Food Security, New Updates, International Opportunities, and More

Beyond the Dinner Table: How Food Security Shapes Our World

Consider what keeps a country safe. You might think of a powerful military, robust cybersecurity, or strong counter-terrorism measures. While these are all crucial aspects, a country’s stability isn't solely about warding off external threats. The assurance that every citizen has access to sufficient, quality food is equally important. This relationship between national security and food security is often overlooked. However, as we witness our security infrastructure grapple with the impacts of wars and climate change, we must broaden our perspective.

Food security, or the ability to access good and affordable food all the time, is a critical factor in maintaining a country's stability. Here's why:

When food security is threatened, it can give rise to issues such as protests, migration, and even violent conflicts. Remember the Arab Spring? High food prices triggered social unrest and protests. Conflict and food security are intertwined in a two-way relationship. On the one hand, conflict can disrupt farming and access to food, leading to food insecurity. On the other hand, hunger can worsen tensions and instigate conflict.

And let’s not forget about climate change. Climate change and shifts in weather patterns can severely impact farming, which in turn affects our food supply and its cost. Let's consider the example of a farmer who grows corn and relies on a certain pattern of rainfall throughout the year. Insufficient rain could cause the crops to dry out, while excessive rain could drown them. Now, with climate change altering weather patterns, imagine if there's too much rain during the planting season. The excess water could drown the young corn plants before they have a chance to grow, reducing the farmer's harvest.

Now, let's take this scenario to a larger scale. Imagine this happening to many farmers across the world. The global supply of corn decreases because of these weather changes. However, the global demand for corn remains unchanged as it is a staple food for many. With the supply dwindling and demand remaining constant, the price of corn inevitably shoots up. This surge in price could prove problematic, especially for communities whose livelihoods heavily rely on corn. But it doesn't end there. As corn becomes a scarce and overpriced commodity, the issue starts to take a political turn, potentially inciting social unrest and causing chaos in nations worldwide. This disruption in agricultural patterns, driven by climate change, can ripple out, causing far-reaching socio-political consequences.

Experts predict that climate change could cause global crop yields to drop by up to 2% every decade. This means we'll have less and less food each decade. But our population is growing, so we'll actually need 14% more food each decade until 2050.

How do we fill this gap? This is a big challenge that we need to address.

Countries around the world are realizing this urgency and taking action. The U.S., for instance, is working on protecting its food supply with a new initiative. And in Australia, officials are looking at how war, rising costs, biosecurity threats, and climate change could impact food security.

So, why does all this matter? Because food security is a huge deal. It's not just about having enough to eat; it's about keeping our countries stable. How can we navigate these challenges? What progress have we made? How will climate change and other global trends tip the scales? What solutions do we have? How can we keep up with the falling supply and rising demand for food? These are big questions, and over the next few weeks, we'll be diving in to give you some answers. Stay tuned!

Why is this relevant?

We're working on something to help you understand the nuances of food security and global food systems. Keep a close eye on our weekly newsletters and announcements for more topics and developments - and by all means - just hit reply and let us know if you have any ideas or want to contribute!

ICYMI: Our Latest Podcast

Climate-Induced Relocation and Security Issues

In this episode of the Crisis Lab Podcast, host Kyle King and climate adaptation and resilience expert, Patrick Marchman, discuss climate-induced relocation, its impacts, and the diverse reactions from governments and communities.

Patrick Marchman, head of KM Sustainability, brings extensive experience in climate adaptation. He has contributed to both public and private sectors by aiding in climate risk assessments and adaptation planning. His portfolio includes international development and climate-induced relocation initiatives. Join us as we explore the complexities of climate relocation and security preparedness.

Listen on the platform of your choice, from Spotify, Apple Podcasts, to YouTube.

New Course Released!

EU vs NATO: Comparing Resilience in Civil Preparedness

Crisis Lab's latest course, 'EU vs NATO: Comparing Resilience in Civil Preparedness', dives into the individual and collective abilities of nations to prepare for, resist, respond to, and recover from disruptions. The course provides a detailed understanding of the EU and NATO's resilience strategies, similarities, differences, and potential for synergy. Upon completion of the course, you will have a far better understanding of how the EU and NATO understand and promote resilience, their role in creating resilient communities, and how effective their strategies are in tackling various challenges.

