What is Food Insecurity? Examining Food Scarcity
Credit: Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Drive
Food insecurity is a large and growing problem around the world. But what is food insecurity, what causes it, and how can we solve it? Read on to learn more.
Hundreds of years ago, people's food was mainly grown nearby. Only the very rich could afford delicacies from other parts of the world. Today, our food supply is far more global, with imports being the norm rather than the exception in many regions. However, in this global food market, large populations live with food insecurity, and the problem is only getting worse as climate change and other factors continue to impact agriculture.
Brief Introduction to Food Insecurity
What is food insecurity? Simply stated, it’s the condition of not having enough to eat. But the problem is much more complex than this, and there are varying degrees of food security and insecurity.
The USDA notes that there are four levels of food security and insecurity:
High Food Security — No problems or limitations in the food supply.
Marginal Food Security — No changes in food intake or diet, but there may be anxiety over food supply or shortage of available food.
Low Food Security — Reduced diet quality or food desirability, but no food intake reduction.
Very Low Food Security — Disruption in food availability leading to reduced food intake and increased hunger.
Food insecurity can affect an entire country, region, community, or just a single household. In the summer of 2022, the Robin Wood Johnson Foundation found that 21.6% of US adults reported food insecurity within their households. This number was up 6% from April of the prior year. Inflation and decreased support options are likely contributors.
At the same time, the USDA reports that global food insecurity is also growing. They found that 1.3 billion people suffered from food insecurity in 2022, a 10% increase from their 2021 estimate.
In the U.S. alone, the USDA found that “In 2021. . . 10.2 percent of households were food insecure at least some time during the year, including 3.8 percent (5.1 million households) that had very low food security.”
The Difference Between Food Insecurity and Hunger
Hunger is the feeling you get when you haven’t had enough food to eat. It can be temporary or long-term, resulting from any number of factors, including food insecurity.
When we say a person suffers from hunger, we typically mean that they regularly do not have enough to eat. These people usually fall into the very low food security category. However, many people who suffer from food insecurity only rarely experience hunger. Some may have food, but it’s only cheap, staple items without proper nutrition or variety. Others may have enough to eat today, but routinely wonder if they will have food for tomorrow.
For example, someone with a case of ramen noodles or a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter in their pantry may not be hungry, but if they can’t afford food beyond this, they are dealing with profound food insecurity. It’s easy to see that such a diet will be detrimental in the long run, even if they never experience actual hunger.
Why is Food Becoming More Scarce? Causes of Food Insecurity
There are several factors contributing to food scarcity worldwide. These include:
Climate change
Political instability and conflicts
Globalization increasing food prices
Increasing population
Food waste
For the purposes of this article, we’ll focus on the top three concerns: climate change, instability, and globalization.
Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture
Our rapidly changing climate is having a significant impact on agriculture and our ability to produce enough food to feed the population. Additionally, it’s contributing to soil degradation, which further decreases our ability to grow enough food.
Extreme Weather Events and Their Effects on Crops
Wildfires, droughts, floods, heat waves, and various types of storms have extreme effects on crops worldwide. A single weather event can wipe out the production of a particular crop within a region for a whole year. Meanwhile, droughts and heat waves can stress crops and cause yields to drop drastically, even without an extreme storm or other events.
A recent report from the American Farm Bureau Federation states that 2022’s weather disasters caused more than $21 billion in US crop losses. This includes impacts from droughts, heat waves, flooding, hail, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, winter storms, and other severe weather events. The hardest hit state in this report was Texas, which suffered more than $6 million in losses.
Soil Degradation and Its Implications
Soil degradation is a pressing issue that threatens global food security. Traditional farming methods often lead to nutrient depletion, erosion, and ultimately, unproductive land.
The World Economic Forum notes that 95% of the world’s food supply is reliant on healthy soil. They also note that a third of the world’s fertile soil has already degraded. It’s clear that this problem will cause a significant food crisis if it continues.
