Archive for category: Hunger

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Fighting Hunger in El Salvador

Hunger in El Salvador

El Salvador, home to more than 6.3 million people, is a middle-income country located in Central America. Despite having made substantial progress in reducing poverty and food insecurity over the past decade, hunger remains an issue for many Salvadorans today. Fortunately, several organizations, including the World Food Programme (WFP) and Feed the Children, are stepping in to fight hunger in El Salvador.

Poverty, Hunger and Agriculture

Poverty in El Salvador has decreased significantly in recent years, dropping from 40.4% in 2016 to 27.5% in 2022. However, this rate remains higher than the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) average of 24.1%. According to the World Bank, 1.8 million Salvadorans are currently living in poverty and 2.5 million are at high risk of becoming multidimensionally poor. 

As such, food security has remained a prevalent issue in El Salvador. Approximately 15.8% of the population was reported to have experienced severe food insecurity between 2021 and 2023. Although this rate is notably lower than it has been for prior years, nearly one million Salvadorans still grapple with acute food insecurity today. 

Climate-related vulnerabilities such as deforestation, soil erosion and water pollution are largely  responsible for disruptions to the Salvadoran food supply. Increasing temperatures have reduced agricultural production across the country, especially for staple crops and exports. By 2070, maize production is projected to decline by 10%. Climate trends are also likely to increase crop pests and diseases that contribute to post-harvest loss, such as coffee leaf rust, potato psyllid and fall army  worm. 

Limited progress has been made thus far to combat both poverty and food insecurity. Today, an estimated 2.1% of children under 5 years of age show signs of stunting while 32.1% of adult women and 21.7% of adult men are obese. No progress has been made towards reducing anemia among women of reproductive age, with 10.6% of women currently affected.

The World Food Programme (WFP)

The World Food Programme currently operates several initiatives to eliminate challenges to hunger and build long-term food security in El Salvador. In 2023, the WFP provided 420,000 children in over 5,000 schools with Biofortik, a drink produced with corn and sorghum. By relying on domestic products, Biofortik has been able to support local markets and agricultural production. Similarly, in 2024, the WFP launched a joint project with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to supply schools with temporary, solar-powered kitchens called Kitchen-in-a-Box (KIAB). As the majority of schools in the country do not have the infrastructure to safely prepare and store school meals, KIABs have granted schoolchildren the means to safely consume daily school meals and snacks. 

Additionally, the WFP has helped farmers in the El Melonal community diversify their yields by teaching them how to grow drought-resistant crops such as sorghum. With more options to sell, farmers are able to earn more income while supplying their communities with affordable produce, working towards a climate-resilient future.

Feed the Children

Since 1987, Feed the Children has had a significant impact on hunger in El Salvador.  One of their key programs for adults includes training household leaders in building tilapia farms to help their families become self-sustaining. By providing necessary materials such as nets and concrete, Feed the Children ensures that program participants are supported through the entire lifecycle. Another initiative focuses on empowering children by providing essential resources to help them succeed in school. This includes offering healthy meals, educational supplies and backpacks, ensuring that every child has the tools they need to thrive academically. By creating safe classroom environments, Feed the Children hopes to improve school enrollment and literacy rates throughout the country.

Moving Forward

Despite reported improvement throughout the years, poverty and hunger remain  persistent challenges for El Salvador. Climate-related change is one of the leading causes of food insecurity in the country. Moving forward, it is essential that organizations such as the WFP and Feed the Children continue to provide resources and funding towards combating hunger in El Salvador. With their continued support, there may be hope for long-term or permanent progress.

– Amanda Cruz, Moon Jung Kim
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Updated: October 7, 2024

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Student Philanthropy Can Fight Global Poverty

Student Philanthropy

While strolling through a college campus, one can expect to see bake sales and advertisements for fun runs or raffles, all aimed at raising money for causes the students care about. Global poverty alleviation is one of the many worthwhile causes students often support. Campus chapters of organizations such as Amnesty International and UNICEF rank among the most popular student philanthropy groups in the country. Additionally, many non-philanthropic clubs and campus organizations, including most sororities and fraternities, involve an element of giving back, thus showing that student philanthropy can fight global poverty.

Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Student Philanthropy

With many U.S. universities making difficult decisions about how to proceed with learning in light of the coronavirus pandemic, many students’ fundraising and philanthropic efforts will have to adapt. Some colleges have decided to operate entirely online, while others are offering a mixture of online and in-person classes.

Regardless of how a university chooses to deliver classes to its students, campus life will not carry on as usual. Clubs will likely have to meet virtually, forcing those with a philanthropic focus to find new ways to conduct their service and fundraising online. This change presents a unique challenge, but a unique opportunity as well.

Student Organizations and Nonprofit Organizations

Ashlyn Stone, a psychology major at Wake Forest University, told The Borgen Project about her efforts to alleviate global poverty. In the fall of 2019, she served as vice president of service in her university’s chapter of Alpha Phi Omega. One of her responsibilities in this role was to coordinate an international hunger relief event with Rise Against Hunger. This organization aligns itself with the United Nations’ Sustainable Goal #2 of Zero Hunger, which is to end world hunger by 2030.

In 2019, Rise Against Hunger packaged more than 538 million meals, serving countries around the world. Much of its focus was on vulnerable regions like Central America, sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. The efforts of Stone and her chapter resulted in 20,000 meals delivered to Nicaragua. Stone attributed her success to implementing “larger and smaller fundraisers throughout the semester to pay for enough food to be packaged.”

Looking to the Future

Stone noted that wide-scale fundraisers like the one she organized will change if students are not on campus. She admitted, “It’s easier to plan these efforts in person. Communication will be harder. We won’t be able to have as many fundraisers. But I’m hoping there are ways that we can still raise money even if we can’t do the hands-on work.” A key component of continuing the fight against global poverty will be raising awareness and organizing fundraisers online.

In this regard, Stone expressed hope and optimism for the future of online student philanthropy: “Our generation is unique because we have the power of communication at our fingertips and we don’t have to go out of our way to make a statement. We don’t want to just sit back and watch the world change, we want to make a difference.”

– Addison Collins
Photo: Unsplash

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5 Facts About Hunger in Lithuania

Hunger in Lithuania
Lithuania, located in the Baltic region of Europe, is known for its history of the Crusades, Soviet occupation and interesting dishes — like cold beetroot soup, among others. However, like all countries, Lithuania has to find hunger solutions. Lithuania has a Global Hunger Index score of less than five, but faces increased poverty rates. Additionally, the country’s level of poverty risk was the third highest in the E.U. Yet, the government of Lithuania and organizations like the Red Cross are combating hunger in innovative ways. Below are five facts about hunger in Lithuania.

