NEWS
Global food systems have been under strain, with many countries struggling to increase productivity, adapt to a worsening climate and reduce environmental harm.
Food security in decline By Samantha Tennent
R
ising temperatures and global warming are having a direct impact on the agricultural sector and food system, as shown in the ninth annual Global Food Security Index (GFSI) released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), sponsored by Corteva Agriscience. Agricultural production has become more vulnerable in 49 countries compared to the previous index period. The index measures the underlying drivers of food security in 113 countries, based on the factors of affordability, availability, quality and safety, and natural resources and resilience. “With food security declining again, we all must heed the urgent call to renew our collective commitment to innovation and collaboration,” Corteva Agriscience chief executive James Collins Jr. says. “Our future is only as secure as our food system and agriculture is at the heart of it. Together we must better support global food security.” Highly volatile agriculture production in countries like Australia, Norway and Sweden demonstrates the risk that climate change poses to agriculture and food production, but while climate change is notably creating new challenges, farmers are still required to anticipate demand for volume of food.
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“With the increasing impact of extreme weather conditions and demand, there is a great need for staple crops that are more tolerant to extreme weather and can thrive with limited water, as well as in poor or limited soil,” he says.
“Our future is only as secure as our food system and agriculture is at the heart of it. Together we must better support global food security.” James Collins Jr
The GFSI considers food security in the context of income and economic inequality, gender inequality, and environmental and natural resources inequality, calling attention to systemic gaps and more recently, how covid-19 exacerbates their impact on food systems. Based on these findings, global food security has decreased for the second year in a row.
“The covid-19 pandemic has exposed existing vulnerabilities in the global food system. Although the various stakeholders have been quick to respond, the lockdown restrictions, and resulting economic fallout, have had a disproportionate impact on those living below the poverty line with limited, if any, social protections,” he says. “In the agricultural sector, smallholder farmers, the majority of whom reside in rural areas, have suffered a significant loss of income as lockdowns have prevented market access and interrupted the planting season.” This year, the GFSI formally includes Natural Resources and Resilience as a fourth main category. The shift in methodology from the addition is revealing food systems’ resilience against climate change. The sub-indicators under this category include food import dependency, disaster risk management and projected population growth. The 2020 index also measures gender inequality and inequality-adjusted income as sub-indicators for the first time in its history. “Incorporating the Natural Resources and Resilience category as part of the main index highlights the impact of climate-related factors on food systems and food security,” Pratima Singh, project
DAIRY FARMER
March 2021
