Ending Hunger:“Glocal” Solutions Chris Barrett Ithaca Hunger Banquet April 17, 2008

And micronutrient undernutrition remains even more widespread (  2 billion) Hunger remains widespread and growing or stagnant in most of the developing world Source: FAO 2007

10.4% of adults and 17.2% of children in the US are regularly hungry. Worse among black (21.8%) and Hispanic (19.5%) households. In New York state, 10.4% of households are food insecure, 3.1% of them severely. But less than half the eligible working poor participate in the food stamp program and WIC funding remains scarce Mild chronic hunger is widespread in the US and other high-income countries, too Sources: data from USDA, 2006, photo from Bread for the World

More than 30% of school children in this county receive free or reduced-price meals. Nearly 9% of residents are officially food insecure. And the figures are worse now as food and gas prices rise and good jobs grow are ever-harder to find. Even in well-to-do Tompkins County, mild chronic hunger is widespread … Source: Ithaca Journal, 2007

Poverty and hunger: Tragically reinforcing feedback Poverty causes hunger: Low incomes and high and/or volatile food prices lead to hunger. But hunger also causes poverty: Hunger leads to low birth weight, delayed child cognitive and physical development, adult energy and attention deficits, increased likelihood of illness or injury, etc. … all causally associated with low productivity and income.

The window for addressing hunger and undernutrition is relatively narrow: Pre-pregnancy to ~24 months Source: World Bank 2007 and Shrimpton et al After months, most cognitive, immune system and stature effects are permanent

So what do we do? Global + local (“Glocal”) Solutions - Better technologies: animal and plant production and processing, food safety, energy, etc., especially for poor farmers around the world. - Create new businesses offering good jobs at living wages for those without the education, skills and capital to compete in a skill-based, global economy.

Global + local (“Glocal”) Solutions - Community-based cooperative management of resources, marketing, etc. … take control of and solve own problems locally. - Timely and appropriate global and local support in times of emergencies: global food aid but also local food pantries and soup kitchens.

Hunger remains a major challenge, locally and globally. But progress has been remarkable. Hope is warranted. Action is necessary. Get involved where/as seems right for you: - work at a soup kitchen - donate to a food pantry - help with agricultural research - write your elected representatives. … Just use your imagination and your skills!

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead