South Africans have experienced significant shocks to their livelihoods, and the threat of hunger presents a major concern for health, political and social stability.
COVID-19 has given society a teachable moment, and we should now establish the policies, programs and technologies to ensure our food system becomes stronger, more resilient and more equitable.
Kai Mausch, Center for International Forestry Research – World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF); Michael Hauser, CGIAR System Organization; Todd Rosenstock, Center for International Forestry Research – World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), and Wanjiku Gichohi-Wainaina, CGIAR System Organization
It’s time to redesign food systems that deliver healthy foods, allow farming families to make a good living, and support thriving societies.
When South Africa eventually emerges from the fog of the COVID-19 crisis, structural reform, including land reform, will be high on the political agenda as never before.
As the world’s population grows, agriculture and related industries will grow in size and importance in Canada. Smart investors should bet on Canadian farmland.
When people are hungry or not sure where their next meal is coming from, they get angry at their governments. This gives terrorist groups opportunities to recruit new members.
Food is essential to survival. It is also essential to identity. During times of national crisis like the coronavirus pandemic and in the historical landscape, food issues become prominent.
For the second time this century, crises have led to calls to transform our global food system. We can start with restructuring the global food trade so that it complements local food systems.
The ability of food banks to meet the needs of food insecure Canadians has plummeted just when it is needed most. But food banks have never been able to address the reason people are going hungry.
After the brief shock of food insecurity in the form of empty supermarket shelves, we might start thinking about having a Plan B and C based on local food sources and shorter supply chains.
Arnagretta Hunter, Australian National University and John Hewson, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
Other existential risks include the decline of natural resources (particularly water), human population growth beyond the Earth’s carrying capacity, and nuclear weapons.
If lab-grown meat is truly going to be the next frontier in ethical eating, it’s important to consider who’s most at risk of being left behind in the race to develop it.