Vertical farming offers a sustainable alternative by eliminating the need for soil altogether. By growing crops in vertically stacked layers, we can produce more food in less space, all while preserving our precious soil resources.
Globalization and Food Prices
The next major circumstance leading to food insecurity in the global economy is globalization and its impact on food prices at a local level.
How Global Trade Affects Local Food Prices
In the past, food was most frequently produced in the same region where it was consumed. This meant that food prices were tied to the local economy. With today’s increasing globalization, food is traded across borders and often shipped around the world.
A recent report from the International Monetary Fund shows the impact this global trade is having on the price of food. Their findings show that the real food price index is spiking to unprecedented levels. Meanwhile, 345 million people are currently in danger due to acute food insecurity.
The Role of Multinational Corporations
Multinational corporations are large companies that have operations in multiple countries. Increasingly, these companies control large portions of the food supply. They may also engage in speculation in food commodities — buying and selling food staples to bring in the best profit. This means that food is grown in poor countries where labor is cheap and then distributed to wealthy regions where people can afford to pay more for it.
Political Instability and Conflicts
Finally, politics and war often get in the way of the global food trade. This can have far-reaching effects beyond the region where the conflict exists.
Wars and Their Impact on Food Distribution
Wars and other conflicts can significantly impact global food distribution, sometimes in surprising ways. Armed conflicts can destroy agricultural infrastructure in the locations where they happen. They can also disrupt shipping channels running through or near the region of the conflict.
The war in Ukraine is an example of how wars and armed conflicts can greatly impact food security in the region and beyond. The Center for Strategic and International Studies recently noted that Russia and Ukraine account for about a third of the global wheat trade and three-quarters of global sunflower oil production. For this reason, in the months following the initial invasion, the FAO Food Price Index broke records.
Economic Sanctions and Food Access
Even beyond the practical implications of armed conflict, sometimes measures taken to end the conflict can also cause problems. Trade embargos aimed at pressuring the aggressor nation(s) can cause significant food insecurity among the population both there and elsewhere.
When countries refuse to trade with a hostile nation, it can raise prices on both sides of the sanctions. A chapter in the Research Handbook on Economic Sanctions put it well. The author states, “Sanctions significantly increase the composite index of global hunger index (GHI), and also adversely affect the availability and stability dimensions of food security.”
Is Food Scarcity Getting Worse?
The World Food Programme states that food insecurity numbers are perhaps worse than ever. In 2023, more than 345 million people are facing high levels of food insecurity. This is over 200 million more than the number from only three years ago. They pin the problem on several factors:
Climate change is a leading cause.
More than 70% of the insecure population lives in regions impacted by war.
Fertilizer prices are outpacing food prices and remain at a ten-year high.
Operating costs across the board have risen significantly.
When Did Food Scarcity Become a Problem?
While famine and food insecurity have always been a concern to one extent or another, the current crisis is relatively new. According to the International Monetary Fund, food insecurity as it stands today has its roots in 2018. This is likely attributable to climate change, armed conflicts, and, eventually, the effects of the pandemic.
How Does Food Scarcity Affect the World?
Food scarcity has a number of impacts beyond the obvious effect of hunger.
Environmental Impact
Food scarcity is both impacted by and has impacts on the environment. When populations are desperate, they tend to turn toward unsustainable short-term solutions. They lead to further problems like deforestation, water pollution, and increased greenhouse gasses.
Deforestation and Land Use for Agriculture
More than 15 billion trees are lost each year to make way for commercial farming. Soybean farming in the Amazon rainforest alone accounts for 100 million acres of lost forest.
Overfishing and Marine Ecosystems
When food is scarce, people frequently turn to fish as a source of protein. This typically means illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. The UN estimates that somewhere between 11 million and 26 million tons of fish are illegally caught each year.
Is There Enough Food in the World to Feed Everyone?
