as livestock and tools to find better livelihoods becomes inevitable; increasing tension within precarious communities. Conflict and fragility increases dramatically due to this scenario; prevention and anticipation must therefore become key elements in solving it. To do this effectively we need resilient food systems which support people coping with challenges more easily than before.

 

Migration

 

Food crises occur in certain countries when people face acute, life-threatening hunger. Children cannot develop and learn, while women do not receive sufficient nourishment to function and families cannot save enough. CARE works to save lives through emergency responses as well as helping communities build resilience against future shocks.

 

Food crises can be especially devastating when they strike those living on limited incomes and assets, such as poor people. Conflict and natural disasters that disrupt local and global supply chains compound this situation further, leading to what we refer to as "food poverty nexus", where lack of income, rising food prices and increased vulnerability lead directly to insecurity, conflict and poverty.

 

As one example, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has caused major disruptions to wheat and fertilizer supplies, sending agricultural prices spiraling skyward and pushing already vulnerable countries such as Somalia closer towards starvation unless their wheat stocks can quickly be restored.

 

Rising food and energy prices are hindering economic growth while deepening poverty, leading to political instability. Therefore, strong policies designed to soften their impacts are imperative.

 

As world leaders meet at Davos to address global challenges, food crisis should be at the top of their list. Achieved through international cooperation - providing financial resources needed to support countries that take strong policies against any food shock - food crises need urgent solutions.

 

Increased grants and concessionary financing to institutions dedicated to food security such as the World Food Programme and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations will be essential in averting another crisis. Countries should also receive long-term, sustainable solutions to mitigate climate change effects on food security threats like more productive farming practices, safer storage methods and crop planning strategies - this will put an end to hunger once and for all.