UNIT A2 1 Option A: Food Security and Sustainability

LEARNING OUTCOMES Food Security/Food Poverty as a global issue Understand what is food security/food poverty; Understand the challenges to achieving food security; Understand food poverty as a global, local and national issue; and Understand what is food security/food poverty; Understand the challenges to achieving food security; Understand food security/food poverty as a global, local and national issue; and Understand the role of food banks as a solution to food poverty.

BACKGROUND TO FOOD SECURITY The term ‘food (in)security’ identifies whether countries have adequate food supply to feed their populations. Food is a basic right Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) = “the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger” 2012 Sustainable Development Goals call for: An end to poverty in all its forms everywhere Zero hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.

THE GLOBAL FOOD SITUATION According to the United Nations, the world population reached 7 billion on October 31, 2011. The world’s population is forecast to reach 9.3 billion by 2050 (UN Dept. Economic & Social Affairs, 2012). Food prices rose rapidly after 2006 and peaked in 2012. Rising food prices have driven an estimated 44 million people into poverty (World Bank, 2011).

CONTRIBUTORS TO FOOD INSECURITY A growing population Intensive farming Climate change and severe weather events

POPULATION GROWTH The world population continues to increase but this growth is slowing Population growth = demand for more food making it harder to feed everyone The planet has been unable to feed its growing population Threat of food insecurity The rich have been over eating while the poor have been starving

INTENSIVE FARMING Intensive farming practices were designed to produce sufficient food for a growing population. Produces high-yield crops, using fertilisers and pesticides. Food production is increased but there are unwelcome side effects: Land degradation Soil erosion due to deforestation Environmental pollution Reduced biodiversity due to growing limited crop varieties Potential harm to health We need to increase our use of sustainable production methods – but this will produce less yield - so how do we feed a growing population?

CLIMATE CHANGE - CONTEXT Thinking positively, it had been thought we could restrict global temperature increases to 2oC. According to the World Bank, if global temperatures increase by 4oC: “There will be water and food fights everywhere” [Jim Yong Kim – World Bank President] Currently we expect global temperature increases of 1.1oC - 6.4oC by the end of the 21st century We need to act urgently and radically

CLIMATE CHANGE & SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS Climate change has increased carbon dioxide levels, which has increased desertification and caused water-supply problems. Rising ocean levels could flood low-lying farmlands with salt water and affect rice/wheat production. Extreme weather events like floods, hurricanes, storm surges, and tsunamis have increased - extreme flooding could affect global distribution of food. Some food-producing regions could become too hot to grow conventional crops, affect livestock growth and increase crop contamination. Agricultural prices will be affected by climate change – reduced food supply will increase prices.

FOOD POVERTY: Globally The Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that about 795 million people of the 7.3 billion people in the world, or one in nine, were suffering from chronic undernourishment in 2014-2016.  Direct action against hunger is essential Increase in the need for Food Aid.

FOOD POVERTY: Nationally The UK is the seventh richest country in the world yet some people cannot afford to eat enough food every day. Food poverty is the inability to afford or access a healthy diet. It has overtaken healthy eating as the most pressing public health concern.

FOOD POVERTY: Locally 17% of Northern Ireland’s population living in poverty in 2015/2016. This equates to 318,000 people living in poverty in Northern Ireland, of which approximately 93,000 are children (aged 15 or under). Some groups are more at risk than others such as children, working age adults and pensioners. DSD NI Poverty Bulletin 2015-2016

CAUSES OF FOOD POVERTY IN UK Rising housing and energy costs Low wages / insecure work contracts Welfare Reform Rising food prices Increasing number of school children Aging population

FOOD AID This has all led to an increase in the need for Food Aid. The principal suppliers of food aid in NI are: FareShare Food banks (independent and Trussell Trust)

FareShare The main organization that collects and re-distributes surplus food from supermarkets and producers that would have otherwise gone to waste. This food is redistributed to charitable organisations, to supplement ingredients for meals they prepare for individuals and families, reducing the amount they have to spend on food purchases, enabling them to focus more of their resources elsewhere (eg toiletries, sleeping bags, advice resources).

FOOD BANKS (Trussell Trust & independents) 427 Trussell Trust food banks Provide food aid to people in severe need 1,182,954 parcels were  given to people in crisis 2016/2017 Redistribute food donated by consumers, retailers and the food industry Non-perishable food: sugar, soup, pasta, jam and tinned products Operated by a range of volunteer-based organisations - 40,000 people volunteered 2016/2017 Referral by a health or social care professional Recipients may receive up to three consecutive referral vouchers to help avoid dependency Rise in “Kettle Boxes” We cannot ignore the hunger on our doorstep

FOOD BANKS IN NORTHERN IRELAND The number of food banks in Northern Ireland has increased rapidly in 2011. Trussell Trust, 2017

WHY DO PEOPLE RELY ON FOOD BANKS?

Supplementary Services Food Bank Challenges Operational Costs Volunteers Community Support Accessibility Supplementary Services Welfare Reform Fresh Produce

FOOD BANKS’ FOOD OFFER Watch this video… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck7csYMFKsA What do you think?

DO FOOD BANKS SOLVE FOOD POVERTY? Food aid like food banks and emergency food donations will continue but they should not be considered a long-term solution. They may provide immediate relief, but there is no evidence to show that food banks solve food insecurity. Food banks do not: Meet the rights of citizens in need; Meet people’s social right to food; Address people’s nutritional needs. To reduce food insecurity the government must address the underlying structural causes of food poverty

Further reading News Articles: –The Independent (2017) Food banks run out as hungry children on summer holidays have no access to free school meals. Available from: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/food-banks-hungry-children-summer-holidays-no-free-school-lunches-trussel-trust-low-supplies-a7870546.html –BBC (2017) Who really goes to a food bank? Available from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-40431701 Websites: –Trussell Trust: www.trusselltrust.org –Child Poverty Action: www.cpag.org.uk –Food Ethics Council: www.foodethicscouncil.org Published Reports: –Church Action on Poverty (2014) Below the Breadline. Available from: http://www.church-poverty.org.uk/breadline/read/belowbreadlinereport –FSA (2015) Understanding Food in the Context of Poverty, Economic Insecurity and Social Exclusion. Available from: https://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/FS307008%20-%20Food%20Poverty%20Final%20Report.pdf

ANY QUESTIONS Beacom-E1@ulster.ac.uk McClelland-N1@ulster.ac.uk THANK YOU ANY QUESTIONS Beacom-E1@ulster.ac.uk McClelland-N1@ulster.ac.uk