Gathering for a Common Cause
Thank you, Sara, and my gratitude extends to ODI Global, Action Against Hunger, and Shabaka for facilitating this important gathering.
I also want to congratulate everyone involved in the launch of the two significant reports this evening.
The question posed regarding our response to the impending hunger crisis is both timely and critical. Currently, the signs are unmistakable.
Global Food Insecurity at Alarming Levels
Emergency levels of food insecurity are alarmingly prevalent in numerous hotspots around the world, including Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen. The ongoing conflicts surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea are exacerbating the costs associated with the transportation of fuel and fertiliser globally.
Many governments find themselves grappling with substantial debt, severely limiting their capacity to respond effectively. The humanitarian system, including the World Food Programme (WFP), is under immense strain.
Additionally, the emergence of a “super” El Niño is on the horizon, threatening harvests from the Horn of Africa and across the continent, further compounding the pressures on already vulnerable nations and economies. The warning signs are glaring.
This is not merely a situation of severe risks; we are also witnessing a convergence of compounding pressures, the effects of which will manifest in various ways worldwide in the coming months.
Understanding Hunger as a Political Issue
These are not isolated risks, especially as the impacts of climate change and ecological stresses escalate, alongside the persistence of geopolitical tensions and conflicts. Such recurring pressures necessitate a fundamental shift in our approach to preparedness, prevention, and resilience.
This issue is one that occupies my thoughts at night, revealing the shortcomings of global policymakers in addressing the crisis effectively.
Food insecurity is frequently viewed solely as a humanitarian dilemma or, at best, a developmental challenge. However, I contend that hunger fundamentally revolves around power dynamics and, like all matters of power, is inherently political.
Food prices influence living standards universally, shaping public trust in systems designed to serve them and impacting the stability of governments, both in Europe and across Africa and the Global South.
Food Security as a Shared Responsibility
Thus, this is not only a concern for me as the Development Minister; it is a matter that requires the attention of every minister in this new Government, now marking its 100th day in office.
From the outset, we have been exploring how power can be distributed more equitably and how the systems intended to provide for and protect people can be made to function for all.
This political comprehension of power will be central to this Labour Government’s strategy. There is no aspect of this more urgent than the discussion around food – the very essence of life.
This evening, I wish to address three key points:
Firstly, we must conceptualise food as an integral part of our broader understanding of security. Secondly, we cannot fully grasp this without acknowledging the extent of inequality and power dynamics that influence food and hunger, both within and between nations. Finally, I will outline the actions this government is undertaking in light of the looming global food insecurity risks, and what we collectively need to pursue for immediate and long-term resilience.
Interconnectedness of Security Issues
Some of you may recall my recent speech at SOAS, hosted by the New Economics Foundation, where I outlined five securities that will guide my work as Development Minister: health security, climate security, human security, economic security, and food security.
Let us commence with food security. I previously stated that these five securities are interconnected, a notion that should resonate with everyone present.
Food security is intrinsically linked to climate security; the weather is a significant variable influencing global food supply. It is also tied to health security, as malnutrition contributes to a significant proportion of health issues and is one of the leading causes of mortality among young children.
Moreover, it relates to economic security; rising food prices are often the first and most acute concern for many, leading to increased debt, migration, and civil unrest. Lastly, it pertains to human security, as hunger lies at the core of humanitarian needs, acting as both a cause and consequence of conflict, and sadly, often a deliberate tactic of war.
Recognising Shared Risks and Opportunities
As I mentioned at SOAS, I view these issues through a security lens, compelling us to consider risks that transcend borders and the shared interests we hold. This perspective is crucial when examining food.
Many of you discuss food systems precisely because you recognise the interconnectedness between a harvest in East Africa, a shipping lane in the Gulf, and a supermarket shelf in the UK. If we share a system, we also share its risks.
We rely on the same harvests, ecosystems, and fertiliser supply chains; we must collectively protect our soils and rivers while engaging in a shared global trading system. No nation is insulated, including our own.
When disruptions occur, such as the closure of the Black Sea or disturbances in the Strait of Hormuz, families in Khartoum and my constituency of Midlothian will both feel the impact. Although their experiences may differ in intensity and form, they are nonetheless affected by the same economic forces because we are interconnected.
Building Resilience Through Preparedness
If we share a system, we also share its opportunities. The growth of agricultural trade has enhanced our collective ability to withstand shocks. Open and predictable markets facilitate the movement of food from areas of surplus to those in need, ensuring shelves remain stocked and prices stabilised.
In recent discussions, there has been a pronounced focus on how we can all contribute to increasing national resilience through preparation. Prevention must accompany preparedness, as highlighted in the UK’s Nature Security Assessment.
The assessment concluded that our national resilience is heavily reliant on natural systems beyond our borders. Forests, soils, freshwater systems, and oceans play pivotal roles in regulating rainfall, water availability, and agricultural conditions across the globe.
For instance, a decline in the Congo Basin rainforest directly affects food production across the Sahel. When these systems are under threat, we face dwindling harvests, intensified competition for food and resources, and rising prices.
Thus, safeguarding and restoring these critical natural systems is not merely an option; it is a fundamental aspect of ensuring our food security and national resilience.
Mobilising Collective Action
This is why I stand before you this evening. The community assembled here has made commendable efforts over decades to mobilise awareness about hunger as a developmental challenge.
Understanding the strength of your research, advocacy, and communication, I invite you to join me in reshaping global perceptions regarding food security.
The world currently produces an adequate supply of food. Yet, supply remains a pressing concern, particularly in many African regions where yields are diminishing due to climate crises, soil degradation, and dwindling water resources.
Ensuring that global food production becomes more sustainable and adaptable in the face of climate change and other pressures will be one of the defining challenges of our generation—an area where the UK is already making strides through investments in science and agri-tech.
The Inequality at the Heart of Hunger
However, hunger transcends supply issues. It encompasses access to nutritious food, pricing, and who ultimately goes without. It raises questions about which farmers, businesses, and economies can endure the next drought, flood, or price surge.
Thus, hunger fundamentally narrates a tale of inequality, both between and within countries. Nations that heavily depend on food imports, bear significant debts or exist in fragile states face higher costs and less access to essential inputs, technology, and private capital compared to their more stable counterparts.
Within nations, the poorest households devote a larger share of their income to food, a reality that holds true in Scotland as well as Somalia. Furthermore, while women are responsible for producing a considerable portion of the world’s food, they are often the first to go without during times of scarcity or economic strain.
Repeatedly, when delving into issues surrounding food, hunger, and nutrition, one uncovers deeper narratives of poverty, inequality, and thus, power dynamics.
The Urgency of Action
This is the narrative I wish to amplify with your assistance.
Having been born in the 1980s, I remember the simplistic slogan that called to action: “Feed the World.” Now, forty years later, the challenge has become far more complex, and our language and approaches to development have appropriately evolved.
Yet, I must express my feelings regarding the current state of hunger: I do not feel despair; I feel anger.
Last year, an estimated 645 million individuals faced hunger daily, with a third of humanity unable to afford a healthy diet. In Africa, this figure rises to two out of three individuals. Additionally, approximately 35 million children are acutely malnourished, with nearly 10 million at such risk that they could perish without intervention.
Last year marked a grim milestone, as famine was confirmed in two regions simultaneously, with several others remaining at risk in a world that produces enough food for