Climate Change and Food Safety: Unveiling the Hidden Threats to Global Food Security
icare Sustainably International
Icare sustainably international is a nonprofit organization working in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and Asia.
Introduction
Food and nutrition security is under risk because of climate change, which has also resulted in a decline in biodiversity, disruptions to food supplies, and volatility in food prices (Ogundari and Onyeaghala, 2021). These effects have an impact on the amount and quality of food consumed (Pickson and Boateng, 2021). Between 720 and 811 million people, mostly in Asia and Africa, were hungry in 2020. While there has been much research on how climate change affects food production and availability, less is known about how it affects food safety (Ogundari and Onyeaghala, 2021). The handling, preparing, and storing of food in order to prevent foodborne illness is described by the scientific approach or discipline of food safety.
Do you remember what was discussed in our previous article? Here is the link for you to go back on memory lane.?https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/icare-sustainably-international_climatechange-foodsecurity-agriculture-activity-7227061850734006272-WavS?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
In a nutshell our food and water is being greatly impacted…Their quality and quantity is being challenged. Food and water security has to be a top priority as food and water is a necessity; which means the issues weakening or destabilizing the security of our food and water system has to be acknowledged and mitigated with urgency, unity, creativity and caution (Pickson and Boateng, 2021).
A complex phenomenon, climate change refers to long-term changes in weather patterns and temperature. The alterations could result from human activity or natural processes.?
One of the top contributors challenging our food and water security is climate change. How has climate change evolved? Humans are its main creators.?
A pressing question- Why are we hurting ourselves? Why are we ok with hurting others and our world, which we need?
Human activities, including the combustion of fossil fuels, fast industrialization, the development of modern transportation systems, and vast food supply networks, have been primarily responsible for these changes since the 1800s. The first report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 1990 emphasized the urgency of containing climate change, which was quickly becoming the biggest issue of the twenty-first century (Coulibaly, Islam and Managi, 2020).?
Photo by Kevin Oetiker on Unsplash
The lower atmosphere layers now include higher concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) due to human activity, including carbon dioxide, methane, hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), nitrous oxide, and ozone.?The greenhouse effect, or higher global temperatures than would otherwise be the case, is caused by these gases absorbing solar radiation (Pickson and Boateng, 2021). The main source of greenhouse gases (GHGs) is carbon dioxide (79.4%), which is followed by methane (11.5%), nitrous oxide (6.2%), and chlorofluorocarbons (4.0%).?
Is it possible to reduce the gases triggering global warming??
Reducing global warming to 1.5°C over preindustrial levels is the difficult task. How and why will be discussed in another article.
The food chain, or life on land and in water, has been impacted by GHGs in a number of ways.?
Let’s see how climate change affects our food…
There are several ways that climate change affects food safety. A number of bacteria linked to foodborne illnesses are more likely to occur, remain, and become virulent when temperatures rise and precipitation levels rise. It also encourages the growth of weeds and plant pests. Food safety is put at risk as a result of the rise in the use of dangerous chemicals like pesticides (Pickson and Boateng, 2021). Climate change also affects parasites linked to diseases in animals. Extreme weather and more precipitation can cause a number of problems for cattle, including less feed, overcrowding in animal housing, a rise in heat-related illnesses, and a rise in the usage of medications, especially antibiotics, which can cause resistance in consumers (Ogundari and Onyeaghala, 2021). Flooding contaminates soil and water with heavy metals and germs from effluent. There is a correlation between increased salinity, hypoxia, and ocean warming and fish absorption of heavy metals. A greater risk to human health arises from the bioaccumulation of heavy metals higher up the food chain. Here is a discussion of the different ways that food safety, adaptation, and mitigation are impacted by climate change which have been impacted by human behavior (Nhemachena et al., 2020).
Human behavior has impacted food safety and water scarcity!?
Why was this allowed, why is this continuing? Can it be done better? It starts with you and being aware of how you contribute to climate change and how you can do better. In another article we will discuss how our government, institutions, organizations and companies can contribute to preserving our world.
