Global Food Security: Analysis of Diet, Policy, and Recommendations

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of global food security, focusing on the concept of healthy and sustainable diets as defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). It examines the environmental impact of food choices, particularly the differences between plant-based and animal-based diets. The report highlights the disparity between recommended dietary guidelines, such as those in Australia, and the actual eating habits of the population. It analyzes the five food groups outlined in the Australian Dietary Guidelines, assessing consumption rates and identifying gaps in adherence to recommended servings. Furthermore, it explores the reasons behind these dietary gaps, discussing factors like policy influences, the absence of reference standards, and the parameters used to determine dietary content. The report concludes by proposing a national food policy, emphasizing the importance of food policies in shaping health outcomes, and referencing examples of food policies implemented by other countries to promote healthy and sustainable food systems.

Running head: GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY
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Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

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Review of healthy and sustainable diet
As mentioned by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of United Nations (2012),
Healthy and Sustainable Diets (HSDs) are developed or created with low environmental impacts
the future generation is healthy life and sustainability [1]. While developing healthy and
sustainable food and dietary aspects, it is important that people consume foods which are
protective, respectful as well as nutritionally adequate. Hence, thorugh the application of HSDs,
people would be able to consume food that optimizes natural and human resources. HSDs
impacts the environment as well as animal based foods increases the green house gas emission
by 20 to 30%, whereas growing plant based food require less resources, energy and costs [2].
Sustainability and healthy diet could also be termed as the ability of every individual to
live within the resources and its ecological limits and hence, it is important that consumers
understand the needs and challenges that majority of the population is suffering currently in
world [3]. As per the reports provided by the United Nations (2012), 150 million children around
the world are suffering from stunting at the age of five and less, whereas 50 million children
suffer from wasting or low weight for their age. Irregularity in the sustainability could also be
understood from the fact that more than 1.9 billion people are overweight around the world;
however 462 million people are suffering from underweight or malnutrition [2]. Hence, it is
important that the global organisations develop guidelines and strategies so that with protecting
the environmental ecosystem people could be provided with healthy and sustainable food.
The Australian government has also developed food and dietary aspects and has included
them in the guideline with the application of scientific evidences so that people could be
provided effective and sustainable life [4]. While developing these guidelines the government

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has focused on three aspects such so that it could promote health and wellbeing, reduces the
critical risks to diet related conditions, and finally it also reduces the risk of chronic health
conditions [4]. As per the Australian governmental policies and guidelines, this dietary aspect
has been developed through the application of health professionals, policy makers, educators,
Australian and world researchers, and food manufacturer and retailers. Further, the government
has implemented these strategies so that all the diet and nutritional complications could be
treated effectively [4].
While discussing the Australian Dietary Guidelines (2019), the government has divided
the food products in five aspects or groups so that people could be provided with effective
nutritional aspects [5]. These five food groups are vegetables legumes and beams, fruits, milk
cheese yoghurt and milk alternatives, lean meat, poultry, egg, tofu, seeds, nuts and legumes
fishes and the fifth aspect is cereals or grains [6]. While discussing these food types and their
usage in the Australian diet, their usage and consumption in average Australian diet should be
assessed. As per the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2019), the average Australian did not
consume complete diet in their regular meals and in their diet, lack of one of these sources is
observed [7]. Hence, it is recommended that they consume food products which are as per the
national food and diet guidelines. While explaining the rate of disparity that an average
Australian consumes in their diet, the Australian bureau of statistics mentions that they consume
only 2.7 serving of vegetables, and less than 4% of the entire Australian population consumes
recommended dosage of vegetables in their life time [8]. In 2 to 18 years of age, the rate of
population that eats recommended dosage of vegetable in less than 1%. Hence, non-compliance
to the recommended dosage is observed. The second aspect is the fruit group in which an
average Australian should consume at least 1.5 serving of fruits every day, whereas only 0.5% of

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the population reaches that recommended dosage. Therefore, from this aspects, it is estimated
that more than two third of the Australian population are unable to eat their recommended
dosage so that sustainable diet could be provided to the patients. Similar conditions could be
observed for other three categories as from the recommended dosage of 1.5 serves of milk,
yoghurt, cheese and alternatives per day, only 10% of Australian are able to reach to the
recommended dosage. Whereas, within millions of Australian population, only 14% of
Australians consumes Lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds, and
legumes/beans in its recommended dosage which is 1.7 serving per day. Final aspect includes
Grain and within the recommended dosage of 4.5 servings, 30% of Australian individuals are
able to consume the recommended dosage. Hence, these detailed statistical analysis critical
identified all the five food groups that are associated with the Australian diet and nutritional
groups. However, these identified that majority of the population were unable to consume their
recommended dosage every day and hence, it affected their growth and development [7].
Australian food groups that claim to make optimal balance between the animal based or
plant based foods, also divides these aspects effectively so that while consuming food a balance
between plant based and animal based food could be maintained. The Australian diet
recommends more than 8.7 servings in every average meal for an adult Australian however only
3.2 serving has been recommended by the Australia government for consumption in every meal
[7]. Therefore, it indicates that the government focused upon the plant based diet so that
sustainability and ecological balance could be maintained. Similarly, the government has
developed aspects for discretionary food item so that people could consume food products that
do not provide any health and sustainability in limited amount [7].
The causes of gap between current diet and the recommended healthy and sustainable

