Archive for category: Food Security

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Food Systems in Italy: Poverty, Insecurity and Hope

Food Systems in ItalyCurrently, the food system in Italy is failing many of its citizens. This will come as a surprise to many due to the nation being almost synonymous with good food and a lifestyle that is centered around it. Due to many factors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent aggressive position of Russia’s shocking supply chains, the weakness of food systems in Italy has been exposed, as those at risk of food poverty or food insecurity stand at 22.3% of the population. It is an alarming statistic for a world leader in many metrics. 

The Fuzzy Approach

Various factors, including food insecurity, contribute to the lack of prosperity and poverty worldwide. Addressing poverty is inexplicably complex due to this multitude of factors. While focusing on a specific aspect, such as food poverty, might suggest a more straightforward solution, this view overlooks the broader, interconnected challenges and could be misguided. In addressing this complexity, the fuzzy approach attempts to more accurately analyze food systems and capture the existence of food poverty through an expenditure side metric.

Advocates of this innovative approach suggest that it offers more excellent results and insights than traditional binary set theory. The study utilizes data from an Italian Household Budget Survey of 2021, highlighting how current initiatives could be improved in creating stronger food systems in Italy to combat food poverty and insecurity. 

Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty

In November 2024, Italy voluntarily joined the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. The Alliance hopes to eradicate hunger and poverty by supporting and reinforcing national political efforts to provide secure food to citizens, ameliorating global food systems. The Alliance has two “High-level Objectives,” seeking to sustain political drive by spurring collective agency between existing and emerging organizations and initiatives. It also wishes to improve mobilization and coherence between domestic and international efforts. 

By committing to the Alliance, Italy has taken a crucial step to addressing food insecurity within its borders. Formally, Italy recognizes and acknowledges the growing prevalence of people facing food insecurity because of continuous structural poverty and inequality. In doing so, Italy also commits to the Alliance’s processes to address this issue, such as large-scale unified approaches transcending international, regional, national and local geographies. 

Regarding domestic policy, Italy will, to the best of its abilities, “implement, improve and/or scale up” a range of policy initiatives, programs and instruments from the Alliance’s policy basket. 

Domestic Policies

The following policies were already in place before Italy joined the Alliance. However, they will now be upgraded for a more significant impact. One newly initiated program is the Social Card, Dedicata a te (“Dedicated to You“). Initially implemented on July 18, 2023, the program was further strengthened in September 2024, reflecting Italy’s continued commitment to alleviating poverty within the country.

The budget for the program has risen, which, according to Fisco e Tasse, will result in an increase of families receiving the social card, from 1.2 million in 2023 to 1.33 million this year. The increased budget will also mean an increase in the median value of the card from $478.69 to $521.45 per month (+8.9%). 

In 2023, 96% of the social card’s funds were spent on food products, with the remaining 4% on public transport. While the card is available for use other than alleviating food insecurity, the Italian public prioritizes its use for food. Globally, many are facing food insecurity, even in a “food-centric” country like Italy; it is inspiring to see policy initiatives such as the “Dedicated to You” even greater; it is not alone. 

Coffee Fund

Another key tenant to the Alliance’s process is the value of policy cooperation and support. This is most clearly highlighted through the Apulia Food Systems Initiative (AFSI) 2024, launched in June by leaders of the G7. The key deliverable in this instance is the communication and support between member countries to enhance each member’s ability to alleviate food poverty. 

Italy, through the AFSI, has announced a private-public fund for coffee. The Global Private-Public Coffee Fund seeks to support initiatives that strengthen coffee’s supply chain and minimize the industry’s shocks due to climate instability. To do so, the fund wishes to coordinate between existing efforts, thus sharing knowledge and resources and investing in research, technology development and infrastructure. 

It further seeks to protect smaller businesses that make up the majority of the producing industry through “equitable value distribution” throughout the entire chain of supply.

Hope for the Future

While it may seem troubling that a rich, developed and food-centric country such as Italy is struggling to alleviate food poverty, significant progress is being made through various initiatives and programs. The Fuzzy analysis provides an in-depth understanding of food insecurity at a national and sub-national level. A greater understanding of the patterns of food poverty will aid initiatives seeking to improve food systems in Italy and abroad, such as the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. 

The increased communication, awareness and mobilization that resulted from AFSI and its umbrella organizations and initiatives highlight the positives of the human spirit and our willingness to provide all with just and fair access to food. 

