Food security: One of humanity’s ‘most significant challenges’

Countries like China are already well aware of the issues they face to be able to feed their populations, but according to Dr Malik Hussain, a food microbiologist at Lincoln University, many countries have yet to understand the complexity of the problem, and the urgent measures it demands.

A perfect storm of insecurity​

Writing in the journal Advances in Food Technology and Nutritional Sciences​, the parallel issues of a rapidly growing population, deteriorating agricultural soils, falling water tables, and the need to rapidly modify production methods based on climate change have combined to create a perfect food security storm.

“The planet is, in a sense, creaking and groaning under the pressure. The seriousness of the issue is exacerbated all the more by the truly global nature of the problem. Even a single event such as drought or famine has the capacity to cause massive disruption to the world food supply​,” wrote Hussain.

He also highlighted that food safety and security issues could very quickly translate into issues of social, economic and political instability.

“It's not just about food. The interconnectedness of the issue means that it's also a question of policy, regulation, political will, efficient supply chains, and education. If we are going to solve this problem then we need all these facets moving forward in a systematic and sustained manner​.”

One-third of world’s food supply is waste​

Food science and technology will only save the day if they are used smartly, with policymakers involved in helping their development and implementation. These, says Hussain, can “collectively see the need and have truly fathomed the broader global issue.​”

The multifaceted nature of the problem means there is no single panacea. However, he noted that one area where food science should put its focus is in exploring ways to limit waste, either through improving food quality or improved utilisation.

“Even though 1.2bn people are currently believed to be facing hunger and extreme poverty, the United Nations found that in 2013, approximately 1.3bn tonnes of food was wasted. That's about one-third of the world's supply​.”