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Food Security Enhances National Security-for the U.S. and for developing countries

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Added on  2020-04-15

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An increase in population levels, exploitation of natural resources, and immigration are some important factors that act as hindrance to the future progress on the level of national security in many countries. An investment in food security is fundamental and necessary to ensure food and nutrition security, broader economic development, and alleviation of poverty because it contributes to the collective goal of realizing security and peace. has realized that food and nutritional security is a central component in its objective of achieving national security strategies; apparently a strategy that many developing

Food Security Enhances National Security-for the U.S. and for developing countries

   Added on 2020-04-15

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Food Security Enhances National Security-for the U.S. and for developing countriesIntroductionInternational economic systems and politics are at an impasse. There have been an inclinein the security threats and finding solutions to the same has become a challenge. An increase inpopulation levels, exploitation of natural resources, and immigration are some important factorsthat act as hindrance to the future progresson the level of national security in many countries.1Nevertheless, there are evidences that relate population increase to national development andgrowth.In fact, the decline in the level of food insecurity and poverty over the last three decades,signifies a potential to gain further momentum. An investment in food security is fundamentaland necessary to ensure food and nutrition security, broader economic development, andalleviation of poverty because it contributes to the collective goal of realizing security andpeace.2 The U.S. has realized that food and nutritional security is a central component in itsobjective of achieving national security strategies; apparently a strategy that many developingcountries undertake to achieve national security. America views food security as an essential component to strengthen national security aseffective foods and nutrition is considered as national priorities, which ensures access tosustainable agriculture and nutritious food. According to the United States Agency forInternational Development (USAID), food security refers to a phenomenon where a country hasat all times economic and physical access to ample food resources to meet the diet, health, andproductive needs for its populace.3USAID further claims that when such access is prevented, the1Allam, " Food Supply Security, Sovereignty and International Peace And Security: Sovereignty As A Challenge To Food Supply Security,"326. 2 Ibid., 127. 3United States Agency for International Development. "Agriculture and Food Security."
Food Security Enhances National Security-for the U.S. and for developing countries_1
1issue of food insecurity arises, which further leads to social, political, and economic unrest. Atpresent, this is the most common and a serious issue in the Middle East region.4Cases of Food Scarcity and InsecurityIn Syria, the national government fails to make an appropriate use of water that wasfundamental in ensuring that drought conditions do not affect agriculture in the country.Consequently, the misuse of water led to protests with people claiming that the government hadtaken away their ‘loaf of bread.’5 The water was the only means to ensure that agriculture andfood security prevailed in the country. The government used it as a weapon during times ofcrises. Henceforth, scarcity of food has been considered as one of the causes of unrest in thecountry.6In a similar case, the prices of food increased by thirty-seven percent during the years2008 and 2010 in Egypt.7The increase in prices made food a limited commodity in the countrybecause it became unaffordable for most of the people, despite being an essential need ofsurvival. Consequently, it resulted in protests and riots in the main cities of the country such asTahrir.8 The protesters demanded for ‘bread, social justice, and freedom.’ The Egyptiangovernment intervened to address the issue of prices for food commodities because it viewed thatthese protests could result in insecurity and social unrest in the country.9Food Security and National Security for the U.S. and Developing CountriesThe U.S., as well as other developing countries, has devoted sufficient funds and resourcefor research and development that aim at improving food security as a means to achieve national4United States Agency for International Development. "Agriculture and Food Security."5Oweis, " Water crisis uproots Syrian farmers."6"L’Aquila” joint statement on global food security L’Aquila Food Security Initiative,"24.7Albert "Food security for Africa: an urgent global challenge"56.8 Ibid., 57.9 Ibid
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2security.10 An extensive research forms a basis for agricultural innovations, such as improvedfertilizers and drought-resistant seeds that guarantee ample food production even in periods ofadverse weather conditions. Through these innovations, farmers can know about the goodfarming practices that best suit different regions.11 With increased innovation, food is producedin large quantities that sufficiently feed the population.12The sufficient production of food shallacts as national security for the unknown and unpredictable future.The urban areas in many developing countries, high prices of food commodities andrestricted access to food can easily lead to riots and protests, which include armed conflicts thatresult in economic and political instability with worldwide consequences.13 For instance, theglobal food crises that took place in 2007-2008 demonstrated how an increase in the prices offood could result in profound poverty, leaving millions of people starving, and a source of unrestthat easily undermines global progress.14Global Food Security ActOn July 2016, Obama signed a comprehensive law of the Global Food security act thatcalls for intervention on U.S. food strategy. The global Food Security Act insists on an approachthat requires complete participation enabling the starving people around the world, to developlong-term, smart and country-specific policies on agriculture, which shall ensure they meet thenutrition needs of such people.15This also clarifies that the National Intelligence Council shouldaddress the challenge and issues related to food security. The law provides a way to approach the10Food and Agriculture Organization, “Rome Declaration and Plan of Action."11Food and Agriculture Organization, “Rome Declaration and Plan of Action."12Food and Agriculture Organization, “Rome Declaration and Plan of Action."13Andrew, “Shifting wealth and the consequences of rising food prices on social cohesion: a diagnosis and policy responses" 344.14 Ibid, 3455. 15Forman and Umayam, “Making Food Security a National Security Priority."
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