– Laughlin Moeller

Laughlin is based in London, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Organizations Fighting Cuba’s Food Shortages

Cuba’s Food ShortagesCubans are now struggling more than ever to put food on the table, with 12.8% of the population failing to consume their daily calorie intake in 2023 and 37.8% categorized as “food insecure.” Only 15% of the population has the economic means to justify eating three meals a day. This was in the context of great economic turmoil last year, with a 30% inflation rate, a 2% fall in gross domestic product (GDP) and limited foreign currency making it almost impossible for the government to import products. This presented a grave problem, given that, at that moment, the subsidized food packages provided by the government consisted almost entirely of imports. Cuba’s food shortages remain the main concern among the population, ranking higher than topics such as energy blackouts and wages.

How Has the Cuban Government Responded?

The Cuban government rationing system of basic foodstuff has been in operation since the early ’60s to protect against U.S. sanctions. However, due to recent struggles to import food products, rations have been reduced, with bread allocation reducing 25% to just 60 grams. The authorities also proposed further price controls on some essential products to keep prices low.

However, it was warned that this would worsen food shortages, with businesses threatening to stop trading under the new rules. Thus, Cuba was forced to ask the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) for help, as the government could not distribute flour and subsidized milk to children younger than 7.

WFP

Using food programs to foster peace and stability, the WFP is one of the main organizations fighting Cuba’s food shortages through school feeding schemes, agricultural support and disaster responses. These initiatives have had a massive scope, with the organization having helped more than “760,000 people with direct assistance and indirectly benefited 30,700 people with assets, capacity and services as well as 910,000 people through national policies and [programs].”

The WFP has achieved this through short-term solutions like food distribution and by emphasizing supporting Cuba in providing such services by itself. It worked on sustainable, locally led projects alongside farmers, linking them with school feeding schemes. Additionally, the WFP facilitated the “distribution of rice, grains, vegetable oil, micronutrient powders, blended fortified foods and milk to support authorities’ pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2).”

Oxfam

Oxfam launched its “No More Blockade” campaign, arguing that this is key to fighting Cuba’s food shortages and political factors. The organization called on the Biden administration to recommit to normalizing relations between the U.S. and Cuba. It encouraged the Cuban government to adhere to its constitutional commitment to rights and freedoms and diversify its economy.

Oxfam also calls on the international community to advocate for more cooperation within Latin America and for the European Union to influence the U.S. government.

Care International

Having worked in Cuba since the late ’90s, supporting victims of food insecurity, CARE has carried out invaluable projects in Cuba, focusing on ensuring gender equality. In 2019, CARE International supported “farmers facing the effects of climate [instability] to restore lands and crops, oversaw quality of life and safe water programs in vulnerable communities and worked on sustainable agriculture.” Recently, CARE International, alongside local actors, provided aid and shelter during the energy blackouts.

Barnabas Aid and Give2Cuba

Give2Cuba and Barnabas Aid and are two more organizations fighting Cuba’s food shortages by providing aid. Barnabas Aid uses Christian church networks to distribute food products to the vulnerable, with its “food.gives” projects delivering containers of dried and dehydrated food products to the island.

Similarly, Give2Cuba, set up by Cuban Americans in 2010, provides food, medicine and cash and facilitates larger companies’ contribution to alleviating food scarcity in Cuba. Give2Cuba Houston carries out humanitarian relief trips, which “provides direct help to families, as well as work with trusted community leaders (such as clergy) to identify and reach the elderly and other vulnerable people.”

In 2023, the group raised $3000 for a feeding program in Matanzas, providing meals for 15 older adults. The organization hopes to fundraise $10,000 in 2025 to allow another 30 pensioners to be fed. Like Barnabas Aid, Give2Cuba has also coordinated a quick response to the blackouts and Storm Oscar, with teams sent to Cuba in the aftermath.

Final Note

The work of these international organizations fighting Cuba’s food shortages has been widespread and overwhelmingly positive. The focus of institutions like the WFP and Oxfam on long-term solutions so that Cuba can become self-sufficient by improving its agricultural productivity and building infrastructure is very important.

Although short-term aid and solutions are necessary and alleviate suffering, it is a focus on the future and dealing with these issues from the root that may bring Cuba closer to ending its fight against hunger and food insecurity. A combination of different approaches, alongside a more comprehensive governmental approach, will hopefully ease this food insecurity issue.

– Ciara Howard

Ciara is based in Brighton, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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The Global Fight for Healthy Diets

Healthy DietsCurrently, 3 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet and the effects of COVID-19 on trade means more nutritious diets are becoming a luxury and a marker of global economic inequality. The global fight for healthy diets ties in with the battle to eradicate poverty and is now at the forefront of campaigns by international institutions and charities.