5 Facts About Hunger in Lithuania

  1. Lithuania is one of 17 countries with a GHI score of less than five, signifying a low hunger level. The Global Hunger Index is a peer-reviewed yearly report intended to measure and record hunger at the global, regional and country levels. GHI scores evaluate progress and impediments in battling hunger. The GHI takes food supply, child mortality and child undernutrition into account.
  2. The depth of the hunger score is encouraging. The calculation, measured in kilocalories per person per day, is based on a malnourished person’s diet and the minimum amount of dietary energy needed to maintain body weight and engage in light activity. The higher the number, the greater the hunger in the country. The depth of hunger reported in Lithuania was 120 in 2008. Among countries in transition, Lithuania has one of the lower scores.
  3. In 2019, Lithuania elected Gitanas Nauseda as President. Before becoming president, Nauseda was an economist and a banker. Nauseda plans to develop Lithuania into a welfare state and hopes to address inequality in healthcare and education. His proposals provide a positive outlook for those in poverty or at risk of being impoverished.
  4. The poverty level in Lithuania has been a complicated measure over the years. It is difficult to differentiate between poverty and inequality and between urban and rural. Eurostat concluded that 22.9% of Lithuanians are at risk of poverty. This means that their disposable income is less than 60% of the national average, after taxes. To explain Eurostat’s measure, Romas Lazutka, an economics professor at Vilnius University, stated that, “There is a controversy in Lithuania. Some say such data is unacceptable, nonsense because the poverty figures did not fall even though people’s incomes grew, wages almost doubled and pensions rose.” Lazutka asserts that the calculation represents the relative poverty threshold, meaning a measure of social participation (not survival).
  5. The European Federation of Food Banks (FEBA) comprises 253 food banks in 21 countries, including Lithuania. The organization’s goal is to reduce food waste and fight hunger. In 2012, Maisto Banks, an organization under FEBA, provided more than 6.6 million meals. Another organization, the Lithuanian Red Cross, also seeks to help those facing poverty. When discussing the Red Cross’s campaign in 2003, Virginia Sereikaite, the Lithuanian Red Cross Youth Director, stated the need to “spread the word on poverty among the population for the first time. Children at schools learned humanitarian ethics with the Red Cross. This year many more of us came out onto the streets and the message was already familiar to people. It provided us with a better foundation for fundraising this year.” The funds went toward food and distribution to schools, social institutions, hospitals and soup kitchens.

Elevating the Quality of Life

Although hunger in Lithuania is a serious issue, the cooperation between the government, organizations and the people has improved people’s access to food. Lithuania’s new outlook on addressing poverty will ensure that more people’s needs are met. The Lithuanian president not only seeks to provide healthcare and education, but a more elevated quality of life.

– Mia Mendez
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Hunger in Mexico: The Continuing Fight

Hunger in Mexico

Mexico struggles with multiple food-related health issues that range from malnutrition to obesity. Many families do not have access to the proper nutrients that their bodies need. However, this is not because of a lack of resources but rather because they cannot afford the available food. Approximately 36% of Mexicans are poor, with 7% in extreme poverty, making hunger in Mexico a significant problem. 

A Failed Crusade Against Hunger

Almost 22 years ago, in January 2013, and in the face of over seven million Mexicans living in extreme poverty, President Peña Nieto created the National Crusade Against Hunger. The program was designed not only to fight poverty and hunger in Mexico but also to completely eradicate both. The program centered around five main objectives: to achieve zero hunger through adequate food provisions, improve child nutrition rates, increase monetary income and food production for rural farmers, minimize food loss during transportation and promote internal community awareness. The Crusade allowed Mexicans in local communities to choose what objectives they wanted to focus on. The hope was for the program to address the diverse needs of varying regions. 

However, two years after the Crusade began, Mexico’s National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy observed that it had made no substantial progress towards the five listed goals. Additionally, the Federal Auditor’s Office found that the program only covered approximately 60% of the population. Moreover, those that the program did cover failed to report adequate data on the aid received. After advising that the program be shut down in 2018, the Federal Auditor’s Office labeled the Crusade a failure. 

The Hunger Project

The Hunger Project (THP) has been a long-time supporter of hunger reduction efforts in Mexico, having worked with the people of Mexico for over 30 years. (As a prominent Mexican citizen, Mexico’s country director of The Hunger Project had participated in the activities of the Crusade). By providing training, education and monetary support, THP aims to teach communities how to take care of themselves long-term. In 2024, THP is particularly targeting indigenous and marginalized communities in rural areas, working to bring them to self-reliance. The current recipients include elderly indigenous women entrepreneurs, indigenous girls and adolescents, mothers, children under 5 and families, as well as indigenous men. Their work includes nutrition intervention, “indigenizing” food systems, training to build sustainable food security and Eat Well programs.

