Summary
Progress continues in the fight against hunger, yet many people still lack the food they need for an active and healthy life. About 795 million people worldwide still go to bed hungry every night, and even more live in poverty. Poverty is the major driver of food insecurity. Improvements in agricultural productivity are necessary to increase rural household incomes and access to available food but are insufficient to ensure food security. Food security is essentially built on four pillars: availability, access, utilization, and stability. Women are crucial in translating the products of a vibrant agriculture sector into food and nutritional security for their households. They are often the farmers who cultivate food crops and produce commercial crops alongside the men in their households as a source of income. Over the past 20 years, a global obesity epidemic has emerged. Due to established health implications and rapid increase in prevalence, obesity is now a recognized major global health challenge, and no national success stories in curbing its growth have so far been reported. Genetic engineering is the method scientists use to introduce new traits or characteristics to an organism. Advocates say that applying genetic engineering in agriculture has benefited farmers, producers, and consumers. Critics advise that the risks of introducing a GMO into each new ecosystem must be examined on a case-by-case basis, alongside appropriate risk management measures.
References:
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Chapter Attributions:
Essentials of Environmental Science by Kamala Doršner is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Modified from the original by Matthew R. Fisher. “Review Questions” is licensed under CC BY 4.0 by Matthew R. Fisher.
The History of Genetic Modification of Crops and Are GE Crops the Solution We Need? by Matthew R. Fisher are licensed under CC BY 4.0.
“Genetically Modified Foods and Social Concerns” by Behrokh Mohajer Maghari and Ali M. Ardekani is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0. Modified from the original by Matthew R. Fisher.