Recent Causes: COVID-19 and Inflation

International institutions such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and U.N. agencies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) continuously recommend how countries can promote healthier diets. However, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on trade and inflation meant the most impoverished could not afford a healthy diet. In 2021, the average cost of a healthy diet was 4.3% higher than in 2020 and 6.7% higher than in 2019. This meant that 42% of the world’s population could not afford a healthy diet in 2021, an increase of 134 million people compared to 2019.

Although most countries experienced a rebound in gross domestic product (GDP) after the pandemic, the unequal pattern of economic recovery means lower-middle-income countries continue to face a rise in the cost of a healthy diet. The Food Standards Agency in the U.K. found that COVID-19 triggered many British citizens to prepare healthy main meals. However, the pandemic did not change attitudes toward healthy eating in 12 other countries, where 90% of the population cannot afford a nutritious diet consistently.

In Africa, 78% of people cannot afford a healthy diet, compared to just 1% in North America and Europe. The impact of COVID-19 on developing countries has reinforced the need for international institutions to intensify efforts in promoting healthy diets through campaigns and collaborative initiatives.

U.N. and WHO 

The U.N. and WHO have collaborated extensively in the global fight for healthy diets. In 2021, they established the Coalition of Action for Healthy Diets from Sustainable Food Systems for All (HDSFS) to promote sustainable food systems that support healthy diets.

Additionally, the School Meals Coalition was launched to ensure that every child in need has access to at least one nutritious school meal by 2030. Both coalitions focus on improving the food supply chain, enhancing the affordability and appeal of nutritious foods and educating families about the benefits of a healthy diet.

GAIN

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation focusing on reducing global malnutrition through sustainable and affordable solutions. In 2018, the foundation partnered with local authorities in Indonesia to enhance the domestic fish supply. The following year, it collaborated with Kaduna State in Nigeria on the “Eggs Make Kids” campaign. The organization has made remarkable strides in combating global hunger, impacting more than one billion people worldwide by promoting and providing access to healthy diets.

Bloomberg Philanthropies

Bloomberg Philanthropies launched a Food Policy Program with a $435 million commitment to help public health advocates promote healthy diets in low- and middle-income countries. Recently, this commitment facilitated the creation of the Vital Strategies Healthy Food Policy Fellowship, which financially supports Ph.D. candidates from countries like Brazil pursuing a field of study related to building healthier diets through their national public policy.

Looking Forward

The rising cost of healthy diets disproportionately impacts the poorest populations, increasing their risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). This challenge is particularly burdensome for low- and middle-income countries, as unhealthy diets contribute to 70% of global hidden costs associated with NCDs. Promoting healthy diets is a major focus for international institutions and charities, given its critical connection to global development and poverty eradication efforts.

“Healthy diets and sustainably produced, safe food for all is not an out of reach aspiration, but an unavoidable component of global development, a human right and an achievable goal which can be realized through clear, well established and aligned actions,” said Dr. Francesco Branca, WHO Director of Nutrition and Food Safety.

– Sofia Brooke

Sofia is based in Oxfordshire, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Tiny Food Gardens for Children’s Homes in Suriname

Tiny Food GardensEconomic hardships due to inflation and the impacts of COVID-19 increased the need for initiatives to improve access to healthy food for children’s homes in Suriname. Ambassadors of Forest93 Suriname have established Tiny Food Gardens and First Food Forests to address this pressing issue.

Forest 93

Suriname is the smallest country in South America and simultaneously the world’s most forested country, according to CEOWORLD. Its forests, stewarded by the Indigenous and Maroon population, cover more than 93% of the country. Green Growth Suriname (GGS) established Forest93 as a national campaign to strengthen the public’s connection to nature and raise awareness of the need for nature legislation and novel approaches to data collection.

The name of this campaign serves as a reminder of the Surinamese government’s pledge made at COP-23 to maintain 93% forest cover. In 2021, successful fundraising by GGS enabled the launch of the Tiny Food Gardens initiative. In 2023, the Fernandes Bottling Company donated funds through a Christmas Caravan fundraising to GGS to expand the Tiny Food Gardens program.

Tiny Food Gardens

The Tiny Food Gardens program (TFG) launched during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, a time of increased hardship. Following the economic struggles caused by inflation and a plunge in gross domestic product per capita in 2016, Suriname faced further challenges due to the pandemic. According to the International Labor Organization’s Suriname Mid-term Market Labor Policy 2022-2025, unemployment rose and more businesses failed in 2021 compared to 2019. These circumstances heightened the need for initiatives to improve access to healthy food, particularly for the vulnerable inhabitants of children’s homes in Suriname.

The TFG initiative provides gardening training, educational booklets to monitor plant growth and informative sessions on sustainable solutions to single-use plastic, such as using plastic bottles for planting, in children’s homes. With this knowledge, the homes can grow their spices and vegetables. TFG ensured the homes could run their gardens as independently as possible by training youths in woodwork to craft gardening tables using a “train-the-trainer” approach. To ensure proper project implementation, part of the group monitored the gardening activities in children’s homes in Suriname for the first six months.

Impact

Children’s homes had tiny gardens in the form of gardening tables created as part of a social program for incarcerated people. Forest93 reports that at least two gardening tables were delivered to six children’s homes in Paramaribo, Wanica and Commewijne districts. More than 150 children participated in the TFG program. They helped cultivate 53 small gardens. Eleven young people completed the train-the-trainer course, four of whom gained valuable experience monitoring the project.

In addition to learning gardening as an essential life skill, studies have shown that gardening benefits mental and physical health. Additionally, Forest93 allocated a budget to install water tanks for rainwater storage for irrigation after it became apparent that homes participating in the project experienced increased water bills.

Conclusion

The TFG program has helped children’s homes cut costs while providing healthy meals. This initiative, initiated by ambassadors of Forest93 Suriname, plays a significant role in encouraging youth and the wider community to reimagine the possibilities of creating food security. TFG teaches young people to maintain a garden and enables them to experience the (mental) health benefits of connecting with nature.

– Tanisha Groeneveld

Tanisha is based in Leeds, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Fourth Line: Creating Sustainable Livelihoods for Zambian Farmers

Zambian FarmersFourth Line is an agribusiness bringing agricultural and financial services to Zambian farmers in impoverished rural areas. The enterprise empowers rural inhabitants with income-generating activities such as honey production, beehive making and sustainable forest use in the provinces of Zambia. The Borgen Project spoke with the founder of Fourth Line, Chiyanika Nakasamu, to learn about how the initiative’s work is helping to alleviate rural poverty in Zambia.

Rural Zambia in Context

Zambia ranks as one of the most impoverished countries worldwide, with more than 60% of the population living in poverty in 2022, according to the World Bank. Rural inhabitants consistently face even starker levels of poverty, with limited access to essential services like electricity and water supply.

Nakasamu adds that Zambia is experiencing another severe drought, causing power shortages and adversely affecting food production. “It’s hitting people so hard,” he told The Borgen Project. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a partner to Fourth Line, has described this situation in Zambia as a vicious cycle, where the methods they use to survive further aggravate climate emergencies and their effects on vulnerable countries.

Fourth Line: Its Vision and Strategy

In 2019, Nakasamu founded the Fourth Line. He aimed “to empower smaller farmers with beekeeping to move them away from charcoal burning.” Growing up, he had witnessed firsthand the struggles of poor farming communities, particularly in drought. When crops failed, his community relied on the forest for charcoal production and other environmentally harmful practices.

Describing their strategy to tackle this situation, Nakasamu said, “We couldn’t come up with a one-size-fits-all solution.” However, he came up with “a solution here and there,” pairing his background in finance with his passion for conservation and rural communities. When combined, his initiative combats the various problems faced by Zambian farmers.

Buzz-Worthy Initiatives

The success of Nakasamu’s initiative is based on two lines of action. Firstly, it designs innovative, low-cost beehives made from unwanted wood waste, whose yields have increased productivity from 15 kg to 70 kg per season. This approach creates income-generating opportunities for smallholder farmers while allowing communities to use the forest environment for their beekeeping without contributing to deforestation or greenhouse gas emissions.

Secondly, Fourth Line is trying to tackle the need for more access to financial services, another obstacle that prevents economic growth in rural areas of the country. Nakasamu explained that farmers “are not actually considered in the financial chain, commercial or traditional financial systems.” To combat this, Fourth Line is currently creating an SMS/USSD-based system to connect Zambian farmers to weather, agricultural and financial services and to facilitate the safe distribution of loans.

A Restored Future

The UNEP’s “Becoming #GenerationRestoration” report estimates that with half the world’s gross domestic product dependent on nature, every dollar spent on restoration projects generates up to $30 in economic benefits. Fourth Line reflects a growing interest across developing countries in creating long-term economic incentives for forest restoration.

Regarding future goals, Nakasamu said that Fourth Line is looking to extend its model to help African countries beyond Zambia and access global markets for its honey products, thereby building on its work to lift communities out of poverty.