Global FoodBanking

In 2023, Mexico’s network of (56) food banks (Red de Bancos de Alimentos de Mexico, BAMX), a certified member of the Global FoodBanking Network, served almost 2.5 million people (over 847,000 children) and supported over 2,000 community service agencies with over 70,000 volunteers. GFN focuses worldwide on solving challenges to food security, hunger and sustainability. 

Saving Food, Reducing Hunger

Roadrunner Food Bank, established in 1979 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the largest food bank in the state and a member of Feeding America. In the summer of 2024, RFB signed an agreement with BAMX to establish the International Food Exchange Project. Through a food rescue process, millions of pounds of quality but “unsaleable” fruits and vegetables that would otherwise be unused and wasted, will have an outlet, first through BAMX food banks, with any excess going to southwestern U.S. food banks. Says Dana Yost, president and CEO of RFB, “[T]he big win is that it increases nutritious food access to people facing hunger whether they live here [New Mexico] or in Mexico. After all, hunger has no border.” The process will include the participation of growers, producers, exporters and other partners. One task will be to identify donor support and funding needs. The project is currently a pilot effort, but the intention is eventually to create a guide to the project that will allow it to expand. While food rescue and food sharing are not new concepts, this is the “first of a kind” arrangement between binational food banks and can become a model for similar efforts between other countries.

– Staff Reports
Photo: Flickr
Updated: October 28, 2024

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5 Facts About Hunger in Papua New Guinea

Hunger in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is a country in the southwestern Pacific. Often thought of for its beautiful beaches, active volcanoes and coral reefs, Papua New Guinea has an incredibly diverse culture. The country is home to many different tribal groups and is the most linguistically diverse country in the world, with over 800 indigenous languages. However, while the island nation has beautiful scenery and rich culture, hunger continues to be a prevalent issue. Here are five facts about hunger in Papua New Guinea.

5 Facts About Hunger in Papua New Guinea

  1. Nearly 50% of children in Papua New Guinea are malnourished. As of 2018, almost half of the children in Papua New Guinea suffered from chronic malnutrition. This is much higher than the global average and causes a large percentage of hospital deaths for children under five. Malnutrition can have lasting effects on children, leading to health complications in their adult life.
  2. Data gathered on food insecurity in Papua New Guinea is scarce. Collecting data on the nourishment of those in Papua New Guinea is difficult and limited data leads to limited reporting and decision-making. Despite knowing that many families living in rural, low-income communities are food insecure, it is challenging to create effective policy changes without accurate statistics.
  3. Volatile weather causes droughts and increases food insecurity. Papua New Guinea faces unpredictable climate catastrophes, including active volcanos and inconsistent rainfall. Since 2015, Papua New Guinea has been affected by the climate phenomenon El Niño, which caused a disruption in weather patterns and a drastic decrease in rainfall in the region. Reduced rainfall led to issues producing crops and livestock and resulted in a severe drought in the area. Food availability was already low in many regions and the drought led to even more hunger in Papua New Guinea. In addition to contributing to food insecurity, the reduced rainfall decreased access to clean water. As a result, many families turned to alternative water sources that present further health issues, such as dysentery and typhoid.
  4. Papua New Guinea is committed to achieving a zero-hunger world by 2030. In 2018, the Minister for Agriculture and Livestock in Papua New Guinea, Hon. Benny Allen, committed himself and his country to achieving food security for all of Papua New Guinea. Allen created a strategy that includes placing agricultural issues at the forefront of the country’s focus. He promised to make the people the focus of these initiatives by creating sustainable food systems and improving climate disaster preparedness.
  5. Papua New Guinea created a National Food Security Policy. The National Food Security Policy 2018-2027 outlines a concrete plan to address food insecurity in the nation. The policy states that food security is a fundamental human right and has five priority strategic action areas. These strategic areas include increased productivity and efficiency in food staple production, stability in supply systems, enhanced nutrient content in foods for consumption by vulnerable households, female empowerment in agriculture, and strengthened governing, coordination, monitoring and communication.