Food safety is indirectly threatened by climate change. There is a high risk of foodborne illness and affects millions of people's access to wholesome food globally. Extended periods of warmth have an impact on consumer behavior and food-related habits (Nhemachena et al., 2020). Extended periods of milder weather have an impact on food handling and storage techniques, consumer behavior, and the risk of human exposure to foodborne diseases (Coulibaly, Islam and Managi, 2020). Summertime grilling and picnics can provide challenges for cross-contamination of cooked and raw foods and temperature-safe food storage. Environmental stressors are associated with a rise in food safety infractions as a result of fewer food safety inspections (Pickson and Boateng, 2021).?
Water scarcity can compromise food processing facilities' sanitary practices, food handlers' hand hygiene, and equipment cleaning, all of which can impact the spread of foodborne pathogens like Listeria monocytogenes. Farmers may be forced by a scarcity of water to irrigate their crops with surface water tainted with bacteria that can lead to foodborne illnesses (Ogundari and Onyeaghala, 2021). The entire food cold chain is impacted by an increase in ambient temperature, from the initial freezing or refrigeration of food to its transportation, storage, and retail presentation. There is a greater chance that people will eat unfit food as outside temperatures rise and as food storage temperatures rise.?
Are you ok with this? Unfit food leads to health issues. Think about how having health issues can impact your progress in life. How will it affect the people who work for you or with you, study with you, work, and go through life trying to survive, thrive and contribute to society. A better society, a fit society can only happen when we have people who are fit to contribute. Everyone’s actions affect our world, we will be impacted eventually (Ogundari and Onyeaghala, 2021).
SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production), and SDG 13 (reduced inequalities) (climate change) are among the targets that are at risk from food contamination. How? We will discuss this in another article.
Prompt action is needed to promote the health of people and the world by adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change.
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The world's population is expected to reach 9.3 billion people by 2050, meaning that food production would need to expand by 50–60% in order to feed everyone. (FAO) Due to the increased prevalence of parasites brought on by climate change, agriculture must become more intensive by using more fertilizers and pesticides in order to prevent food loss (Pickson and Boateng, 2021). Over the past 45 years, synthetic nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers have been used nine times and three times, respectively, in agricultural output; the use of these fertilizers is expected to rise by 40–50% during the next 40 years (Coulibaly, Islam and Managi, 2020).
In the next article we will discuss how the rise in the use of fertilizers can impact our food and water.
The dangerous pathway leading to more challenges.
You see how many topics we have to discuss to help you understand the impact of climate change on food and water security? It is a complex issue to tackle but not impossible to mitigate; encouraging and practicing innovation, determination and unity are key…
Puzzle Time
Clues:
Clue: The process of maintaining or restoring the balance of natural resources to ensure long-term environmental health.
Answer: ________
Clue: A term used for a rise in global temperatures caused by greenhouse gases.
Answer: ________
Write the answer on the comment section.
Answer to the previous puzzle time found here https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/icare-sustainably-international_climatechange-foodsecurity-agriculture-activity-7227061850734006272-WavS?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
The word: GREEN HOUSE
About the Author
Mr. Riyadh Mohammed is a Lead Consultant at Tropical Agriculture Consultancy Services- RKTAP Ltd.
- Co Owner of Exotic Pets Plus Veterinary Clinic (EPP)
- ISO TC 323 Committee Consultant- Circular Economy
- National Agriculture Advisor for Couva Tabaquite Talparo Regional Corporation (CTTRC)
- Founder and President of Real Agriculture TT Farmers Group (RA)
- Agriculture Lecturer of Three R’s Learning Center (UMASS)
- Agriculture Lecturer in the Tobago Hospitality & Tourism Institute (THTI)
#foodsecurity #Fao #climatechange #Worldfoodprogram #Wikifarmer.
Freelance Primary School Teacher
6 个月Informative!