impacts of food insecurity

• The most obvious problem associated with food insecurity is the lack of food
• Famine is described as 'a widespread scarcity of food' and can lead to death, undernutrition, weakened immunity, vulnerability to diseases, deficiency diseases like beriberi or anaemia, and hindered physical and cognitive development of children
• UN estimates that about 805 million people, or one in nine, were suffering from chronic undernourishment during 2012-14, with 791 million living in Low-Income Countries (LICs)
• Impacts of Food Insecurity on the Environment:
• In LICs, the best land is often used to grow cash crops for export, leaving less suitable land for growing food for the local population
• Marginal land not suitable for food production quickly becomes infertile, leading to soil erosion through wind and water
• Overgrazing by farm animals also contributes to soil erosion
• Increased use of pesticides and fertilisers for cash crops can cause water pollution and water shortages, impacting indigenous wildlife habitat
• Conflict and Social Unrest:
• Competition for scarce food resources can lead to conflict locally and internationally
• Competition for water for farming can lead to disputes over water sources, such as the River Nile, causing conflicts between countries sharing the water
• Social unrest in local communities can be related to rising prices of staple food items, leading to riots and unrest
• Rising Prices:
• Shortage of food can lead to an increase in prices, causing basic food items like rice and maize to become unaffordable for many families
• Global events like poor grain harvests in certain countries can lead to a reduction in the supply of grain and a rise in global food prices
• People in LICs may suffer from undernutrition and associated diseases due to the inability to afford nutritious food, even if not experiencing famine