While hunger in Papua New Guinea is faced by many in the island nation, the country is moving toward a more sustainable and equitable future. Through the National Food Security Policy and commitment to zero hunger, Papua New Guinea aims to ensure every citizen has access to food.

– Jazmin Johnson
Photo: Flickr
Updated: January 29, 2024

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The Impact of Feed the Future Program in Nigeria 

Feed the Future Program in Nigeria 
Nigeria is a nation burdened with poverty and an unemployment rate of about 50% for Nigerians under 25-years old. It also relies heavily on agriculture in its economy as this employs about 75%of people in the country. The U.S. Feed the Future program began with the mission to help those in economic need meet their hunger needs on an international level. This article will discuss how the Feed the Future program in Nigeria is making an impact on the nation.

Feed the Future

Launched in 2010, Feed the Future is a U.S. government program aiming to combat global hunger and ensure food security, worldwide. The program focuses mainly on its partnerships with the nations it works in and innovative solutions to work towards its goal. The program is currently focusing its efforts in 12 nations. This ensures the organization can properly allocate the money to be as efficient as possible. Overall, between 2011 and 2018, the program has spent more than 3 billion dollars to fund its mission.

Feed the Future Program Impact in Nigeria

Nigeria is one of the few nations Feed the Future focuses its initiatives on. The  program partners with Nigeria’s agricultural fund and supplies it with about 20 million dollars a year. These funds go towards improving Nigeria’s agricultural sector and proving economic help to create food security.

The Feed the Future program utilizes innovation to solve hunger. In 2018 alone, the organization had 38,000 people applying new practices to Nigeria’s agriculture sector. These innovations improved approximately 26,000 hectares of land throughout the same year. On top of these innovations, the program improves economic conditions by uplifting business development organizations in agribusiness. In this same vein, these efforts invest in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, directly.

As a result of the Feed the Future program, 79,000 children under the age of five received assistance regarding their nutrition needs in 2018. However, the Feed the Future program does more than just solve the problem; the organization creates a sustainable cycle to relieve the issue. For instance, in 2018, Feed the Future educated 236,000 individuals in nutritional, professional training to multiply the impact of relief.

Feed the Future in Nigeria: Outlook

The Feed the Future program’s success has been noticed as there is still a great amount of support for it. Thus, in 2018, the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act was signed to ensure the continuation of the program through 2023.

However, despite the success, there are still changes occurring with the program. For instance, the Center for Strategic & International Studies recommends that the future of the Feed the Future program should shift focus “to strengthen resilience across all zones of influence”.  There is also a push for the program to make itself more sustainable. This is so that fragile areas will continue to show success in the program.

In the coming years, the Feed the Future program and its investments are expected to make major impacts in Nigeria. The Center for Strategic & International Studies anticipates the program to spend hundreds of millions of dollars in agricultural finance and investments. This funding will cause more innovation and more people to be food secure.

In the past decade, the Feed the Future program has become a major success that has drawn many people into a more stable future. The program’s future is secured until at least 2023 with recommended adjustments being taken into account to ensure the program’s efficiency.

– Erica Burns
Photo: Flickr

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3 Crises Affecting Hunger in Lebanon

Hunger in LebanonSeveral crises in Lebanon have crucially impacted its ability to feed its people. Three of these are the 2020 Beirut Explosion, ongoing conflict and internal displacement, in addition to ongoing conflict and the influx of refugees. All of this coincident with the long-term effect of COVID-19 and a severe economic crisis leading to inflation of over 221% in 2023 and over 98% devaluation of the Lebanese lira. 

The 2020 Beirut Explosion

On August 4, 2020, an explosion devastated the port of Beirut, Lebanon. Without a functioning port, this had a serious impact on the country, which imported 65% to 80% of its food. Such dependence on imports was a threat to food security before the disaster, and the impact was thus exacerbated by the destruction of the port.

