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Behind food insecurity: How war and climate change are changing the global diet?
A recent report shows that about 12% of the world's population (about 928 million people) faced severe food insecurity in 2020, an increase of 148 million people from 2019. Furthermore, the fragile situation faced by the world is gradually worsening, and the impacts of war and climate change have become major challenges to current food security. In this article, we’ll explore how these challenges are changing our diets and the underlying reasons behind this.
"Social unrest caused by war and climate change not only affects food availability, but also threatens the quality and stability of the overall diet."
Challenges to global food security
Food security does not only refer to adequate food supply, but also includes whether consumers can obtain adequate nutrition in an affordable way. In the global food supply chain, local conflicts caused by war and extreme weather events caused by climate change continue to disrupt agricultural production in widespread areas.
Impacts of climate changeAccording to a United Nations report, climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of natural disasters. Such changes have affected global food production. For example, droughts and floods not only destroy crops, but also affect farmers' livelihoods, leaving many farmers in dire straits. This has triggered a series of economic problems, making the already fragile food system even worse.
"In many low-income countries, climate change could lead to a sharp drop in crop yields, exacerbating food price increases."
The impact of war on food supply
Since ancient times, war has been one of the key factors leading to food insecurity. In conflict zones, fighting not only threatens people’s lives, but also destroys farmland and supply chains. Many countries face dependence on external supplies, increasing their vulnerability to risks.
Vulnerable groups of victims
The study found that food insecurity has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, with vulnerable groups, especially children and women, being most affected. According to the report, about 300 million children worldwide face the challenge of food insecurity, which will cause irreversible harm to their long-term physical and mental development.
"Women, in particular, face a greater risk of food insecurity, which makes their role in maintaining household stability even more difficult."
Solution: Global response
Such a complex problem cannot be solved by one country alone. We need international cooperation and targeted policies to reduce the risk of food insecurity. Therefore, relevant organizations must strengthen the food supply chain, improve the accessibility and convenience of food, and ensure high-quality dietary sources.
Conclusion and reflections
Faced with challenges from climate change to war, we may have to rethink how our global food system works and the long-term consequences of every decision we make. Only by fundamentally understanding the problem at all levels can we develop effective solutions and truly achieve global food security. In the future, how should we respond to these challenges and ensure everyone’s basic food safety?
