Agriculture and Food Security
What is it?
The availability of and access to an adequate amount of food that is healthy and nutritious that meets populations' dietary needs and food preferences is food security. It has an impact on populations' access to their health, education and their life outcomes. One goal is to help ensure developing communities have access to self-sustaining food sources, directly impacting their health, access to education and life outcomes.
Barriers
The majority of community members are farmers. Therefore when their crops fail to grow for whatever reason, they are unable to feed their families. Widespread of malnutrition occurred due to the rising global food prices, which makes the purchase of food to be out of reach. The weather can be a big barrier for food and agriculture as well. If a drought were to occur or too much rain, crops would fail to grow.
The availability of and access to an adequate amount of food that is healthy and nutritious that meets populations' dietary needs and food preferences is food security. It has an impact on populations' access to their health, education and their life outcomes. One goal is to help ensure developing communities have access to self-sustaining food sources, directly impacting their health, access to education and life outcomes.
Barriers
The majority of community members are farmers. Therefore when their crops fail to grow for whatever reason, they are unable to feed their families. Widespread of malnutrition occurred due to the rising global food prices, which makes the purchase of food to be out of reach. The weather can be a big barrier for food and agriculture as well. If a drought were to occur or too much rain, crops would fail to grow.
Millennium Development Goals Relating to this Pillar
The first UN Millennium Development Goal is to Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty and is related closely to this Free the Children Pillar. Target 1C of the MDG's is the one closest related and was to halve the number of people who suffer from extreme hunger between 1990 and 2015. Under this, they wanted to lower the number of kids under five who are underweight and lower the number of people who were under their minimum dietary consumption.
They reached half of their goal five years early and although by 2015 their goal was reached, 1 out of 8 people still suffer from chronic hunger and 1 in 4 children suffers from malnutrition. This is why this Me to We Pillar was created. Places like Sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia still have high hunger rates and India has ⅓ of the worlds hunger issues,
Even though some places are still suffering, due to the UN Millennium Development Goals some places have made huge gains. For example; Northern Africa now has a low hunger rate and Eastern and South-Eastern Asia have improved their rates. The proportion of undernourished people in developing countries decreased by 24% in 1990-1992 to 14% in 2011-2013.
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/2014%20MDG%20report/MDG%202014%20Progress%20Chart_English.pdf
Our Pillar in the News
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO warned that their is number of people experiencing the level of food crisis and the numbers are doubling, in South Sudan. The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, IPC reported released on the 6 of February, that 3.9million people are in a state of food security Stress. Some are likely to slip into Crisis and Emergency that is if live hood support, the security and markets fail.
"In part pf the country they are missed crop cycles in conflict-ravaged. Now we are expecting household food stocks in the worst- affected to fun out by March 2015-even, much earlier than in a normal year," said FAO Country Representative in South Sudan.
The FAO report,in South Suben, that 2.5 million people or, one- fifth of the population has been classified as being in a “Crisis” or “Emergency” level food insecurity. 3.9 million are suffering from food insecurity “Stress.”
The IPC update the eight out of 11 counties are classified as Crisis and Emergency phases. Out of these eight, Nyiror, Uror and Akobo are likely to get humanitarian assistance. However, four countries of Fangak, Canal/Pigi, Ayod and Duk will remain in an Emergency phase mainly because the existence of military front lines. Means it is unlikely that adequate humanitarian interventions can be implemented succesfully during the projected period.
http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ID/16170/Default.aspx
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO warned that their is number of people experiencing the level of food crisis and the numbers are doubling, in South Sudan. The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, IPC reported released on the 6 of February, that 3.9million people are in a state of food security Stress. Some are likely to slip into Crisis and Emergency that is if live hood support, the security and markets fail.
"In part pf the country they are missed crop cycles in conflict-ravaged. Now we are expecting household food stocks in the worst- affected to fun out by March 2015-even, much earlier than in a normal year," said FAO Country Representative in South Sudan.
The FAO report,in South Suben, that 2.5 million people or, one- fifth of the population has been classified as being in a “Crisis” or “Emergency” level food insecurity. 3.9 million are suffering from food insecurity “Stress.”