Internal Displacement

The escalating regional conflict in fall 2024 has seen one million displaced civilians in southern Lebanon  (a fifth of the population) as of the end of September, with 900,000 fleeing in that last week. 

Refugees

UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, reports that the 1.5 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, plus 11,238 refugees from other countries, make Lebanon host to “the largest number of refugees per capita and per square kilometer in the world.” Access to food and the practice of skipping meals are just two of the many challenges faced by both the Lebanese population and refugees. Over half of the Lebanese live below the poverty line, while 90% of Syrian refugees struggle to meet their basic needs.

Hunger Crisis

Another way to look at the situation is suggested by ANERA, American Near East Refugee Aid, a 56-year-old NGO providing humanitarian and development aid in the Middle East. ANERA sees the current food security crisis in Lebanon as being created by the perfect storm of economic collapse, political instability and continuing regional conflict, including the current war with Israel. 

The recent hostilities in southern Lebanon are reported to have impacted the earnings of 72% of farmers, with crop and livestock losses resulting from the extensive destruction of farmland. This, of course, severely restricts access to food. ANERA reports that 37% of the population in the south is experiencing severe food insecurity.

Northern Lebanon, typically less affected by these conflicts, is nevertheless also food insecure, especially as displaced southern families move north. ANERA notes that the World Food Programme reports up to a third of northern households facing food access challenges, and UNICEF suggests a quarter of Lebanese children are experiencing malnutrition and over 40% of children under five are at risk of malnutrition in some areas of the country. 

Humanitarian Crisis

In July 2024, The World Food Programme’s External Situation Report for Lebanon, indicated a tripling of poverty over the last decade, affecting 44% of Lebanon’s population. Also reported was a March 2024 IPC analysis projecting an increase in the number of food insecure in Lebanon to as many as 1.26 million people by September 2024.

IPC, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, is a global partnership to determine the severity and magnitude of acute malnutrition and chronic and acute food insecurity to assist decision-makers in improving food security. 

At the same time, humanitarian aid is needed. In October, OSCHA (U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) issued a Flash Appeal for Lebanon for October – December 2024 for humanitarian assistance. This was described as “fully complementary to, and supportive of, the Lebanon Response Plan (LRP) 2024,” co-led with the Lebanese Government. (By mid-year, the LRP had received just 25% of its appeal for $2.72 billion.)  The U.N. and NGO partner responses include meal distribution; bread, water and food parcels; emergency nutrition rations and micronutrient supplements; and child malnutrition screening. 

Long-Term Impact

As IPC points out, current crises and their impact on food security and agricultural livelihoods, if not addressed, will eventually have a long-term effect on the health and education levels of “an entire generation” of vulnerable populations. This in turn may lead to an increased financial burden on the host countries and populations. So the “flash” and continuing appeals for external assistance are critical.

– Staff Reports
Photo: Flickr
Updated: October 26, 2024

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Hunger in Maldives: The FAO Assists

The Maldives, an archipelago located near India and Sri Lanka, faces significant food security and hunger challenges. With a population of 515,696 citizens, it is estimated that over 10.3% are battling hunger. However, increased efforts have been made to combat this rise in hunger in the Maldives.

Problem in Numbers

With various scattered islands in the Maldives, it must be noted that most citizens live in urban areas. However, despite this setting, 17.3% of children in the Maldives are underweight, while 10.6% are wasted, a condition where a child’s muscle and fat tissues dissolve away to the bone.

It is estimated that only 47.8% of babies are exclusively breastfed during their first six months of life. As a result, many infants do not receive the essential nutrients needed for healthy development, which could lead to significant health problems in the future.

Alongside the impact of malnutrition on children, it is important to highlight that the adult population also experiences a significant burden, with  42.6% of women of reproductive age suffering from anemia.