– Hannah Dunford

Hannah is based in Edinburgh, Scotland and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Feeding the Future: Uttar Pradesh’s Community Kitchens

Uttar Pradesh’s Community KitchensDuring the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh in India, initiatives to establish community kitchens emerged as critical lifelines for vulnerable citizens. Launched as a part of the state’s relief efforts for both those living in poverty and for citizens stranded due to lockdown, these kitchens provided essential meals to those facing food insecurity. 

Uttar Pradesh’s Community Kitchens

In 2020, Uttar Pradesh launched a significant community kitchen initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic to combat hunger and support populations like migrant workers and daily wage earners. Collaborating with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and religious groups, the state’s government quickly established more than 7,000 community kitchens across all 75 districts. These kitchens provided meals for the impoverished and displaced individuals as lockdown measures disrupted livelihoods.

Furthermore, to make these kitchens even more accessible, Uttar Pradesh became the first state to geotag its kitchens and shelters, partnering with Google Maps to help people locate nearby facilities. This geotagging effort helped ensure that needy individuals could easily find food and shelter during the crisis. This initiative was especially significant during the crisis, as it helped ensure that needy individuals, including the elderly, migrant workers and those stranded in remote locations, could easily find food and shelter without unnecessary delays.

Global Impact

The creation of these community kitchens has evolved into a larger, global trend of efforts to combat food insecurity. Though these initial community kitchens were pandemic-driven, many such initiatives were adapted to address ongoing socioeconomic challenges continuously. Community kitchens in Uttar Pradesh now serve as emergency responses and as a buffer against the growing inequality exacerbated by the pandemic. They have become permanent safety nets for those facing prolonged food insecurity driven by unemployment and disrupted food supply chains.

By providing consistent access to nutritious meals, these initiatives help alleviate the pressures on struggling families and individuals, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive the support they need. The sad reality is that food insecurity has doubled in parts of Asia, further underscoring the critical role that initiatives like these play​. In the aftermath of the lockdown, local authorities and NGOs have kept these kitchens running to help people whose livelihoods were yet to recover fully.

The impact of such efforts greatly supports similar global community-based programs that seek to combat hunger. These programs continue to address the population’s long-term economic vulnerabilities, including the pandemic’s financial effects and unemployment.

Moving Forward

The challenge moving forward will be ensuring that Uttar Pradesh’s community kitchens are supported as permanent fixtures in public welfare systems, adapting to post-pandemic realities and the continued economic instability they were designed to mitigate. However, by taking Uttar Pradesh’s initiatives into consideration, we may also make great strides against the longstanding issue of food insecurity.

– Trinity Lee

Trinity is based in Bellevue, WA, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Kauai Food Bank: Island-based organization combats hunger

Kauai Food BankKauai, known as Hawaii’s “Garden Isle” for its breathtaking landscapes and lush greenery, faces a challenge not immediately apparent to its visitors–food insecurity. Despite the island’s beauty, residents of the island struggle with a food insecurity rate of 20% as of 2020, higher compared to other hunger data sources. Additionally, the state of Hawaii struggles with hunger as well, with a food insecurity rate of 22%, according to 2018 BRFSS data. To address this critical issue, the Kauai Food Bank has emerged as a vital organization dedicated to fighting hunger and providing essential resources to those in need.

How It Helps

The Kauai Food Bank plays a crucial role in the community by offering various programs to alleviate hunger. One of the primary services the organization provides is food assistance through its distribution centers. These centers are strategically located across the island to ensure food is accessible to all residents, including those living in remote areas. The organization also hosts distribution events from their Lihue warehouse every second and fourth Wednesday of the month.

Pop-Up Events

In response to the heightened food insecurity that the COVID-19 pandemic caused, the Kauai Food Bank introduced “pop-up” food distribution events. The organization designed these events to meet the urgent needs of those disproportionately affected by the pandemic. The pop-up events provide essential items such as fresh produce, pantry staples, and other groceries. By bringing food directly to the communities that need it most, the food bank has reached more people and provided immediate relief to families struggling during these difficult times. The success of these events highlights the food bank’s ability to adapt to changing circumstances and continue its mission under challenging conditions.

Partnerships

The Kauai Food Bank’s efforts are further amplified through its partnerships with other local organizations and corporations. By collaborating with corporations, schools, shelters and nonprofit organizations, the food bank has created a network of support that allows it to extend its reach and impact. An example of a contribution that resulted from a partnership with the Kauai Food Bank would be Project Keiki, a community-giving program dedicated to providing food for children when they don’t have access to school lunches. Foodland Super Market, a local Hawaii grocery store chain, helped launch this project with the state food bank, which branched out to all island-local food banks.

Achievements

A study published in 2024 revealed that Kauai has the lowest household food insecurity rate in Hawaii, at just 23%. This achievement directly results from the concerted efforts of the Kauai Food Bank and its partners. The study’s findings underscore the importance of the food bank’s work and its positive impact on the community. Continued efforts are necessary to maintain and further reduce food insecurity, ensuring all residents have access to the resources they need to thrive.

Kauai Food Bank: Even More Success

The Kauai Food Bank also focuses on serving special populations within the community, including children and families. During a recent food distribution event, the Kauai Food Bank and the Hawaii Foodbank provided enough food to support more than 500 individuals and families. This event is just one example of how the food bank’s targeted initiatives are making a tangible difference in the lives of Kauai’s residents. The ability to reach such a large number of people in a single event demonstrates the food bank’s capacity to mobilize resources quickly and efficiently, a critical factor in the fight against hunger.

Conclusion

Looking ahead, the Kauai Food Bank remains steadfast in its mission to eliminate hunger on the island. As the island’s economy continues to recover from the pandemic’s effects, the food bank’s role will be more important than ever. By providing not only food but also hope and support, the Kauai Food Bank is a lifeline for many residents, ensuring that the island’s beauty is reflected not just in its landscape, but in the well-being of its people.

– Christian Core

Christian is based in Princeville, HI, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Can Bamboo Restore Africa’s Soil Health?

The Bamboo Magic: Can Bamboo Restore Soil Health in Africa? As of May 30, 2024 unprecedentedly severe flash floods caused by heavy rainfall swept Eastern Africa claiming 528 lives. Additionally, more than 480,000 people have been displaced from their homes. In Southern Africa, the severe drought caused widespread crop failure and livestock death. This has lead to immediate food insecurity and the destruction of agricultural assets damaging future prospects and livelihoods.

As with many large-scale disasters, the poorest demographic received the most fatal damage. The back-to-back sequence of drought and flash floods hint at a degrading land. The lack of forested and organic bindings present in healthy soil is known to diminish the land’s capability to capture and retain water. Additionally, it can slow the pace of water, leading to increased runoff. This increases the likelihood of floods in the event of rainfall.

Impacts of Land Degradation in Africa

Land degradation is a major threat to poverty alleviation in Africa. Since the majority of Africa’s economy relies on agriculture, the economic progress of African nations and the food and income security of individual households rely heavily on agricultural success and productivity. Here are some of the impacts of soil degradation:

  • Effects of soil degradation at a local scale. Soil degradation leads to reduced crop yields, increased vulnerability to meteorological shocks such as droughts and floods, reduced water security and reduced natural resources (access to vegetation and timber) that underpin income generation for certain demographics.
  • Effects of soil degradation at a national scale. Economic development has historically been shown to improve the livelihood of its residents. Therefore, hurdles to Africa’s economic development are a hurdle to improving poverty levels in Africa.  Soil degradation also encompasses the decrease in the total nutrient content of agricultural land. This is significant as the nutrient content of agricultural land has a direct effect on the resulting crop yield. The United Nations (U.N.) Environment Program’s research reports that the cost of inaction toward soil degradation stands at 12.3% of the average annual GDP of 42 African countries. Africa’s economy relies heavily on its agricultural sector’s performance. Tackling Africa’s soil health crisis is critical for the healthy development of Africa’s economy.

Comprehensive assessments of Africa’s soil health reveal that more than 65 % of arable land is degraded and desertification is widespread. Furthermore, 45% of Africa’s landmass is affected. This signals a need for soil restoration efforts throughout Africa to secure a future where food and income security continue to improve.

Deforestation in Africa

Deforestation is one of the leading causes of land degradation in Africa. More than 4 million hectares of forest are lost annually. This intense deforestation is primarily due to the critical role wood plays in African society. Wood serves as a major energy source for households and it is a primary material in product manufacturing and construction. Additionally, forests are cleared to make way for arable land used in mining coal and establishing farms for profitable cash crops. Forests, therefore, rank as one of Africa’s top resources and their rapid depletion continues at an alarming rate.

