Assignment 2 Whitepaper On Food Security Due Week 7

Assignment 2 Whitepaper On Food Securitydue Week 7 And Worth 110 Poin

The members of the United Nations found great value in the whitepaper you provided on population growth. They are now asking you to expand the whitepaper to include global food security as it relates to population growth and poverty. Read the overview and provide an assessment based on the questions below.

Overview

We can define global food security as the effort to build food systems that can feed everyone, everywhere, and every day by improving its quality and promoting nutritional agriculture (1).

Practices that can advance this project include:

1. Identifying the underlying causes of hunger and malnutrition
2. Investing in country-specific recovery plans
3. Strengthening strategic coordination with institutions like the UN and the World Bank
4. Encouraging developed countries to make sustained financial commitments to its success

More than 3 billion people—nearly half of the world's population—subsist on as little as $2.50 a day, with nearly 1.5 billion living in extreme poverty on less than $1.25 a day. According to the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and other relief agencies, about 20,000 people (mostly children) starve to death daily—about 7 million annually. Additionally, about 750 million lack access to clean drinking water, leading to approximately one million deaths yearly from water-borne diseases. The global population has grown since reaching 7 billion in 2010 and is projected to reach 8 billion by 2025, 9 billion in 2040, and 11 billion by the end of the century (2). Food demand is forecasted to rise 50% by 2030 and 70% by 2050, which poses challenges not necessarily in growing enough food but in distributing it effectively.

Foodborne illnesses are also prevalent, with nearly 600 million cases annually, primarily affecting children and impacting farmers, vendors, trade, and national economies. Addressing food quality alongside availability is crucial for human health, economic stability, and social well-being.

Reasons for Food Insecurity

The primary causes of food insecurity go beyond poverty alone. Other key factors include:

• Inadequate Food Distribution: There is enough food globally, but political instability and poor infrastructure—such as dysfunctional ports, inadequate transportation, and weak road networks—impede delivery to needy populations.
• Political-Agricultural Practices: The extensive use of pesticides, fertilizers, and biofuel crop cultivation can harm health and reduce arable land availability, impacting crop yields and sustainability.
• Economic Issues: Policies favoring export-oriented cash crops can lead to domestic shortages of staple foods, making them unaffordable for the poorest populations.
• Civil Strife: Conflicts disrupt food supply chains and, in some cases, manipulate food as a weapon, as seen in Somalia during the 1990s and in failed states like Zimbabwe and Yemen.

Historical perspectives, such as Malthus' theory, warned of overpopulation outpacing food production, but technological advances have challenged this view. Still, systemic issues hinder effective food distribution and sustainability.

Assessment

The core issue of global food security is not merely the availability of food but ensuring equitable access to nutritious food for all populations. Poverty remains the central barrier, particularly in developing countries where political control and systemic weaknesses restrict access to vital resources. This assessment will use Nigeria as the example, a country on the UN list of developing nations, characterized by high poverty rates, political instability, and food insecurity challenges.

Impact of Poverty on Food Security in Nigeria

Nigeria exemplifies how poverty exacerbates food insecurity. Despite being a leading producer of crops like yams, millet, and cassava, a significant portion of its population suffers from malnutrition and hunger. A combination of poverty, corruption, and inadequate infrastructure impairs the distribution of food, especially to rural and impoverished urban populations (Omoniwa et al., 2020). Many subsistence farmers lack access to modern agricultural inputs such as improved seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation, limiting productivity and perpetuating cycles of poverty and hunger.

Poverty restricts access to nutritious foods, forcing vulnerable groups to rely on low-cost, calorie-dense but nutrient-poor diets, leading to malnutrition and stunting among children (Njoku et al., 2019). The economic crisis and high unemployment rates further reduce households’ capacity to purchase adequate food, intensifying food insecurity.

