The Politics of Food, Nutrition and the Environment

The Politics of Food, Nutrition and the Environment

 

 

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The Politics of Food, Nutrition and the Environment

1.

Family farmers are at an opportune position to provide solutions to the growing demand for food production in developing and advanced economies. A majority of farms in both developing and developed countries are family owned, which is an indication of the potential they hold towards food security amidst global warming. Small-scale farmers or family farm owners are responsible for food sufficiency through provision of consistent food quantities into the market place.

Additionally, new technologies aimed at enhancing farming techniques and food availability have improved food production among small-scale farmers in both developing and developed countries around the world. By combining the produce of small-scale farmers who own vast tracts of farming land, countries are able to enhance their food security and sufficiency. In addition, small-scale farmers have also been credited with enhancing the nutrient composition of their farms by use of organic products as compared to agribusinesses that are focused on commercial production of foods (Brown, & Earth Policy Institute, 2008).

Family farms provide a viable solution towards the needs of countries and regions in need of food security. Their access to land, resources and markets for farm produce can provide effective solutions to the growing concerns over food security because of climate change, migration into urban centers and population growth. The resilience small-scale farmers hold the solutions to food security amidst concerns such as conflicts, natural disasters and shocks on food prices around the world. Furthermore, they have also enhanced the diversity of food crops, which is essential towards enhancing food security and shifting focus from traditional food crops (Brown, & Earth Policy Institute, 2008).

Green revolution is defined as a series of development, research and technology evolution that have been credited for enhancing food production. New technologies such as new breeds and varieties of crops and livestock, pesticides and fertilizers have become part of the green revolution that has been geared towards reducing poverty and improving food security in both developed and developing countries. Green revolution has been associated with high-yield farming to save communities from starvation and exorbitant food prices (Brown, & Earth Policy Institute, 2008).

Green revolution has provided solutions to the growing concerns over food security because of increasing population, natural disasters and conflicts in food insecure regions. Climate change has brought about unprecedented challenges with respect to food security in both developing and developed countries. Plant breeding, financing and development of irrigation projects provide solutions to countries in dire need for stable supply of food crops. This is preferable for countries that experience significant and rapid changes in climate and weather patterns that affect agricultural activity (Schanbacher, 2010).

High-yield farming would be effective towards the elimination of the constant and recurring problems of food insecurity and insufficiency. In addition, this means that irrespective of the size of land, new crop varieties and livestock breeds would be effective in enhancing food sufficiency for burgeoning populations in both developed and developing countries (Brown, & Earth Policy Institute, 2008).

Furthermore, vast tracts of land can enhance food security for local communities and the global communities using high-yield products. They provide sufficiency for local consumption and providing farmers with surplus for commercial sale. Thus, the effects of green revolution amount to enhanced food security, sufficiency and providing incomes for poor communities and farmers.

3.

The current levels of environmental degradation, as well as the burgeoning world population size, can be addressed through green initiatives and a shift from the contemporary techniques in agriculture and environmental conservation. The degradation of the environment has had significant effects on food security because of climate change and alteration of predictable weather patterns. This has resulted in uncertainties in food production that in turn push up the commodity prices beyond the reach of common users (Schanbacher, 2010).

On the other hand, it is important to note that new technologies and new initiatives have provided a reprieve towards food security and degradation of the environment. Green technologies that focus on organic strategies in farming with the aid of machinery and high-yield crop varieties provide effective solutions to food security with respect to increasing population and demand for food (Schanbacher, 2010).

Developing resources is reliant on new technology, which has been effective in providing enhanced techniques for food production and availability of scarce resources such as water. Crop product and food security is reliant on the availability of water and an appropriate climate or weather than induces crop growth. Environmental degradation and population growth around the world can be termed as impediments or challenges towards food sufficiency (Schanbacher, 2010).

However, with the advent of new technologies and techniques in farming, efficient techniques and technologies for water harvesting and usage, new crop varieties, and the growing use of renewable energy as opposed to fossil fuels, the challenges of climate change and food security can be dealt with ease irrespetciv3e of the levels of environmental damage and world population size. Such approaches have been shown to reverse the effects of environmental degradation as well as enhancing food sufficiency with burgeoning populations in urban regions around the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

Brown, L. R., & Earth Policy Institute. (2008). Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to save civilization. New York: W.W. Norton.

Schanbacher, W. D. (2010). The politics of food: The global conflict between food security and food sovereignty. Westport, CT: Praeger Security International.