Find out more about the course here.

What other courses are available?

If you're interested in expanding your knowledge on various topics while also receiving credit for your time and effort, explore the rest of the Crisis Lab course catalogue. With topics ranging from systems thinking to climate migration, there's something for everyone:

• Climate-Induced Relocation and Security Issues: Learn about climate induced relocation and migration, and the impact on security and preparedness with Mr. Patrick Marchman.
• Systems Thinking in Emergency Management: Discover the interconnectedness of systems in emergency management and explore systems thinking with Mr. C.J. Unis.
• Strategic Crisis Leadership: Understand the difference between leadership and crisis leadership, and learn how to strategically navigate through a crisis with Mr. Robert Fagan.
• Resilience to Resistance: Lessons from Ukraine: Explore resilience in adversity, and the resilience to resistance nexus with international expert Mr. Vitālijs Rakstiņš.
• Consequence Management: Learn how to analyze the consequences, set priorities, and manage the consequences of emergencies and disasters with Mr. Aaron Marks.
• EU vs NATO: Comparing Resilience in Civil Preparedness: Compare distinct approaches and international perspectives on resilience with Dr. Rade Rajkovchevski.
• The International Career Course: Have you been curious about international careers? The dream of working and traveling abroad? Learn how to find, start, and manage your international career with Crisis Lab Founder, Kyle King.

New Course Releases Coming in June:

• Harvesting Resilience: A Course on Global Food Security: Explore the complex and evolving landscape of global food systems with Prof. William Chen.
• Principles in Action: Ethical Decision-Making in Disasters: Investigate the ethical aspects of crisis and disaster risk management with Dr. Roman Tandlich.
• Plus, 10 more courses will be announced soon.

Featured Reads

• Food security and national security: neither can be taken for granted: This article discusses Australia's food security vulnerabilities highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic and recent flooding. It emphasizes the need for a national food plan to address production, distribution, supply chain resilience, and nutrition. The article calls for integrating food security into national security strategies to prevent instability and enhance Australia's statecraft.
• Despite Bumper Grain Harvest, China Faces Challenge of Food Security: Despite a record-high grain output, China faces food security challenges due to heavy reliance on imports from countries like the U.S., Canada, and Australia. The article highlights concerns about potential geopolitical risks affecting food imports and the need for China to diversify its food sources to ensure national security.
• Opinion: Looming National Security Risk Threatens American Agriculture: Former Senator Pat Roberts discusses how foreign adversaries are using litigation to disrupt the American agriculture industry, posing a threat to national security. The article calls for greater transparency in federal courts to prevent foreign entities from manipulating the judicial system to harm U.S. food production and supply chains.
• Healthy soil is a national security issue, Blinken says at World Economic Forum conference: Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the importance of healthy soil for national security at the World Economic Forum. He discussed how poor soil quality can lead to crop failures, food shortages, and increased competition for resources, which can destabilize communities and fuel migration. Blinken highlighted U.S. initiatives to improve soil health and agricultural resilience.
• Climate Action Can Help Fight Hunger, Avoid Conflicts, Official Tells UN: This article covers a UN discussion on the interlinkages between climate change, food insecurity, and conflict. It emphasizes the need for coordinated international responses to address these challenges. The article highlights the importance of integrating climate and food security into conflict prevention strategies and supporting climate-resilient agricultural practices.

Looking for a career change? Check out these new openings…

• Job title: Program Manager -Strengthening Civic Engagement Activity Location: Kazakhstan Closing Date: June 2, 2024
• Job title: Civic Space Researcher Location: Home basede Closing Date: June 6, 2024
• Job title: Emergency Grants and Reporting Specialist Location: DR Congo Closing Date: June 7, 2024
• Job title: Global Security Advisor Location: UK Closing Date: June 14, 2024
• Job title: Safety & Security Manager - Israel/Palestine Location: Israel Closing Date: June 14, 2024
• Job title: Security Advisor Location: Italy Closing Date: June 17, 2024

One last thing before you go - Let’s stay connected.

You can follow us on Facebook, X, and Linkedin for regular updates. And make sure to subscribe to our channel on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube to hear global perspectives on pressing issues and exciting developments in the crisis and emergency management community.