Factors Interrupting Food Flow in Nigeria

Several factors hinder effective food flow from producers to consumers in Nigeria:

• Poor Infrastructure: Inadequate roads, storage facilities, and transportation systems cause significant post-harvest losses. According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (2018), about 40% of perishable goods spoil before reaching markets.
• Political Instability and Conflict: Regions affected by insurgency, such as the Northeast, face disrupted supply chains and unsafe transportation corridors, reducing food availability and access (Adegboye & Akinlabi, 2019).
• Corruption and Policy Failures: Corruption within government agencies hampers effective distribution and storage initiatives, while inconsistent policies discourage investment in agricultural modernization.
• Climate Change and Environmental Degradation: Droughts, flooding, and soil erosion negatively impact crop yields, especially in vulnerable regions (Fakam et al., 2021).

Technological Solutions for Reducing Hunger and Improving Food Security

Technological innovations have the potential to revolutionize food systems in Nigeria and similar developing countries. Precision agriculture, mobile technology, and biotechnology can address many of the systemic issues:

1. Digital Agriculture Platforms: Mobile apps and SMS-based services can provide farmers with real-time weather forecasts, market prices, and agricultural advice. For instance, the E-wallet system in Nigeria facilitates access to credit, enabling farmers to purchase inputs and improve productivity (Nyang'ara et al., 2020).
2. Improved Crop Varieties and Biotechnology: Developing drought-resistant and high-yield crop varieties through genetic engineering can help farmers adapt to climate variability and increase yields (Orji et al., 2019).
3. Post-Harvest Technologies: Cold storage, improved transportation, and packaging can reduce spoilage and losses. Solar-powered cold storage units are increasingly being used in rural Nigeria to preserve perishable produce (Fashina et al., 2021).
4. Renewable Energy and Irrigation Technologies: Solar-powered irrigation pumps and mobile solar panels can enhance water access and reduce reliance on unreliable grid electricity, promoting year-round farming (Otubu et al., 2020).
5. Data and Supply Chain Management: Blockchain technologies can improve transparency and traceability in food supply chains, reducing fraud and ensuring food safety (Akinboade & Ohiare, 2022).

Implementing these technological solutions requires coordinated efforts between governments, private sectors, and international organizations. Investment in infrastructure and capacity-building is essential to maximize the benefits of such innovations.

Conclusion

Global food security remains a critical challenge linked directly to poverty, political stability, and systemic inefficiencies within food systems. Nigeria exemplifies how poverty restricts access despite sufficient food production potential, compounded by infrastructural deficits and conflict. Technological innovations offer promising avenues to enhance productivity, reduce losses, and improve distribution. Addressing food insecurity requires integrated strategies combining policy reform, infrastructure development, technological adoption, and international cooperation to build resilient and equitable food systems capable of feeding a growing global population.

References

• Adegboye, K., & Akinlabi, S. (2019). Food Security and Conflict in Nigeria: A Critical Analysis. Journal of African Affairs, 14(2), 45-59.
• Akinboade, O., & Ohiare, D. (2022). Blockchain Technology and Food Supply Chain Transparency in Nigeria. International Journal of Agricultural Supply Chain Management, 10(1), 22-34.
• Fakhama, E., et al. (2021). Climate Change Impact on Nigerian Agriculture: Challenges and Adaptation Strategies. Climate and Development, 13(5), 413-426.
• Fashina, S., et al. (2021). Cold Storage Technologies and their Impact on Post-Harvest Losses in Nigeria. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 21(3), 15307-15323.
• Nigeria Bureau of Statistics. (2018). Report on Post-Harvest Losses in Nigeria. Abuja, Nigeria: NBS.
• Njoku, C. C., et al. (2019). Malnutrition and Food Security in Nigeria: An Overview. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 19(2), 13948-13962.
• Nyang'ara, S., et al. (2020). Digital Agricultural Technologies and Farm Productivity in Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Informatics, 11(4), 1-10.
• Omoniwa, A. O., et al. (2020). Poverty and Food Security in Nigeria: An Empirical Study. Journal of Development Studies, 56(8), 1621-1634.
• Orji, J., et al. (2019). Advances in Biotechnology for Improving Food Security in Nigeria. Biotechnology Advances, 37, 107416.
• Otubu, O. M., et al. (2020). Solar-Powered Irrigation in Nigeria: Strategies for Sustainable Agriculture. Renewable Energy, 150, 214-223.