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While discussing the gap between the recommended dietary dose and the actual dietary
habit of common Australian, the data provided in the previous section should be reestablished as
it provided a details of the aspects due to which people are reluctant to their recommended
dosage mentioned in the Australian government’s guidelines. As per [8], sustainability and
environmental balance has become one of the critical aspects in the food and marketing
department nowadays however there is a difference in the thought process of policy makers,
nutritionists, industrialists and common people due to which they are unable to divide the food
products in recommended dosage [9]. This is the reason, consumers are unable to provide
effective dosage to the consumers that trust their products and consume it for their daily
recommended dosage. Another critical reason for the development and persistence of this gap is
the reason due to which people are unable to consume food as their recommended dosage
because the government has developed these guidelines and policies after being influenced from
the nutrition science, public health and policy priorities [4]. This is one of the dynamic process
that the government has followed so that public health associated guidelines could be followed
effectively. However, the government completely ignored the fact that there is very less
reference standard that has been used for the development of these recommended dosage and this
should be reviewed effectively so that with meeting the public health nutritional requirements,
these data also includes reference standards for an average Australian individual [1]. Hence,
there is a requirement of developing new dietary guideline so that people could be provided with
effective dosage and in this process the Australian government should employ nutritional science
knowledge for accurate and adequate results. This will help the Australian food and health
department to think effectively for the new ways of finding the relationship between food and
health and they would be able to get effective results for their growth and development. Another

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primary reason due to which the recommended dose and the actual consumption differ is the
parameters depending upon which the food and dietary contents are determined [9]. As per [2],
the government should focus upon aspects that are also important for the development of
effective food and dietary guidelines such as storage, food production, transportation, packaging,
processing and marketing. Further, the government should also focus upon aspects such as
maintenance and representation of food products which are important for the growth and
development of the healthy generation [2]. Therefore, these are the reasons that were identified
form the actual food consumption and the recommended dietary consumption provided by the
Australian food and nutritional departments for the effective measurement of the health and
nutritional status of Australian individuals. Further, the next section would discuss about the
aspects that should be used to close the gaps that effect the development of these aspects [6].
Formulate a national food policy containing a coherent set of policy actions to promote
healthy and sustainable food systems
While understanding the type of food policy that would be effective for the growth and
development of the food and dietary aspects, the definition of the food policy should be
discussed. As per [4] food policy has become one of the primary aspects depending upon which
they develop agriculture to trade to health related aspects. In this aspect, it should be mentioned
that food policies are guidelines and set of policies that is associated with people and their health
aspects [3]. These policies directly impacts the health of people and thorugh its application in
agriculture and food supply chain, and hence, through the application of these policies, it is
possible to develop food and dietary aspects, conduct food promotion, maintain nutritional health
and develop dietary behavior in the people [2]. As per researchers, food policy and policy
making are the pillars that determine government’s roles and responsibilities for the growth and

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development of guidelines so that people could be provided with healthy and recommended
dosage. Hence, while discussing the food policies and its aspects, the governmental statement its
values, and interventional beliefs that help to shape the food related future of the communities
and hence, it is an important aspect that should be achieved, so that people could be provided
with effective health outcomes and nutritional abilities [5]. As per the Australian governmental
reports, there is no such food policy that has been developed for the Australian population. In
such cases, it should be mentioned that people are unable to understand that the recommended
dosage that has been implemented by the Australian government are provided by the Australian
government or not [6]. Further, the Commonwealth Department of Health’s ‘Healthy Food
Partnership’ and the National Nutrition Policy that has been developed are not proper policies
that should be provided for maintaining recommended dosage of the population of the average
Australians. Hence, in such condition, there are aspects that should be maintained so that the
food system related complication could be tackled and effective aspects related to sustainability
and health condition be maintained [4]. There are examples of food policies developed and
implemented by the countries around the world so that they could provide their population with
productive food and dietary guidelines. In the year 2016, the European Commission the
government has allowed the farmers to use glyphosate which is one of the effective herbicides so
that effective and large production of crops could be achieved. On the other hand, to meet the
iodine need of their population, Haiti becomes the 117th country that has mandated the use of
iodine fortified salts in the diet, so that the iodine associated complications could be avoided.
Another most important policy was implemented by the US Food and Drug Administration as it
provided and implemented guidance for industry of GFI 213 and mentioned that animals that are
used for food consumption, should not provided with antibiotics or any other medication that

