On Friday, February 10, staff writers Lily Mooney and Claire De La Roche visited SIPA’s Kellogg Center for an event envisioning the challenges and steps toward building a food-secure world.

SIPA Professor of Professional Practice Glenn Denning, author of the recently published book Universal Food Security: How to End Hunger While Protecting the Planet, began the talk by introducing the evolving concept of universal food security, which has become more defined and nuanced over time. The idea of access to food as a human right was first recognized by the UN in 1948, while a new definition emerged in 1996 at the annual World Food Summit which emphasized the right to food for all people at all times. Over the decades, our understanding of universal food security has developed to encompass the idea of leaving no person behind in a world where every person has a healthy and sustainable diet. 

Denning went on to note our current reality, where one in 10 people are hungry, three billion people cannot afford healthy food, and half the world consumes an unhealthy diet—whether from underconsumption of nutrient-dense foods or overconsumption of nutrient-lacking foods. Tied to this discussion is the issue of food production placing untold environmental stress on the planet, with one third of greenhouse gas emissions coming from the food system. Despite this, Denning assured the audience that, while ending universal food insecurity in a sustainable manner is a challenging undertaking, it is achievable.

Denning outlined a multifaceted strategy taken from his book for tackling the the challenges associated with ending universal food insecurity, consisting of six interconnected parts:

• Sustainable intensification: increasing agricultural productivity to create more food, all the while reducing one’s environmental footprint.
• Market infrastructure: more consumers must be connected with producers, allowing surplus areas to be put into contact with areas grappling with shortages. In so doing, we can mend the existing disconnect between areas of excess and areas of need, allowing one group to provide for the other.
• Post-harvest stewardship: one third of food is thrown away or not consumed, so efforts should be made to mitigate food waste and ensure food is used and eaten.
• Healthy diet: filling nutrient gaps while reducing unhealthy consumption.
• Social protection: the implementation and support of social safety nets such as school lunch programs that give food aid to underserved populations.
• Cross-cutting investments: Denning noted the importance of interdisciplinary work, as all sectors and areas of investment should closely work together to achieve food security.

Throughout his presentation, Denning emphasized that these areas of investment should serve as a framework rather than a strict and universally applied set of steps. When approaching food insecurity in different localities, we need to take into consideration what is locally appropriate to the population at hand, accounting for factors such as local culture, economy, and diet. Tackling food insecurity is not a one-size-fits-all process, and in order to achieve universal relief, it is necessary to recognize the diversity of food systems in different parts of the world.

In tandem with the idea of taking locally appropriate action, Denning highlighted the specific potential for success that sustainable intensification offers for producing more accessible food while reducing environmental degradation. First, he clarified the differences between the concepts of environmental extensification versus intensification. Extensification is the act of extending areas of agricultural production, which often involves tasks like felling trees in order to make more land available for farming.

Alternatively, intensification entails making land plots more efficient, so that more food can be produced without detracting from the surrounding ecosystems. Evidence of sustainable intensification’s success has been recently observed in Sub-Saharan Africa, where cereal production increased by 76% from 2004 to 2019, as a result of improvements in rainwater harvesting and enhanced water management.

Denning went as far as to say that in addition to intensification, some regions would benefit from a decreased emphasis on agriculture altogether due to its negative impact on the land and population—instead, the professor said, these regions should focus on investing in other modes of food production.

At this point in the presentation, Professor Denning posed the central question: how do we go about practically implementing such strategies to end hunger while protecting the planet?

Denning explained that it begins with a vision of food security in whichever context and level of specificity pertinent to the situation, whether it be at a neighborhood or countrywide level. Next, one should figure out the “what;” that is, how the previously discussed six areas of investment can be applied to the local needs of the identified region. Individuals should then identify agents of change, such as public, profit, and non-profit sectors that can be mobilized to make strides toward achieving food security.

Following Denning’s presentation, a series of panelists touched upon other key aspects to consider in the greater conversation surrounding ending world hunger. Economist David Dawe emphasized that food insecurity is a layered problem intertwined with other issues that often go undetected but hold long-term consequences. For instance, as a consequence of food security, parents might take their children out of school or sell their assets to provide for their families. 

Panelist Sarah Garland then discussed the importance of genetic engineering in being part of the solution to mitigating food insecurity, noting crop biotechnology’s ability to yield desirable crop characteristics such as drought tolerance and disease resistance. As an example of crop genetics’ potential, Garland cited the rainbow papaya, which saved the Hawaiian papaya industry in the ‘90s. However, despite its beneficial possibilities, crop genetics’ implementation faces an uphill battle against the challenges of intellectual property, privatization, and consumer distrust. In other words, although the science is oftentimes ready to be put to action, the bureaucracy surrounding its application is not.

Panelist Walter Baethgen then asked the audience to reconsider the recent shift toward a plant-based diet, noting the livestock industry’s potential as a solution rather than a problem by providing undernourished populations a crucial source of nutrient dense food. Baethgen also noted the ability for the livestock industry to be thoughtfully implemented and based in sustainable practices, utilizing land that couldn’t be used for planting crops otherwise.

Nutritionist and soon-to-be Climate School professor Jessica Fanzo then outlined the nuance of healthy diets that go beyond our general conception of eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Fanzo raised issues of access that keep billions of people from being able to afford healthy foods, while also noting the importance of “blue foods,” or seafoods, that are environmentally friendly and nutritious, but often ignored in reports that outline definitions of a healthy diet. Fanzo also mentioned the danger of ultra-processed foods, such as chips, crackers, and soda, which pose severe health risks but whose long shelf life and transportable and profitable nature makes them highly marketable, accessible, and convenient.

Global Citizen’s Michael Sheldrick closed with a quote by Nelson Mandela, stating that “poverty is not natural, it’s manmade,” and that food security is a systemic issue that won’t be solved by gala dinners or fundraisers. Rather, the panelists collectively emphasized the importance of multifaceted action, taking place on the individual level in emailing local government members to double their support for agriculture and nutrition-related policies, and among the public and private sectors by investing in sustainability, the right organizations, and public health education. The fight to end food security is thus an effort that requires participation on all fronts. It begins with us and doesn’t stop there; it demands our collective support in order to become a full-fledged reality.

Farm field via Wikimedia Commons