Haktan Birsel
For millions of years, humans who relied on gathering food could successfully sustain their lives despite various difficulties. However, throughout human history, there have been numerous threats that could have potentially led to their elimination, such as earthquakes, epidemics, and wars. Today, a new and increasingly dangerous threat is emerging, which requires global cooperation to defeat it. This threat is undernourishment and unbalanced agriculture, which has resulted in many people worldwide being unable to access secure food sources.
The products that come from the soil are not enough due to the unconscious policies of the states. There are three problem areas. Firstly, many people lack sufficient education in agriculture. Secondly, there is a lack of political plans to utilize agricultural areas. Thirdly, regional and continental cooperation is insufficient. These adverse situations do not help to reduce undernourishment in the world. Therefore, working together with a new conscious approach is crucial. This new approach is called “Agricultural Intelligence.”
Today, humans are far from achieving practical cooperation. Generally, each state works independently with outdated measures, such as relying solely on farmers’ cultivation and national/international companies. States are attempting to provide food security to their citizens through these two methods. However, this approach needs more collaborative efforts, hindering the progress toward achieving a sustainable food system.
Generally speaking, it cannot be said that they can advance efficient and successful agricultural policies while considering population growth and relationships with neighboring countries. As a result, there are many adverse developments in various geographical areas.
The issue of food security needs to be examined in two parts. The first part concerns the transportation of food. For instance, grain and oil, essential for the world, have been disrupted due to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. This problem has had a negative impact on the entire world.
The second issue concerns food transportation. For instance, Middle Eastern countries have declared their intention to decrease crude oil production, increasing oil prices. As a result, transportation costs for all food items have risen. These examples clarify that agriculture involves many changes, such as cultivation, transportation, and sales pricing. Due to these changes, agriculture must be considered part of the international political economy.
Therefore, we must focus on international food cooperation and addressing the growing global population. This concept is known as “creating agricultural intelligence.” The future presents a challenge greater than the coronavirus pandemic – a global famine.
The Grim Reality of Famine: Lives Hanging in the Balance
The years of the pandemic have been incredibly difficult for the world. Although states are now attempting to return to better conditions, there are still significant problems with famine, undernourishment, and securing agricultural foods. Unfortunately, these food problems continue to increase across many states. When looking at the statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) regarding food and famine, it becomes clear that humanity is dangerously close to disaster.
Since 2019, famine has increased by 10%, and as of 2022, the number of undernourished individuals has reached 150 million. One billion people go hungry daily, and 2.309 million suffer from malnutrition.
In this context, the largest population resides in Asia compared to other continents (4.68 billion). According to statistical data, the number of people in Asia who cannot access food is 489 million (10%). Unfortunately, this proportion increases by 10% every year. The continent with the second-largest population is Africa (1.373 billion), where 795 million people suffer from hunger. The proportion of undernourishment is 52%. In contrast, Europe’s number of undernourished individuals is relatively small (89 million).
The first aspect of food security is agriculture. Since the world’s population is beyond our control, international cooperation and adequate agricultural work are essential. Without these, food security is endangered, and people who cannot access enough food to survive without falling into poverty are forced to leave their home territories. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, there are currently 103 million refugees worldwide, and this number is increasing by 10% every year. Today, one out of every 88 people is a refugee.
The increasing number of refugees highlights that many seek safety and prosperity rather than risking their lives in misery, illness, and hunger conditions. Therefore, we must acknowledge that the concept of “self-sufficiency” is not enough to ensure the safety and well-being of people. Instead, all nations must work together to improve the global balance of agricultural food production.
International Politic Economy and the Significance of food security
Due to the growing global population, there is an increasing demand for food. It is crucial to meet the world’s needs in this context, but the current global supply needs to be improved, resulting in an unbalanced food distribution globally. As a result, agriculture, nutrition, and food security have become paramount in the international political economy. Despite the world’s land being suitable for agriculture, statistics show that half of the world’s population will need adequate nutrition in the future. This topic has been discussed extensively, but a satisfactory solution has yet to be found. Unfortunately, many people are hungry, at risk of hunger, and cannot access secure nutrition. Furthermore, the world’s population continues to increase.
Unfortunately, there is a stark contrast between parts of the world living in abundance and those in poverty, especially regarding food. It’s important to remember that 88 people become refugees daily, searching for a better life. However, the current conditions in the world could be better. Numerous obstacles hinder the provision of secure food, which can be divided into two categories.
The first obstacle is the power struggle among states. Due to political, economic, ideological, and historical issues, cooperation on food and agriculture is challenging. For instance, Turkey is battling terrorism to guarantee peace and maintain diplomatic relationships with its neighbors. Unfortunately, despite its economic crisis, Greece is engaging in hostile diplomacy, making developing agricultural and seafood cooperation impossible. Additionally, two countries, Iraq and Syria, are still hosting terrorist groups in Turkey’s east, resulting in widespread malnutrition in these areas.
The ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia is causing complications in the grain supply. Similar issues are being seen in the geography of Central Asia and North Africa, resulting in half of the world’s population suffering from undernourishment.
The second problem is the lack of agricultural intelligence, which depends on international and neighborly cooperation. It involves using advanced technologies, data analysis, and information sharing to optimize and improve agriculture practices in different countries and regions worldwide.
Unfortunately, most states today have inadequate agricultural policies. For fertile agriculture, three things are needed: soil, water, and human labor. However, not all countries possess all three in abundance, making continental and global cooperation necessary.
So, what can be done? Firstly, neighboring states must start planning their collective agricultural policies, thinking about their soils, water, and human resources together. Federative agricultural intelligence can provide fertility and adequate food for humanity.
On the other hand, more than simply producing a food surplus is required. Many people still suffer from undernourishment and are forced to leave their homes to survive. Therefore, agricultural intelligence must be taken into full consideration, with plans made for every population in the world. While it may be challenging in the current political climate, it is not impossible. Working towards the goal of an abundance of food through the collaboration of agricultural intelligence is a path toward peace.
*The writer is Vice Rector at Onbeş Kasım Kıbrıs University, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
**The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views or position of The Diplomatic Insight. The organization neither endorses nor takes responsibility for the content of this article and its accuracy.