Causes of Hunger and Poverty

Various factors cause food insecurity in the Maldives. One major factor is poverty, which has been exacerbated by a decline in tourism. Tourism is estimated to contribute to two-thirds of the nation’s GDP, so the recent border closures due to COVID-19 have had a severe impact on the livelihoods of the citizens. With one-third of adult males and a quarter of females engaged in tourism-related occupations, thousands have lost their jobs, making it harder for people to provide food and other necessities for their families.

Climate change, environmental degradation and declining ocean health threaten food security in the Maldives. Rapid temperature changes, flooding and drought impact agricultural yields, reducing the ability to produce food locally.

Another contributing factor to the hardships many families face is the decline in fish exports. Since fisheries after tourism represent a significant portion of the GDP, many families that rely on fishing as their primary source of income have experienced severe financial impacts.

Road to Change

Despite the rising hunger rates among the population of the Maldives, several organizations have mobilized to assist those in need. A prominent organization in this effort is the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which is committed to advancing both fisheries and agriculture in the Maldives.

The FAO’s primary objective was to reassess the situation in the Maldives and create opportunities to grow the fishery and agriculture sectors. By establishing a stable framework, the organization enabled thousands to secure new jobs in the agriculture industry while increasing demand for specific goods.

Additionally, the FAO focused on teaching sustainable practices to hundreds of Maldivian farmers. By supporting small-scale farms, the FAO significantly boosted production in underprivileged communities. The organization also equipped farmers with the tools and knowledge to thrive amid climate change. This included providing methods to enhance the productivity of their crops, livestock and fisheries despite challenging climatic conditions.

Despite significant support from the FAO, the Maldives still struggles to adequately feed its entire population. While organizations like the FAO can provide short-term assistance, long-term solutions require active involvement from the government. To effectively reduce hunger, the Maldivian government must collaborate with nonprofit organizations to improve food security nationwide. By working together, NGOs and the Maldivian government can help decrease the overall hunger rate in the Maldives.

– Aditya Padmaraj
Photo: Flickr 
Updated: November 1, 2024

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Food Poverty and Agriculture in Guadeloupe

Hunger in GuadeloupeGuadeloupe, a territory of France, is a small archipelago found in the Caribbean. Food poverty in Guadeloupe has a complicated history involving the archipelago’s relationship with France.

In 2008, Guadeloupeans began to fear a major food crisis was on the horizon. This fear was due to its neighboring countries like Haiti experiencing the effect of rising food prices. With the archipelago’s long history as an overseas region of France, Guadeloupe depends on food imports from the European country. Suddenly, people in Guadeloupe feared that French imports would follow suit in rising food prices.

Fortunately for Guadeloupe, the archipelago’s long-standing trading relations with France actually became a major source of relief for the French-Caribbean territory. France was able to provide Guadeloupe with food imports that helped them avoid a food crisis like in Haiti. In fact, the prevalence of malnourishment within the Caribbean actively decreased from 19.9% in 2010 to 17.7% by 2016. By all means, this is seen as a major victory in the eyes of many, especially for the people of Guadeloupe.

Reliance on French Imports

Yet, such news only signified a greater ongoing problem within Guadeloupe. France’s role in warding off food poverty in Guadeloupe showed just how powerful and influential the European country still was to the French-Caribbean territory. In fact, around 90% of Guadeloupe’s food in 2013 came from imports, a majority of which have historically been from France.

In terms of what this means for food poverty in Guadeloupe, it has now led to a reliance on food imports that have negatively affected Guadeloupeans’ nutrition and diet. In addition, as Guadeloupe is trading away much of their healthier crops, the archipelago must accept unhealthier and more processed food in return. As a result, the problems Western countries have faced in recent years regarding diabetes have translated into Guadeloupean society.

According to Rapid City Journal, by 2017, Guadeloupe was listed 38th in countries with the highest diabetes rates. The prevalence of diabetes from ages 20 to 79 was at 13.56%. While such a number may not seem like very much, it is in fact 42.58% above the global prevalence for diabetes. Hunger in Guadeloupe has, as a result, become an issue of diet rather than malnourishment. Such is the state of food in Guadeloupe. Many have now accepted these westernized diets into their cultures and backgrounds. This makes changing to a healthier lifestyle much harder.

