How Well Has it Worked?
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In order to fully address and solve the issues surrounding food security, these following criteria must be met:
- Increase production of food
- Improve global distribution of food
- Replace inefficient food production methods, with more efficient counterparts
- Address problems surrounding unsustainable food production practices
- Eliminate wasteful/inefficient food practices
Consumers
Consumers only play a negligible role in food production and distribution and therefore cannot complete criterion points 1, 2, 3 and 4. With regards to criteria 5, it can be seen that developed countries waste well over half the amount of food that is produced for them, while developing countries waste the same quantities of food but only because of a lack of storage technologies, hence the higher levels of malnutrition and starvation. This highlights the serious effects that wastage has on feeding people. Over consumption is also a wasteful food practice, as the estimated amount of food required to feed the current population of the world is 25 quadrillion Btu's of food, but the current consumption is around 500 quadrillion Btu.
This means that the average people consume 20 times the amount of food they actually need to function! Although the food is being used, when consumed in such large quantities, it actually becomes wasteful. Therefore, consumers do not address the fifth criteria point properly, and in fact counteract it. Overall, nothing helpful has been done to solve the issue.
This means that the average people consume 20 times the amount of food they actually need to function! Although the food is being used, when consumed in such large quantities, it actually becomes wasteful. Therefore, consumers do not address the fifth criteria point properly, and in fact counteract it. Overall, nothing helpful has been done to solve the issue.
Farmers
Farmers, while steadily increasing food production with the implementation of increasingly efficient production methods, therefore contributing to criteria 1 and 3, they have been doing this in a highly unsustainable and inefficient manner, with their excess use of fertilizers, land, and feeding animals. Therefore farmers' actions are detrimental to fulfilling criterion 4. They are also not involved in the distribution of food, and only as their role as consumers affect wasteful food practices, so do not contribute to criterion 3 and 5. Overall, little has been done.
Independent Scientists
Scientists like Dr. Mark Post are creating innovative designs that will enable us to make food production much more efficient in the future. Although not yet commercialised, these discoveries, like how to grow “in-vitro meats” mean that we can produce meat at increasingly cheaper environmental costs. These discoveries have contributed highly to criterion 3 and 4.
VIB (Ghent University)
VIB and Ghent University have also contributed significantly to criterion 3 and 4. The conversion of annual crops has into perennial ones has increased the efficiency of crop production, while also reducing the volumes of fertilizer and water. This also results in higher yields in the long term, indirectly contributing to criterion 1.
Vegetarians (International Vegetarian Union)
The International Vegetarian Union have helped resolve the organisation through their promotion of their diet to the world. This helps reduce the level of meat being produced. Therefore the IVU has completed criterion points 4 and 5.
Feeding The Five Thousand
Stuart’s organisation addresses the 5th criteria point very effectively. Although the group themselves only save a token quantity of wasted food during their event, it is the example they set and the education they provide that indirectly ensures that less food will be wasted. Working with governments and large companies, they guarantee that significant amounts food waste is reduced or eliminated, significantly improving the situation.
Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)
The FAO have been extremely helpful in solving the issue of food security. Their actions to assist farmers in developing countries means that farmers can increase efficiency and production and provide more crops to isolated areas like in the sub-Sahara of Africa. Their actions with fisheries in developing countries have also created a livelihood of highly productive but also very sustainable fishing. This means they have indirectly assisted criterion points 1, 3, and 4 and are by far the most helpful group involved in this issue.
Governments have indirectly completed all 5 criterion through their assistance of groups.
Regarding the NFPPA, increased management and development of agricultural sectors involves replacing inefficient practices, in turn increasing the production of food. Therefore, criterion 1 and 3 has been completed. Since increased levels of the population would achieve food security, which did not have it, criterion 2 is extablished.