The short answer is yes. According to Thin Ink, we’re currently producing more than enough food to support the population. The problem isn’t quantity; it’s distribution.
Food scarcity is a complex issue with multiple contributing factors, including climate change, political instability, and increasing population. Vertical farming addresses these challenges head-on by enabling year-round production, independent of climate and weather conditions. Moreover, vertical farms can be established in urban settings, reducing the need for long-haul transportation and thereby lowering the carbon footprint of our food supply.
How Does Food Scarcity Affect the Economy?
Food scarcity can have a significant impact on the economy. As food becomes more scarce, the prices of staples go up. Families have to spend more of their income on food, and the economy begins to stagnate. Businesses may need to lay off workers, causing increased unemployment. This leads to increased poverty, increased crime, and societal and political instability.
Is Food Scarcity a Social Problem?
Food scarcity affects people across all levels of society, regardless of income or social class. While poverty is one contributing factor, inequality, conflict, environmental degradation, and climate change also play significant roles.
How Can We Solve Food Scarcity?
Food insecurity is a global problem that affects millions of people. Not only does it impact the health and safety of large populations, but it can also have far-reaching economic and environmental effects.
Food insecurity is a complex issue, but it's not insurmountable. At Eden Green, we're committed to being part of the solution through innovative, sustainable agricultural practices. Here are some proven strategies to tackle this global challenge:
Promoting Sustainable Agriculture: The Future is Now
Sustainable agriculture isn't just a buzzword; it's a necessity. Vertical farming and hydroponics, for instance, are not just concepts of the future but are actively being used to combat soil degradation and food scarcity.
Short-term agricultural solutions do more harm than good in the long run. Instead, we need to adopt and support sustainable agriculture initiatives, normalizing growing methods that will continue to produce healthy food well into the future without compromising the environment.
The Importance of Crop Rotation and Soil Health
Crop rotation isn't just an age-old practice; it's backed by science. Studies show that rotating crops can increase soil fertility by up to 20%, making it a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture.
By planting different crops each season, farmers can replenish nutrients in the soil that otherwise would be lost. Adding cover crops during the off-season helps prevent erosion and keep topsoil in place for future planting.
Benefits of Community-Supported Agriculture
Community-supported agriculture is more than just a local initiative; it's a model for global change. By investing in your local farms, you're not only getting fresh produce but also contributing to a more sustainable and equitable food system.
Locally grown food can help feed insecure populations by allowing them greater access to fresh, healthy foods. Community-supported agriculture initiatives enable community members to purchase shares in a farm, agreeing to purchase a portion of the produce each week through the season. This means families will have regular access to fresh foods, often at a much lower cost than purchasing them from retail stores.
How AgTech Initiatives Can Help
Technological advancements in agriculture are not to be overlooked. From AI-driven soil analysis to IoT-enabled irrigation systems, AgTech is revolutionizing the way we grow food.
While many agricultural practices may be seen as particularly low-tech, there are exciting advancements being made as well. AgTech initiatives are increasingly popular in Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) investing. Technologies like vertical farming and hydroponic systems offer options for agriculture independent of climate, weather, and even seasons.
At Eden Green, we understand the challenges retailers face in sourcing sustainable, fresh produce. That's why we're committed to leveraging advanced AgTech solutions like vertical farming and hydroponics that are both eco-friendly and efficient to provide a consistent, year-round supply of high-quality produce.
Our white-label products allow you to offer your customers some of the freshest, healthiest greens and other foods, customized to your brand's needs. Contact our team today to explore partnership opportunities and make a lasting impact on food security.
For more details, check out the following pages:
How Eden Green Is Helping Combat Food Scarcity
At Eden Green, we are committed to donating 10% of our produce to local charities. Over the years, we’ve donated tens of thousands of pounds of fresh hydroponic fruits and vegetables.
2020: 43,510 lbs of Freshness Delivered: Our inaugural year of giving set the tone for our commitment.
