Global Food Security

Global Food Security ACTIVITY 1 “Is food insecurity a result of unequal distribution or a lack of production?” Source: http://www.globalagriculture.org/report-topics/agroecology.html

Global Food Security FOOD IMPORTS Ask students what they think the following map shows prior to discussing it on the following slide.

Global Food Security FOOD IMPORTS Explanation: What you see is that the more bloated countries in the northern hemisphere are net food importing countries. The countries in predominantly the southern hemisphere have shrunk, so much so that they are almost disappearing. These countries export much more than they purchase. [Net imports are imports minus exports]. See also the explanation on the sheet. Available at: http://www.worldmapper.org/display.php?selected=54

Global Food Security ACTIVITY 2 Plan a meal that is made up with as much locally available and in-season food as possible. Source: http://www.globalagriculture.org/report-topics/agroecology.html

Global Food Security THE INDUSTRIALISED FOOD SYSTEM Source: http://www.theguardian.com/money/2012/jul/27/dairy-farmers-milk Photograph: Graeme Robertson for the Guardian

Global Food Security ACTIVITY 3 Invite student to research either the externalities of large-scale mechanic agriculture or the contemporary nature of food supply chains. Source: http://www.globalagriculture.org/report-topics/agroecology.html

Global Food Security THE WATER-FOOD-ENERGY NEXUS

Water foot prints of various foods Global Food Security ACTIVITY 4 Water foot prints of various foods Source: http://www.globalagriculture.org/report-topics/agroecology.html

Global Food Security HUNGER AND FOOD POVERTY According to the Trussell Trust 913,138 people received three days’ emergency food from Trussell Trust foodbanks in 2013-14 compared to 346,992 in 2012-13 Source: http://www.trusselltrust.org/foodbank-figures-top-900000

Global Food Security ACTIVITY 5 Which type of bread is more likely to play a crucial role in feeding large groups of people? The cost of high quality food, including organic and healthy food. The success of mass food production The impact of high food prices The hidden impact (externalities) of low food prices The politics of consumption more broadly. Source: http://www.globalagriculture.org/report-topics/agroecology.html

Global Food Security AGRO-ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION Source: http://www.globalagriculture.org/report-topics/agroecology.html Photo: Transition to Sustainable Systems. IAASTD Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Summary for Decision Makers, p. 9. IAASTD/Ketill Berger, UNEP/GRID-Arendal.

Local food production and agro-ecology Global Food Security ACTIVITY 6 Local food production and agro-ecology Source: http://www.globalagriculture.org/report-topics/agroecology.html

Global Food Security CONCLUSIONS Food Security is an essentially contested concept Different food production systems make different demands on the environment Modern agriculture is heavily reliant on finite external inputs such as oil and fertiliser Consumers play a role in structuring the food system through their food choices The number of people experiencing hunger continues to grow, both in wealthy and poor countries. Is the food system broken? Source: http://www.globalagriculture.org/report-topics/agroecology.html