Talking Food Insecurity

Author: Elora Guirguis

What does it mean to be food secure?

Food security is about making sure all people have access to enough safe and nutritious food for an active and healthy lifestyle. Being food secure means that you apply to this idea.

So, What is Food INsecurity?

Food insecurity is defined as "the disruption of food intake or eating patterns because of lack of money and other resources". Essentially, it is the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.

What causes food insecurity?

Access to adequate food supply is a global issue and one that can affect any region, country or continent for a variety of reasons. Inadequate access to safe and nutritious food may be a result of any of the following reasons:

The main factor causing FOOD INSECURITY IS... Overpopulation - this factor has many effects on food production and distribution to those living in that particular area. Food production depends on croplands and water supply, which are under strain as human populations increase. Pressure on limited land resources, which is driven in part by population growth, can lead to the expansion of cropland. Population plays a large role as it also impacts other factors, such as affordability. The higher the population, the larger the demands of food there will be. The larger the demand, the more pricey food becomes, making more people unable to afford good quality food or any food at all.

Population growth has been the most discussed dimension of food security (or insecurity) because of its very direct impact on the growth in “food demand”. Demand for food is predicted to double by 2030 and 20 per cent of that increase is attributed to population growth. Population growth and food production are not evenly distributed across the globe, and it is becoming increasingly difficult because of our demands. For example - the current East African population of approximately 300 million is projected to increase to 438 million by 2025 and to 650 million by 2050.

With more people living in these areas, more land is required to be taken up for infrastructure, meaning that less land will be able to use to grow food to feed such a population!

What happens when people don't have food security?

Contaminated food encourages “socioeconomic” development, overloaded healthcare systems and damages the economies, trade and tourism of a country. Economic opportunities of the international food market are lost to countries that are unable to meet international food safety standards, therefore impacting them economically as well as the people in it.

Without safe food at all times, people may starve and become gravely ill with diseases that are possibly fatal- at best, one may become too weak to perform daily activities.

Whilst there are some organisations such as World Vision Australia, which is dedicated to helping the poor with people of all cultures, faiths and genders to achieve transformation, it is simply not enough. This world needs YOUR help, however small, to end food insecurity.

How many days have you gone hungry? Despite this issue, we can come together as one and help those who are not consuming adequate food required for their survival...

Written by: Elora Guirguis