The Role of Bamboo in Restoring Soil Health

While many strategies exist to secure the health of Africa’s land simultaneously with Africa’s economic needs, one rather simple solution has been gaining attention from governments, governmental organizations and academics—to have a magical crop resistant to deforestation replace the role of wood within Africa’s economy. Bamboo is the crop in question– a woody grass plant that has superior biological properties from the perspective of a sustainable development goal. The benefits of bamboo can be categorized into the following categories: 

  • Bamboo Restores Africa’s Soil Health. Bamboo is a perennial crop that is sustained with a complex root structure that remains alive even if the woody body is harvested. Bamboo regrows for more than 40 years without the need for replantation. This property ensures the soil structure remains supported by a healthy root structure preventing natural erosion to degrade the soil while generating profitable resources. The bamboo plant also has an extremely fast growth rate,  fully maturing in four to eight years.  The bamboo plant is also capable of growing in poor soils being drought and flood-resistant. Compared to common types of trees that expose soil to threats of erosion and require decades to grow, the bamboo plant has clear benefits from the perspective of land restoration.  
  • Bamboo as a Sustainable Alternative to Wood. The bamboo plant produces a woody body that has almost identical properties to wood. In Ethiopia, the bamboo industry produces a variety of furniture, toothpicks, doors, floorings, paper and construction materials. The bamboo biomass makes a great alternative source of energy. Bamboo biomass can be converted into charcoal and firewood, liquid fuels and biogas for electricity generation. From a utilitarian viewpoint, the bamboo plant is a more adaptive, fast-growing, deforestation-resilient, soil-restoring alternative to wood.  

The Potential of Bamboo to Transform Africa’s Economy

The bamboo economy is still at an infant stage in Africa. The primary reason for this underdevelopment is to an extent a cultural matter. Historically, wood has provided Africa with certain resources and there is a lack of awareness of Bamboo’s potential value. This is especially the case when considering the threat of soil degradation. Due to this, there is no sufficient value chain for Bamboo in Africa yet. For bamboo to successfully replace the role of wood, governmental investment into bamboo technology, training in bamboo manufacturing and careful plans for developing bamboo value chains could be implemented. 

Future Prospects for Bamboo in Africa

The bamboo plant shows promise for a brighter future for Africa. Several African countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Ghana have identified this opportunity and have begun to construct policies to develop the use of bamboo. With careful planning and investment, the continental transition from wood to a more sustainable resource like bamboo can potentially restore Africa’s soil health degradation crisis. 

– Siwon Kim

Siwon is based in Boston, MA and focuses on Business and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Fighting Food Insecurity in Laos: Agriculture for Nutrition

Food Insecurity in LaosPregnant with her third child in 2018, Ms. Sengphet, a farmer from the Long Peau village in Northern Laos, attended the Agriculture for Nutrition (AFN) program’s Farmer Nutrition School. Here, she learned about the essentials of nutrition for her children. Additionally, she heard of more opportunities from the $38.8 million initiative jointly undertaken by the World Food Program (WFP), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Lao Government.

With a $120 “Garden Grant” from the AFN, Sengphet purchased 10 chickens, feed and seeds for an at-home garden. From the initial investment, she has expanded her farm’s capacities from chicken to garlic, fish and frogs. This expansion helped her to earn up to $420 monthly since 2021. With AFN, Sengphet has grown her farm to fight food insecurity in Laos, which is faced by one in seven population members.

Malnutrition and Food Insecurity in Laos

Despite falling poverty levels, food insecurity in Laos remains a significant concern, particularly in rural areas where food shortages are twice as high as in urban regions. Three-quarters of households produce subsistence food and two-thirds of farmers grow rice exclusively. The lack of diversity contributes to malnutrition in addition to food shortage.

Limited access to nutritious food has resulted in high stunting rates among children, with 32.8% of those younger than 5 years of age affected. In some of the more impoverished provinces, this rate rises to 54%. The Lao government has prioritized tackling malnutrition by enacting the National Nutrition Strategy for 2025 and the National Nutrition Action Plan for 2021-2025. However, addressing food insecurity remains challenging due to high inflation and strong debt pressure in the past two years.

How APN Is Targeting Food Insecurity

The AFN program implements targeted initiatives to ensure sustainable food access. In 2016, the WFP, IFAD and the government launched the first phase in 400 villages across four provinces in Northern Laos. The program takes a holistic, community-based approach, emphasizing long-term self-sufficiency and various aspects of production. AFN collaborates with villages to develop road infrastructure, irrigation and market access, both with enterprises and through local market facilitation.

A significant part of AFN’s programming is its training initiatives and grants. AFN helps form and funds Agricultural Production Groups to farm selected products such as fish, poultry and vegetables. Furthermore, the program provides training for production techniques and opportunities for learning exchange via its Farmer-to-Farmer Extension Activities. These services are in addition to the Farmer Nutrition School and Garden Grant from which Sengphet benefitted.

