Rising global temperatures lead to intense, prolonged, and frequent droughts that impact the agricultural sector, causing substantial crop losses, while declining soil fertility from extensive farming practices diminishes crop productivity and nutritional quality.
The trends in average global temperature and the average of hungry people is directly related. The blue bars to the left of the graph display an overall trend towards higher sea nwater temperatures, and the images of sand and earth show the effects that these changes have on the world. The vignettes with people surrounded by food, as well as the animals on the image, provide a connection to the humane; these are issues that are directly impacting the beings that inhabit this earth.
Unprecedented worldwide demands for food as the global population is projected to surge by additional 3 billion people by 2050, necessitating an extra 109 million hectares of farmland. However, only 80% of the Earth's arable land is currently suitable for farming, with significant portions rendered unusable due to poor management and climate change. According to the United Nations, about 2.4 billion people worldwide endured prevalent moderate to severe food insecurity in 2022, with 900 million experiencing severe food insecurity.
Worldwide population growth and climate change effects on arable land
Increasing urbanization casts significant changes in agri-food systems in the rural–urban continuum as seven in ten people will be living in cities by 2050. Urban expansion and increased demand for food also affect people having access to affordable healthy diets. It means insufficient availability of vegetables and fruits to meet the daily requirements of fresh food and healthy diets for everyone; in the year 2021, more than 3.1 billion people, or 42% of the world population, were unable to afford a healthy diet.
The lack of accessible supermarkets or food shops in certain locations impairs inhabitants’ ability to maintain a healthy and balanced diet, albeit awareness of healthy eating is another barrier as well. Localizing healthy food and enabling accessibility should be married to innovative solutions that foster dialogue and awareness within the domain of public health.
The diagram to the left describes food insecurity. On the far left you start by seeing a photo of an undeveloped country in the global south. As your eyes move to the path you will learn some general facts about food insecurity. Then once your eyes pass the turn you start to observe the possible steps a community can take to become food secure.
Firstly, getting emergency aid (like meals on wheel), and becoming more educated on food growth. This would hopefully lead to community gardens, which would turn into farmers markets, and corner grocery markets. These would influence political policy and create long term real change. Once you achieve these steps on the path you will then become a more food secure community. An example of this ( being Sweden, the most food secure country in the world) is pictured as the destination on the far right.
Firstly, getting emergency aid (like meals on wheel), and becoming more educated on food growth. This would hopefully lead to community gardens, which would turn into farmers markets, and corner grocery markets. These would influence political policy and create long term real change. Once you achieve these steps on the path you will then become a more food secure community. An example of this ( being Sweden, the most food secure country in the world) is pictured as the destination on the far right.