2021: 19,811 lbs of Community Support: Even in challenging times, our promise remained unyielding.
2022: 16,724 lbs of Sustained Commitment: Our bond with the community grew stronger.
2023: 124,599 lbs of Community Impact: A testament to our expanding vision and dedication.
Read about Eden Green’s Sustainability Mission to learn more.
How Can Individuals Help Combat Food Insecurity?
The above solutions are incredibly helpful, but what about solutions for us as individuals? There are a few ways that people can help combat food insecurity on their own, even if they’re not in a place to enact a larger solution.
You don't have to be a policy-maker or a farmer to make a difference in food security. Here are some actionable steps you can take:
Donate to Local Food Banks: Your contributions, whether monetary or in-kind, can go a long way in helping families in need.
Support Sustainable Farming: Choose products that are sustainably sourced. Look for certifications and labels that indicate responsible farming practices.
Educate and Advocate: Use your social media platforms to share information about food insecurity and advocate for sustainable solutions.
Invest in Sustainable Companies: If you have an investment portfolio, consider adding stocks from companies that prioritize sustainable farming practices, like Eden Green.
By taking these steps, you're not just helping to combat food insecurity; you're also contributing to a more sustainable and equitable food system for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should We Be Stocking up on Food?
It’s always a good idea to stock up on food in case of an emergency. Most emergency services recommend you keep at least a three-day supply of food and water to sustain yourself and your family in the case of a natural disaster or some other event. We see no reason to keep a great deal of food stored up beyond this unless you live in an area where scarcities are common. For example, some remote areas may only be able to import food staples infrequently.
Is the US Going to Have a Food Shortage?
It is likely that some specific items will be in short supply in the future. As with recent egg prices, this is less likely to mean you can’t find these items and more likely to mean they will be much more expensive for a time. It’s important to be flexible in your food choices when such shortages occur to keep your food bills affordable.
Overall, the USDA predicts food prices will increase 5.8% across the board through 2023. In 2024, they expect food prices to continue to increase by 2.4%. In both cases, restaurant prices will likely increase more than grocery costs.
For more suggestions, check out How to Avoid a Food Shortage.
What Foods Are Going to Be In Short Supply?
According to the USDA’s Food Price Outlook, 2023 and 2024, the following food items will likely increase in price in coming months. Here are the categories they predict, along with the increase they expect to see:
Eggs – 2.0%
Poultry – 3.3%
Beef and veal – 2.7%
Fish and seafood – 1.1%
Other meats – 4.4%
Dairy – 3.6%
Fats and oils – 9.6%
All fruits and vegetables – 2.4%
Fresh fruits and vegetables – 0.4%
Processed fruits and vegetables – 9.2%
Sugar and sweets – 9.6%
Cereals and bakery products – 8.9%
Nonalcoholic beverages – 8.0%
Other foods – 7.2%
If recalls or natural disasters occur, there could be additional food items that become hard to get for a while.
Why Is There Not Enough Food for Everyone in the World?
The truth is, there is enough food. The problem is that it is not evenly distributed across the global population.
Is World Hunger Getting Worse?
Yes. According to numbers from the USDA, global food insecurity increased by 10% from 2021 to 2022.
Growing with Eden Green Technology
Are you committed to sourcing sustainable, high-quality food for grocery stores or restaurants? Look no further. Eden Green Technology is your ideal partner in revolutionizing the food industry. Here's why:
Variety: Choose from over 200 commercially viable produce options.
Customization: Benefit from white-label produce options, including specialized salad blends, fresh herbs, and more.
Quality: Our produce meets the highest industry standards and is available year-round, irrespective of climate or season.
Don't just read about the future of agriculture—be a part of it. Take the first step in aligning your business with sustainability and community impact.
🌱 Check out Eden Green's Sustainability Mission
Become a part of the solution. Let's grow together for a healthier, more sustainable world.