Program Success

The first phase, which ended in 2022, has successfully met its targets to reduce food insecurity in Laos. It has reached 210,684 people, representing 92.5% of its goal. Around 57% of the people reached were women. Furthermore, it has helped bring 17,850 households out of poverty out of its targeted 21,000, defined by an income per capita of $270.

AFN’s impacts compound over time. In Nam Lee village, residents participating in a Village Development Planning session expressed a need for better road access to farmland and more profitable crops. With an AFN grant, the villagers constructed a 4km road to support their farming activities. By January 2021, this road access had increased productivity, with families generating $36,000 annually.

Sengpeut also highlights what the added income has provided for her family: “With my additional income,” she says, “I have been able to pay for my children’s education and build a new house. I have learned how to give medicine and vaccines to my animals and I am now part of making decisions in my house with my husband.”

With the success of Phase I, the three cosponsors are launching Phase II of the program. This phase expands to three additional provinces, targeting an extra 168,000 people. As Laos grapples with macroeconomic challenges, the AFN continues to offer sustainable solutions and combat food insecurity across small and medium scales, reaching the nation’s most vulnerable communities.

Final Remark

With the success of Phase I, the three co-sponsors are rolling out Phase II of the program. They have added 3 more provinces to the program, targeting an additional 168,000 people. As Laos continues to face macroeconomic challenges, the AFN provides sustainable solutions and fights food insecurity in Laos across small and medium-scales to the nation’s most vulnerable communities.

– Imme Koolenbrander

Imme is based in Beijing, China and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Food Security in India: The Role of Cooperatives

Food Security in IndiaAround 65% of India’s population is engaged in “agricultural and allied activities” including agriculture, dairy farming, animal husbandry and fisheries. About 86% of the farming population in India consists of small and marginal farmers holding less than one hectare of land. Due to the high percentage of people with low incomes, food security in India poses a significant risk for a large portion of the country’s population.

Cooperatives in India

Cooperative societies are organizations where groups of people voluntarily come together to accomplish “common economic interest.” Cooperative societies that focus on the well-being of farmers and consumers play an important role in ensuring food security in India. They buy farm produce from farmers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and sell it to consumers at affordable prices.

Cooperatives in India, like Amul Dairy and the Horticultural Producers’ Cooperative Marketing and Processing Society (HOPCOMS), have ensured food security for people experiencing poverty. The cooperatives have provided milk, milk-based products, fruits and vegetables at subsidized prices.

Amul

Amul Dairy is the largest milk-producing entity in India. It was founded in 1946 by a group of farmers in Gujarat, India. The farmers sought to eliminate the presence of middlemen in dairy farming. The Amul Model, a three-tier model with the federation of members’ unions at the state level, the milk union at the district level and the dairy cooperative societies at the village level. This model was replicated all over the country under the leadership of Dr. Verghese Kurien, the founder chairman of Amul. He was given the role of running Amul from 1950.

Expansion of the model began in 1946 with only two dairy cooperative societies. Today there are 185,903 dairy cooperative societies nationwide, receiving milk from more than 16 million milk producers in the country. For more than 70 years, Amul has been determined to ensure food security in India by ensuring that millions of people across the country have easy access to milk and milk products. India is currently the largest producer of milk in the world, responsible for 24.64% of the world’s milk production, of which Amul has been the harbinger.

HOPCOMS

Horticulture is the science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers and the like. HOPCOMS was established in 1959 in the south Indian state of Karnataka, initiated by the vision of Dr. M. H. Mari Gowda, the father of horticulture in Karnataka. With a population of around 64 million, 68% of Karnataka’s population relies on agriculture for their livelihood. Of these, nearly 2.3 million households are employed in the horticultural sector at present.

HOPCOMS, run with state support, receives farm produce from farmers all over Karnataka. It intends to ensure a proper and convenient system for marketing fruits and vegetables within the state. HOPCOMS’s main objectives are to ensure that farmers receive fair prices for their produce and consumers are sold farm products at reasonable prices. It does this by eliminating middlemen and providing farmers with adequate agricultural training and advice.

Conclusion

Cooperative societies like Amul Dairy and HOPCOMS have proved to be major contributors to food security in India. They ensure that both farmers and consumers can rely on government support for reasonable prices on farm produce. Eliminating the presence of middlemen has helped farmers to sell their produce directly to consumers at a predetermined price. It has also benefited consumers by saving them the extra costs incurred through middlemen. This has led to increased farmer incomes and the availability of subsidized milk, milk products, fruits and vegetables, all under the administration of the farmers of the country.

– Adya Umesh

Adya is based in Bangalore, Karnataka, India and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project

Photo: Unsplash