The IPC update the eight out of 11 counties are classified as Crisis and Emergency phases. Out of these eight, Nyiror, Uror and Akobo are likely to get humanitarian assistance. However, four countries of Fangak, Canal/Pigi, Ayod and Duk will remain in an Emergency phase mainly because the existence of military front lines. Means it is unlikely that adequate humanitarian interventions can be implemented succesfully during the projected period.
http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ID/16170/Default.aspx
Different Organizations Helping to Improve Agriculture and Food Security
1. Ashoka Innovators for the Public (United States/International) – Ashoka supports a network of 3,000 social entrepreneurs across the world. By providing financing and start-up capital, Ashoka has been transforming the landscape of social innovation since 1980. It is encouraging fundamental transformation of the food chain to full nutrition with an initiative linking human wellbeing, agriculture, and the environment.
2. Australian International Food Security Centre (AIFSC) (Australia) – The AIFSC is a non-profit organization that works to promote agricultural innovation and attract investment to agricultural development projects. Aiming to build capacity for farming initiatives worldwide, AIFSC focuses on achieving specific goals like improving nutrition, connecting researchers with industry, and enhancing supply chain systems to allow farmers to bring their products to market.
3. Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition (BCFN) (Italy) – The Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition works to promote science and research for combating hunger and malnutrition worldwide. Using knowledge gleaned from research projects around the world, BCFN seeks to take innovative ideas for tackling food insecurity and translate them into effective policy recommendations for governments around the world. Since their inception, they have released original research on a wide range of topics including global obesity and sustainable agriculture.
4. Bioversity International (International) – Bioversity International is a research and development organization aimed at supporting smallholder farmers in the developing world through sustainable agriculture and conservation. Bioversity International focuses on rain-fed farming systems, managed by smallholder farmers, in communities where large scale agriculture is not possible.
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5. Calacea Farm, Not For Sale (NFS) (Romania) - NFS is an organization working to fight modern-day slavery around the world. In Romania, NFS works with their partner Mariana, operating an organic farm, which accommodates survivors of human trafficking. Just outside Timișoara, the farm offers individuals in recovery opportunities for health care, education, life skill training and new employment, to restore dignity and help re-build their future. Last year, NFS helped construct a building to house up to 50 additional farm workers, a workshop space to make jam, milk, and cheese, and two greenhouses to produce fruits and vegetables.
For more information on other organizations helping to improve food security visit http://foodtank.com/news/2013/05/forty-organizations-that-are-shaking-up-the-food-system
What can YOU do?
Locally
If you believe in targeting close to home, these organizations can always use help. Food Banks Canada is a national company who supports over 85% of the people accessing essential food programs in Canada, find where you can donate at; http://www.foodbankscanada.ca/Get-Involved/How-You-Can-Help.aspx. If you don't believe in the handout, by donating to places like the St. Vincent De Paul Society you are giving local people coupons and vouchers for food instead just the food. This means to get the food they need they have to do something for it. Please visit; http://communitylink.cioc.ca/record/BAR0203.
Globally
If you want to look more globally, the World Food Programme takes donations monthly to send food to countries who are in need because of emergencies such as natural disasters. If this is something you are interested in, please visit; https://www.wfp.org/help. If you are interested in how Me to We stops hunger, "We Scare Hunger" is something interesting to donate to. On halloween, trick or treating for canned food instead of candy is what they want you to do. For more information on this, visit; http://www.freethechildren.com/get-involved/campaigns/we-scare-hunger/. If you are looking to help with food security Cargill is a company committed to increasing food security around the world, it makes sure places that need it always have access to the amount of food that they need. Read more at; http://www.cargill.com/corporate-responsibility/food-security/. Another company, DAI is looking to secure the production, handling and processing of these foods to ensure they are always there for people who need it. To read more please visit; http://dai.com/our-work/solutions/nutrition-and-food-security. By doing something as easy as donating food or time to one of these companies you could change someones life.
1. Ashoka Innovators for the Public (United States/International) – Ashoka supports a network of 3,000 social entrepreneurs across the world. By providing financing and start-up capital, Ashoka has been transforming the landscape of social innovation since 1980. It is encouraging fundamental transformation of the food chain to full nutrition with an initiative linking human wellbeing, agriculture, and the environment.