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could affect the health and wellbeing of the consumer. Therefore, from these nationwide policies
developed for national food guidance provides an insight that these types of policies should be
implemented in the food system so that food system related causes in the policy problems could
be overcome [1].
While discussing the policies and its importance in the development of healthy and
sustainable development of abilities, people should be provided with the abilities so that they
could be provided with effective abilities and the risk and benefit of the policy actions. In this
aspect it should be mentioned that the benefits of developing food based policies for its national
and regional areas would help the populations that consume food as per the recommended
dosage. The benefit of the policy development would be developing abilities so that they could
regulate the products and aspects that are famous for providing less nutrition or harming their
healthy diet balance effectively [6]. Further, development and implementation of policies would
also help the population to understand the food product they are consuming is harmful or not and
they would be informed about the nutritional content of the food product. Therefore, the benefits
would be obtained for the growth and development of the policy makers so that they could use
the policy for determining aspects that would be beneficial for the consumers [7]. However, on
business and revenue generation front, the Australian government may face some drawbacks as
the companies that are associated with discretionary foods and beverages would be affected
drastically and their loss would reflect upon the revenues and business benefits collected by the
Australian government.
As per (), the concept of order of change has been developed by researchers so that they
could organize and arrange different aspects and ideologies of the population and then depending
upon the nature of the change, respond to the problems. In this scenario, it is observed that the

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Australian government lacks a full-fledged system developed for the growth of food and
nutritional policies and hence, the change would be associated with the development of aspects
so that they could develop a regional and national food policy for healthy and sustainable foods
[3]. The order of change has been mentioned in the tabular section below:
Criterion First order changes
(adjustment)
Second order changes
(reforming)
Third order changes
(transforming)
The way health and
sustainability diet
related policies would
be formed
Does not accepts the
problem instead blames
technological aspects
The government accepts
this as a problem and
understand the
importance of
implementation of
aspects
Accepts the problem
and implements change
that is required for the
growth and
development.
The process related to
change process
Preservation is the
process that would be
implemented
Power relationship
would be promoted to
authentic interactions so
that change could be
implemented
System awareness so
that people could
understand the
effectiveness of it
The stakeholders that
would participate
Regional population and
government
State-based population
and government
Australian population
and federal government
Arrangements
developed by the
government
Regional departments
would be required
All the state government
and departments would
be required
Integrated programs and
departments of national
government would be
required
Policy approach related
examples that would
Implementation of
technological aspects
Implementing strategies
to control it through the
Develop strategies for
the micro and macro

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bring change to the food
system
that would increase the
capacity of consumers
to understand about the
food.
implementation of
governmental strategies
level stakeholders so
that they could
contribute in these
aspects
Therefore, there are multiple people and organisations in Australia that need to take
charge as they are responsible for developing and bringing change in these aspects. As per (), the
Australian government need to understand that with the use of their politics and power, they
would be able to influence people for implementing policies and guidelines so that they health
and nutritional balanced could be restored [11]. However, to understand the person who is
responsible for this change or who would be able to lead these changes in the government, the
government should understand the aspects that are important for the growth and development of
the organizational aspects. Therefore, this discussion provided a detail of the aspects that could
lead to policy related changes in the food system of Australia [2].

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References
1. Food and Agriculture Organization (2012). Sustainable diets and biodiversity
directions and solutions for policy, research and action. Rome, FAO,
http://www.fao.org/docrep/016/i3004e/i3004e00.htm
2. Ftaaus.com.au. NATIONAL FOOD PLAN [Internet]. Ftaaus.com.au. 2019 [cited 25
August 2019]. Available from:
http://www.ftaaus.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/JUNE-national-food-plan-
white-paper1.pdf
3. Nhmrc.gov.au. Australian Dietary Guidelines [Internet]. Nhmrc.gov.au. 2019 [cited
25 August 2019]. Available from:
https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/australian-dietary-guidelines
4. Australian Bureau of Statistics, 4364.0.55.012 - Australian Health Survey:
Consumption of Food Groups from the Australian Dietary Guidelines, 2011-12,
https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/4364.0.55.012~201
112~Main%20Features~Key%20Findings~1
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of the evidence of the effectiveness of interventions aimed at shifting diets in more
sustainable and healthy directions. Food Climate Research Network, Uni of Oxford.
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Food System. 2015, Committee on a Framework for Assessing the Health,
Environmental, and Social Effects of the Food System; Food and Nutrition Board;

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Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources; Institute of Medicine; National
Research Council.
8. Caron, P., et al., Food systems for sustainable development: proposals for a profound
four-part transformation. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 2018. 38(4)
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10. Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition, Food systems and diets:
Facing the challenges of the 21st century. 2016: London, UK.
11. UN Committee on World Food Security, High Level Panel of Experts on Food
Security and Nutrition (CFS-HLPE), Nutrition and Food Systems. 2016.