Food Sovereignty

Fortunately, there is a glimmer of hope. Many Guadeloupeans have begun to advocate for their fellow citizens to utilize the diverse and healthy natural agriculture found in their own territory. Unfortunately, many Guadeloupeans seem to have grown out of touch with the traditional food of their own territory. This is evident since Guadeloupeans export much of their crop. Yet, this new move toward what some call “food sovereignty” could signal a monumental change for Guadeloupe’s future. Such a move would not only help to improve diet and lower diabetes rates for Guadeloupe but also be a symbolic gesture of independence from France’s economic and cultural grasp on the small archipelago.

Though the territory seems to be doing well on the outside, Guadeloupe still finds struggles with hunger and diet. A great trading relationship with France has covered the cracks over the archipelago’s issues with health and diet. In fact, much of the problem comes from such a reliance on France for food imports. The reliance on imports has caused Guadeloupeans to fall into unhealthy dietary habits. Yet, there is still hope with the food sovereignty movement. In the end, Guadeloupe shows how global poverty and struggle can take shape in many forms.

– Colin Park
Photo: Flickr

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The Situation Regarding Hunger in Iceland

Hunger in IcelandIceland is a Nordic island nation in the Atlantic Ocean. It has a population of approximately 364,134. Furthermore, the majority of the population lives in the capital city, Reykjavik. Iceland is a member of the European Union and many know it for its rocky, volcanic landscapes. As the nation is an island, Iceland must import and produce enough food to support its population. While Iceland receives most of its food as imports, it also has a thriving fishing industry. In addition, it has one of the lowest hunger rates in the world. Here are five facts about Iceland’s hunger and how the nation maintains such low hunger rates.

Natural Disasters

While Iceland imports most of its food, its local fishing industry provides food for locals and exports. The population’s food insecurity is very low, around 1.3%. In addition, natural disasters are the leading cause of food insecurity in the country. Natural disasters affect Iceland’s farmable land and interrupt the island’s ability to import and export food.

Government Action

Iceland has taken a stance on fighting world hunger. In 2013, the former President of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, stated that the best way to fight world hunger is to “preserve what we already catch, raise and grow, rather than increasing production.” As a result, Iceland is now preserving its fish through geothermal heat rather than drying it outside as it formerly did.

Food Preservation

Iceland preserves its food effectively. Furthermore, it exports the food it produces to countries struggling with higher hunger rates. Iceland freezes fish and meat to preserve food. However, many countries need more electricity to keep products frozen. As a result, former President Grímsson advocates for drying food products because this preservation method does not require electricity. Food preservation has not only helped reduce hunger in struggling countries, but it has aided the economy. The imported food makes up a portion of the food sold and distributed in local marketplaces.

Imports and Exports

Iceland relies heavily on imported food. Thus, a danger exists that the country will face higher hunger rates if its import methods are blocked. Many suggest Iceland keep stocks and stores of preserved food to counter this. However, the nation has not taken any steps or implemented such measures. The government exports most of its preserved food instead.

Ending World Hunger

Iceland partnered with the United Food Nations Program (UFNP) in 2016 and committed to ending world hunger by 2030. This agreement states that Iceland will provide funds for the UFNP that are not specifically designated to one specific country.

Iceland’s ability to feed its population depends on its ability to import and supplement food with locally sourced food. As a result, Iceland does not stock and store preserved food sufficiently. The nation is vulnerable to hunger if a natural disaster were to occur. Iceland also works to end global hunger. In addition, Iceland achieves this by promoting food preservation rather than increasing food production. Also, it has partnered with UNFP to provide funds to countries struggling with hunger. Although many issues surround hunger in Iceland, the nation is taking steps in the right direction.

– Elizabeth Meyer
Photo: Flickr

Updated: October 22, 2024