2. Australian International Food Security Centre (AIFSC) (Australia) – The AIFSC is a non-profit organization that works to promote agricultural innovation and attract investment to agricultural development projects. Aiming to build capacity for farming initiatives worldwide, AIFSC focuses on achieving specific goals like improving nutrition, connecting researchers with industry, and enhancing supply chain systems to allow farmers to bring their products to market.
3. Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition (BCFN) (Italy) – The Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition works to promote science and research for combating hunger and malnutrition worldwide. Using knowledge gleaned from research projects around the world, BCFN seeks to take innovative ideas for tackling food insecurity and translate them into effective policy recommendations for governments around the world. Since their inception, they have released original research on a wide range of topics including global obesity and sustainable agriculture.
4. Bioversity International (International) – Bioversity International is a research and development organization aimed at supporting smallholder farmers in the developing world through sustainable agriculture and conservation. Bioversity International focuses on rain-fed farming systems, managed by smallholder farmers, in communities where large scale agriculture is not possible.
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5. Calacea Farm, Not For Sale (NFS) (Romania) - NFS is an organization working to fight modern-day slavery around the world. In Romania, NFS works with their partner Mariana, operating an organic farm, which accommodates survivors of human trafficking. Just outside Timișoara, the farm offers individuals in recovery opportunities for health care, education, life skill training and new employment, to restore dignity and help re-build their future. Last year, NFS helped construct a building to house up to 50 additional farm workers, a workshop space to make jam, milk, and cheese, and two greenhouses to produce fruits and vegetables.
For more information on other organizations helping to improve food security visit http://foodtank.com/news/2013/05/forty-organizations-that-are-shaking-up-the-food-system
What can YOU do?
Locally
If you believe in targeting close to home, these organizations can always use help. Food Banks Canada is a national company who supports over 85% of the people accessing essential food programs in Canada, find where you can donate at; http://www.foodbankscanada.ca/Get-Involved/How-You-Can-Help.aspx. If you don't believe in the handout, by donating to places like the St. Vincent De Paul Society you are giving local people coupons and vouchers for food instead just the food. This means to get the food they need they have to do something for it. Please visit; http://communitylink.cioc.ca/record/BAR0203.
Globally
If you want to look more globally, the World Food Programme takes donations monthly to send food to countries who are in need because of emergencies such as natural disasters. If this is something you are interested in, please visit; https://www.wfp.org/help. If you are interested in how Me to We stops hunger, "We Scare Hunger" is something interesting to donate to. On halloween, trick or treating for canned food instead of candy is what they want you to do. For more information on this, visit; http://www.freethechildren.com/get-involved/campaigns/we-scare-hunger/. If you are looking to help with food security Cargill is a company committed to increasing food security around the world, it makes sure places that need it always have access to the amount of food that they need. Read more at; http://www.cargill.com/corporate-responsibility/food-security/. Another company, DAI is looking to secure the production, handling and processing of these foods to ensure they are always there for people who need it. To read more please visit; http://dai.com/our-work/solutions/nutrition-and-food-security. By doing something as easy as donating food or time to one of these companies you could change someones life.
Pictures were found at:
http://www.worldvision.com.au/Issues/Food___Nutrition.aspx
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=44180#.VN0G-2R4qTY
http://www.freethechildren.com/international-programming/our-model/agriculture-and-food-security/
https://trickleupblog.wordpress.com/2012/03/15/have-we-achieved-goal-1-of-the-mdgs/
http://nationalgeographic.jp/nng/article/20140521/398322/index_sp3.shtml
http://www.pearltrees.com/sisericm/unsorted-13/id5559814
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324577304579057714080545376
http://www.worldvision.com.au/Issues/Food___Nutrition.aspx
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=44180#.VN0G-2R4qTY
http://www.freethechildren.com/international-programming/our-model/agriculture-and-food-security/
https://trickleupblog.wordpress.com/2012/03/15/have-we-achieved-goal-1-of-the-mdgs/
http://nationalgeographic.jp/nng/article/20140521/398322/index_sp3.shtml
http://www.pearltrees.com/sisericm/unsorted-13/id5559814
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324577304579057714080545376