Class As We Begin Week 6: Please Read And Review The Assignm

Class As We Begin Week 6 Please Read And Review The Assigned Chapter

Class, as we begin Week 6, please read and review the assigned chapter materials for this discussion. Chapter 4, "Food," in your textbook illustrates that there is enough food produced and available to feed the entire world every day. However, for various reasons, millions still go hungry, making food security—having consistent access to adequate nutritional food—a persistent global social problem in both developing and developed countries.

REQUIRED WEEK 6 CHECKLIST

Task A) Respond to the following statements using the Hite chapter readings, other course material, and external credible resources. It is imperative to provide complete and fully referenced sources for this discussion.

It is always a good idea to review the Weekly Discussion Guide (see Course Info) to check "The Rules" of discussion postings—every point counts.

Where do most of the world’s hungry live? Be specific.

Most of the world's hungry reside in developing countries, particularly in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Asia, and parts of Southeast Asia. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2021), Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for a significant proportion of the world’s undernourished population, with over 230 million people experiencing chronic hunger. India, in South Asia, also has a large number of undernourished individuals, estimated at over 190 million (FAO, 2021). These regions face systemic issues such as poverty, conflict, poor infrastructure, and inadequate agricultural practices that contribute to persistent food insecurity.

Using your Week 6 assignment developing countries (at least one), or a newly selected developing country from the World Bank 2020 List, discuss specific food insecurity issues for your selected developing country.

I have selected Ethiopia as a representative developing country from the World Bank 2020 List. Ethiopia faces numerous food insecurity challenges that are rooted in both environmental and socioeconomic factors. As one of the most populous countries in Africa, Ethiopia struggles with recurrent droughts and erratic rainfall patterns, which severely impact agricultural productivity—the main livelihood for most Ethiopians (World Bank, 2020). Smallholder farmers, who comprise the majority of Ethiopia's farmed population, often lack access to modern farming technology, irrigation, and credit, limiting their capacity to produce adequate food surpluses (Tang et al., 2018).

Food insecurity in Ethiopia predominantly manifests as chronic hunger and malnutrition. According to the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture (2019), approximately 35% of children under five suffer from stunting, indicative of long-term nutritional deficits. The issue is compounded by high poverty rates—around 30% of the population lives below the international poverty line ($1.90/day)—which restricts access to diverse and sufficient diets (World Bank, 2020). Food availability is also affected by interrupted supply chains due to conflict or seasonal fluctuations, leading to food shortages in rural and urban areas alike.

Who is more likely to suffer from food insecurity problems in this country? Why?

Among Ethiopians, rural farming households, especially those headed by women and smallholder farmers, are more vulnerable to food insecurity. Women-headed households often face limited access to land, credit, and extension services, which diminishes their ability to secure adequate food for their families (FAO, 2018). Additionally, subsistence farmers lack access to improved seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation, making their crops susceptible to drought and pests, further deepening food insecurity (Bold et al., 2019). Vulnerable groups, such as children, pregnant women, and the elderly, are also more susceptible due to their heightened nutritional needs and limited resources (Ethiopian Central Statistical Agency, 2017).

Discuss (in detail) some potential consequences and benefits of using biotechnologies in developing countries

Biotechnologies, particularly agricultural biotechnology, hold significant potential to mitigate food insecurity in developing countries like Ethiopia. Genetically modified (GM) crops can enhance crop yields, improve pest and disease resistance, and increase tolerance to environmental stresses such as drought and salinity (James, 2018). For instance, the adoption of drought-resistant maize varieties has been shown to improve yields and reduce the vulnerability of farmers to erratic rainfall (Kumle et al., 2019).

However, the deployment of biotechnologies also presents challenges. Critics argue that GM crops may lead to ecological risks, such as gene flow to wild relatives, and socio-economic issues, including intellectual property rights and dependency on multinational seed companies (Smyth et al., 2019). Furthermore, limited access to biotechnology and regulatory constraints can hinder their adoption in rural areas of developing countries.

Despite these challenges, the potential benefits are substantial. Increased agricultural productivity can lead to greater food availability, reduce famines, and improve nutrition. Biotechnologies can also reduce the need for chemical pesticides, leading to environmental benefits. Moreover, adopting resilient crop varieties can stabilize farmers' incomes, reduce poverty, and promote rural development (Gouse et al., 2016). As such, careful implementation, regulation, and community engagement are essential to maximize benefits and minimize risks associated with biotechnology use in developing contexts.

Conclusion

In summary, the persistence of hunger in developing countries like Ethiopia is a complex interplay of environmental, economic, and social factors. Rural populations, especially smallholder farmers and women, are disproportionately affected due to limited access to resources and technology. The strategic use of biotechnologies can offer promising solutions to improve food security by increasing crop resilience and yields, but must be managed with consideration of ecological and socio-economic impacts. Addressing food insecurity requires comprehensive policies that promote sustainable agricultural practices, equitable resource distribution, and technological innovation tailored to local contexts.

References

• Bold, T., Dercon, S., & Clottey, R. (2019). The role of agricultural development in reducing poverty and hunger in Ethiopia. Food Policy, 89, 101776.
• Ethiopian Central Statistical Agency. (2017). Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey. Addis Ababa: CSA.
• FAO. (2018). The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2018. FAO.
• FAO. (2021). The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021. FAO.
• Gouse, M., Thirtle, C., & van der Merwe, B. (2016). GM crops, food security and sustainable development: Contrasting evidence from sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Journal of Economics & Development Studies, 4(1), 123–135.
• James, C. (2018). Global status of commercialized biotech/GM crops: 2018. ISAAA.
• Kumle, B., Kasa, A. S., & Tesfaye, T. (2019). Impact assessment of drought-tolerant maize varieties in Ethiopia. Scientific Reports, 9, 15683.
• Maxwell, D., & Stubbs, J. (2017). Food Security and Food Sovereignty in Sub-Saharan Africa. Routledge.
• Smyth, S. J., Sutherland, W. J., & O’Neill, D. (2019). Ethical considerations of biotechnology applications in developing countries. Journal of Agricultural & Environmental Ethics, 32(2), 285–299.
• World Bank. (2020). Ethiopia Poverty Assessment. Washington, DC: World Bank.