by Wayne Campbell
“Global hunger isn’t about the absence of food. It’s about the presence of entrenched injustice.” Ray Offenheiser, President of Oxfam America.
More than 8% of the world population, or around 673 million people, are not getting enough to eat and are going hungry. The United Nations adds that 30% of all food produced globally is lost or wasted annually. These statistics are alarming and should serve as a call to action. This year’s World Food Day should therefore take on added significance to address global hunger and food security.
World Food Day is observed annually on 16 October. The day is set aside to raise global awareness about hunger, malnutrition, and the pressing need for sustainable food systems. World Food Day serves as a reminder that access to safe and nutritious food is a fundamental human right, not a privilege. The day unites nations, communities, and individuals in reaffirming a shared commitment to end hunger, strengthen food security, and build a future where healthy food is available for all. World Food Day also promotes awareness of hunger and action for the future of food, people, and the planet. The Day aims to raise awareness on the importance of ensuring a world where everyone has access to diverse, nutritious, affordable, and safe foods.
This year’s theme is Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow. The theme focuses on transforming global agrifood systems to combat persistent hunger and build a sustainable future. The theme addresses a stark global paradox: while the world already produces enough food to feed everyone, 645 million people still face hunger, and 2.7 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet due to climate shocks, economic instability, and conflict.
Innovation is transforming how food is produced, stored, transported and marketed. It brings together advances in science and technology with the knowledge, experience and ingenuity of farmers, fishers, herders and foresters – including women, youth and Indigenous Peoples – as well as investors, policymakers and entrepreneurs, because transforming our agrifood systems requires collective action.
The theme serves as an urgent reminder that tomorrow’s food security is entirely dependent on the ethical, practical choices and collaborative investments we make today.
Caricom
The Caribbean relies heavily on food imports for domestic consumption and to supply the tourism industry. Over the period 2018–2020, the Caricom food import bill was US$13.76 billion or approximately 5% of GDP. Heads of Government of Caricom have committed to reducing the region’s large food import bill by 25% by 2025. The implementation of the Caricom Agri-Food Systems Strategy in the member states is expected to help achieve this target by giving special attention to priority crops and products which are highly imported in the region. The geographical location of the Caribbean makes it rather vulnerable to natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes. At least 4 Caribbean countries, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, and Suriname, have experienced food price increases higher than 5% every month between March 2021–2022. Additionally, 5.7 million Haitians are facing a deteriorating food security situation.
At risk for food insecurity
Research has found that some groups of people are more likely to have food insecurity than others. That is because certain factors that cause disparities in society, such as race, gender, sexual orientation, lack of job opportunities, and income levels, can make you less able to get quality, nourishing foods. Those who are most at risk for food insecurity are: Young, non-Hispanic Black males, middle-aged Black women, Hispanic people, children whose parents are unemployed or have low incomes, and people or households with disabilities. Undoubtedly, agriculture is at the heart of achieving food security for all. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals update finds that global public expenditures on agriculture reached a record high of more than $700 billion in 2023. Obviously, there are clear and present dangers to those societies that are faced with food insecurity.
We all have a role to play
The United Nations (UN) reminds us that we all have a role to play in safeguarding global food security. The UN adds that translating innovation into impact demands partnership and investment. Governments play a central role in creating the conditions for success by investing in research, strengthening rural infrastructure, and setting policies that expand access to innovation responsibly. The private sector contributes by mobilising investment, strengthening supply chains and creating jobs and new business models with scalable solutions that reach underserved populations. Partnerships across academic and research institutions, civil society, producer groups, the United Nations system and other development actors are essential to move solutions from research to action.
Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and/or gender issues.
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