What we put into our bodies fuel our actions and help us sustain more productive and healthy lives. Without nutrition, our health, education and economic development is put at great risk. Many of the more fortunate tend to forget how malnutrition affects everyday life and how serious its implications can be. Chronic hunger disables many children from attending school and prevents the intended effects of medical treatment. With greater food security countries will experience more stabilized economies and greater advantages in medicine.
In a world where there is more than enough food to feed the global population, severe hunger still plagues the lives of over 840 million people. As climate change continues to lead to extreme and unpredictable weather, farmers fall on difficult times. Women and children are hit the hardest when food security is low. The Lancet states that malnutrition is responsible for the deaths of 3.1 million children (ages 5 and under) every year.
With help from developed nations such as the United States, these hunger statistics can be significantly reduced. Passing the Global Food Security Act of 2013 (H.R. 2822) would be the first step in saving the lives of millions around the globe. This bill would ensure long term investment in agricultural development coming from the United States. Working with multiple agencies including other governments, private companies, and developing partners allows smallholder farmers access to new training, more advanced techniques, and necessary investments that strengthen local food markets.
Food security efforts focusing on smallholder farmers is a key concept in this legislation. These efforts will maximize opportunities to create a larger and more sustainable food production while increasing the farmers incomes. When local farmers are able to sufficiently sustain themselves and their families, they successfully move from deprivation to producing enough food for their communities, and their country as well.
With legislation like this enacted and enforced by a powerful country such as the US, millions around the world are lifted out of poverty and given the chance to live healthy and productive lives. The return on this action is not just a moral one, but a financial one as well. As more people move out of poverty and into more financially stable situations, national security strengthens, overpopulation declines, education flourishes and new global consumers emerge.
Be a force of change by contacting your local representatives and asking for their support in passing this bill, not only for the millions who go hungry each year but for a safer and more prosperous future for the American people.