Allegations that “as much as half” of UN food aid for Somalia was diverted to militias, local power brokers and even UN staff based in Somalia, were detailed in a recent UN Security Council report. The New York Times, which initially presented details of the report last week, has reported today that some of the […]
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault was created two years ago as a repository of the Earth’s seed supply, to “safeguard against wars or natural disasters wiping out food crops around the globe.” On Thursday, the vault crossed a major threshold with the addition of the 500,000th seed, coming close to ensuring that the planet’s existing […]
To commemorate International Women’s Day yesterday, Isatou Jallow, chief of the World Food Program’s Gender Unit, gave an interview discussing the role of women in global agriculture and the combating of hunger. Her interview addresses the key role that women play in agricultural labor and food security for the household. She also discusses the risks […]
There is growing concern that the foundering condition of soil in China could facilitate a food crisis in the world’s most populated country. As millions of Chinese farmers migrate toward cities from rural countrysides, the influx of people into urban areas creates a greater demand for meat, grain, and dairy products. But China’s soil is […]
A national food security assessment completed in December 2009 in Niger showed approximately 7.8 million people, totaling three-fifths of the country’s population, face moderate to severe food insecurity, say UN officials. Specifically, 2.7 million Niger citizens suffer from severe food insecurity and 5.1 million suffer moderate food insecurity. An irregular and shortened rainy season last […]
In the January/February 2010 edition of Foreign Affairs, Carlisle Ford Runge and Carlisle Piehl Runge wrote an article titled “Against the Grain, “ which questions if the current global balance between food prices (high) and food supply (low) invites a return of the theories of Thomas Malthus, who posited that overwhelming human population growth would be held back by a decreasing availability of food. […]
On Friday, Haiti marked the one month anniversary of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake which had left the most impoverished nation in the Western Hemisphere in the dire situation of providing food and shelter to nearly 1 million displaced survivors. Following recent outbreaks of violence by Haitians seeking food aid and supplies, feelings of desperation among […]
Many food aid organizations are offering unique ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day, while providing contributors with special opportunities to fight against global hunger. Action Against Hunger has a selection of e-cards that you can send to a loved one, while making a donation in their name to fight against child malnourishment. The World Food Programme’s (WFP) website is offering […]
Sustainable Harvest International invited educators to apply for their Educator Workshops in Central America to help engage in dialogue about community-based service-learning involving concepts of sustainability, organic agriculture and environmental restoration. FPA added this opportunity to the Professional Development Resources for Educators found in the “In the Classroom” section of the FPA.org website. Visit their […]
Feeding America (fromerly known as America’s Second Harvest) is developing a “Child Hunger Corps,” setting up positions for corps members to be responsible for developing the capacity and capability of food banks in selected U.S. cities, to execute program models targeted toward the alleviation of child hunger. Each corps member would serve for two years, […]
The challenge of delivering food to Haitians recovering from the January 12th earthquake has taken a new dimension. More food aid and locally grown food is available, but devising an effective system to distribute food remains a challenge. Currently, over 20 aid agencies, as well as the Haitian government are competing to mobilize distribution efforts […]
Qatar Tribune reported a top-level Qatar National Food Security Programme (QNFSP) delegation, led by QNFSP chairman Fahd al Attiyah, will visit agricultural research institutes and meet senior U.S. government officials from the White House, the State Department, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy during its week-long U.S. program. Qatar is keen on […]
Once a net exporter of grain products, Zimbabwe’s fortunes have reversed over the past decade, becoming a steady seeker of food aid and increasingly relying on international food aid. Approximately half of the nation’s 12 million people are in need of aid, as crop failures and barren fields resulted in the all-time high number being […]
A week after a 7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti, international aid efforts are the subject of global appeals from governments, relief organizations, journalists, entertainers and more. Experienced relief organizations like the American Red Cross have benefited the most from campaigns to raise funds, and are starting to mobilize more effectively to help Haitians survive. Relief for […]
A disastrous harvest in 2009 rendered the North Korean government and officials to make a recent response regarding the South Korean offer of 10,000 tons of food aid to feed the burgeoning hungry. A resounding “yes” in acceptance to this amount in aid, seen as somewhat historical, as the last several years had brought a […]