As Americans worry about the upcoming Farm Bill, overseas, farmers from across the country are volunteering their time and expertise to help strengthen agricultural practices in the third world. Over the last few years, fears of global food insecurity have increased as the world population increases. As agricultural technology stagnates, in part because of declining research budgets, scientists and activists are afraid that current food production will be insufficient to feed the ever increasing population.
In addition to fears of hunger, many politicians have linked food insecurity with political insecurity. In the aftermath of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, some experts linked the instability that toppled the Egyptian regime to food insecurity that plagued the country. Former President Bill Clinton has predicted that global hunger will destabilize global political frameworks, leading to revolution and possible military conflicts.
Responses to these ongoing fears have been widespread and have included the creation of government agencies dedicated to eliminating food insecurity. One such group is the U.S. Agency for International Development, which has financed trips by American farmers overseas to help improve agricultural practices. Farmers embed themselves within local towns and villages, living within these communities and imparting their agricultural knowledge.
Other organizations include, surprisingly enough, the U.S. Military. The Arkansas National Guard, for example, has assembled an Agricultural Development Team, which works with local farmers in Afghanistan to improve agricultural education and practices.
While the scope of these organizations is limited and needs to be coupled with a wide-scale reimagining of the international agricultural industry, they represent a crucial step in challenging food insecurity and guaranteeing a sustainable global future.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer