Big data and food security Dr Frederic Isingizwe
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“
rom farm to fork” is a relatable and simplistic expression but it encapsulates the rather complex succession of events and processes from the food producer to consumer along the so-called “food value chain”. Like most commodities, in this modern era, food production is left to a few commercial farming businesses, and food availability, quality and safety is neither perceived as a real concern nor a topic for news headlines. However, these aspects together with the problem of food waste and loss are directly linked to food security and are not well understood by the general public, unless you are a role-player in the food production, processing and distribution sectors. Food waste and loss accounts for over 30% of the food produced globally every year, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates. High losses of food in developing countries are mostly caused by lack of infrastructure and expertise for handling produce during and after harvest, and for conservation, whereas, in developed countries, wasted food at retailers and by consumers is the predominant factor. In South Africa, food insecurity is of high concern; according to the latest available numbers, about 11% of the country’s employment that has recently occurred
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because the response implemented to manage the Covid-19 pandemic, the situation can only worsen; many families have seen their breadwinners lose jobs and, as a result, food became more difficult to gain access to. Nonetheless, before the pandemic, South Africa’s food security was already suboptimal and the government’s interventions, such as feeding schoolgoing children and social grants, are useful to some extent but not enough to close the hunger gaps. An urgent need to address the situation is evident, but the most efficient way to go about it is elusive. My work touches on current and upcoming dataintensive research activities that are focused on improving food systems in South Africa and Africa at large. The research involves using sensing devices, data they generate directly and historical data on food products and their environment along the food value chain to enhance the efficiency of various processes for more robust food systems. The aim is to establish a better understanding of the complexity in local food systems, processes that help reduce food losses, improve availability and accessibility of safe and nutritious foods and generate knowledge that helps local agribusinesses and policy-makers address long-standing challenges in improving the lives of the community.
