Food and Water
Introduction
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Food and Water
Introduction
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“Well-fed people have many problems, hungry people only have one.” This traditional Chinese proverb reminds us that, even though all global issues are linked, nothing is quite as basic to human survival as food and water. An estimated 2 billion citizens of the world lack access to adequate nutrition, and nearly 800 million are chronically hungry. Our supply of fresh water is also severely limited: 31 countries are currently suffering from scarcity or stress and for more than 1 billion people clean drinking water is simply unavailable. (UNDP)
The human costs of food and water insecurity are high. Drastic shortages of food and water heighten the gap between rich and poor and often lead to conflicts on both sides of the borders of a particular country. Water wars are almost inevitable, as more people compete for that scarce resource.
The push for increased agricultural production to meet growing needs leads to environmental degradation from habitat destruction, chemical pollution from fertilizers, and over-fishing. River systems and aquifers have been seriously depleted by water withdrawals. The introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in an effort to increase food production has potentially negative environmental and health implications.
As the environment suffers, so does the health of the millions who lack adequate sanitation, potable water, and daily nutrition. Children who go to bed hungry are vulnerable to disease as well as delayed physical and mental development. Dirty water is a major culprit in the spread of diseases like cholera, which are especially deadly for children.
Population growth has a double impact on food and water security. On the one hand, increasing per capita food consumption by wealthier nations of a protein-rich diet further skews distribution of resources. On the other hand, a rapidly growing and more prosperous developing world will lead to their demand for a greater share of the world’s food. Greater numbers of people also lead to expanded agricultural, industrial, and municipal water use that eventually compromise both water quality and its availability.
The structure of the world economy at the beginning of the 21st Century contributes significantly to the current problem. Developing countries, already deeply in debt to industrialized countries, are forced to make difficult decisions that often favor cash crops over food crops and export earnings over self-sufficiency.
It is possible to provide adequate food and water for everyone. Farmers can convert to proven sustainable agriculture by improving harvesting, transportation, and storage technologies that currently waste as much as one quarter of all food produced. It’s also possible to use water much more efficiently in agriculture, industry, and residential applications. Through education, fundamental changes in consumption patterns and diet in industrialized countries and a move towards balancing resource use worldwide are possible.
Food and water security for all of the world’s citizens directly addresses the root causes of poverty and conflict. Hungry people who begin to eat healthy diets become active and productive members of society, contributing to a robust international economy.