Food Security and Availability

Historical Changes to Food Availability

• Historical food availability involves the global migration of cultural groups and the use of foods native to Australia.

Key Term Definitions

• Food Security is defined as when all people have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious foods to meet their dietary requirements and preferences for an active and healthy lifestyle, while the United Nations estimates that 1 in 9 people worldwide go hungry every day.

Food Security

• To ensure food security, it's vital to address availability, access, stability, and utilization.
• Availability means sufficient and quality food from domestic production, commercial imports, food assistance, and food reserves.
• Access refers to people having adequate income or resources to obtain appropriate food domestically through production, buying, exchanging, gifts, borrowing, or aid.
• Stability means consistent food availability so that access and utilization aren't hindered by shortages, emergencies, or crises.
• Utilization means people properly using food through storage, processing, and adequate knowledge of nutritional, health, sanitation, socio-cultural, and spiritual parameters.

Factors Leading to Food Insecurity

• Food is often traded as a commodity rather than a right, prioritizing those who can afford it.
• Large multinational agribusinesses and exporters can outcompete local farmers.
• Lack of farming land is exacerbated by urbanization.
• Large businesses taking over traditionally farmed land is called land grabbing.
• Natural disasters, such as droughts, floods, typhoons, and cyclones, as well as climate change, can devastate harvests.
• Conflict and war can lead to food shortages and crises.
• Unfair trade rules disadvantage small local food producers.
• Food wastage occurs throughout the food chain due to quality control, over purchasing, storage issues, and pests.
• Global migration brings new food knowledge and staples, such as Asian cuisine to Australia during the gold rush.
• Food staples, from plant or animal sources, vary regionally and are inexpensive and plentiful.

Food Staples

• Food Staples must be readily available throughout the year, depending on the region.
• Geographical suitability and storability are key.
• Three main types of plant staple foods are cereals (wheat, rice, corn), root crops (potato), and legumes (soybeans).
• Wheat is a staple in Australia, Italy, Lebanon, Canada, Britain, and India, containing 11.5% protein.
• Rice is a staple in China, Japan, Indonesia, Italy, Thailand, containing 6.5% protein.
• Maize is a staple in Mexico, America, Africa, Italy, containing 8.8% protein.
• Millet is a staple in Eastern Europe, India, Africa.
• Sorghum is a staple in Nigeria, India.
• Potato is a staple in Peru, Boliva, Ireland, containing 1.4% protein.
• Yam is a staple in Papau New Guinea, Africa, containing 2.0% protein.
• Taro is a staple in Pacific Island countries, containing 1.6% protein.
• Soybeans is a staple in Japan, China, Africa, containing 0.30% protein.

Staple Foods

• Wheat is a staple food for ⅓ of the global population and a major cereal grain in international trade.
• Wheat is primarily grown in temperate climates, such as in Australia, Europe, and North America.
• Wheat was cultivated in the Middle East 10,000 years ago.
• By 3500BC, wheat was used in China for noodles and in India and Central Asia, with Arabs using it for breads, couscous, and brughul.
• In 1200AD, wheat was introduced to Italy for pasta.
• Gluten, a wheat protein, helps leavening agents expand, producing light, spongy products like bread and cake.
• High-gluten wheat is used for bread, while low-gluten wheat is used for cake.
• Products made from wheat include bread, cake, pastries, biscuits, breakfast cereal, pasta, and noodles.
• Rice is a staple food for 1½ of the world's population and is a principal crop in Asia.
• Rice is grown with lots of water and heat in Latin America, Africa, and Australia.
• The Australian climate is ideal for growing rice, but low rainfall requires sophisticated irrigation.
• Rice has been cultivated in China for at least 5000 years, thought to be indigenous to India, and was taken to Italy by the ancient Romans after conquering western Asia.
• Short-grain rice is sticky and ideal for rice pudding, while long-grain rice is dry and fluffy; other types include black, brown, and Arborio.
• Ground rice is used as a thickening agent and in biscuits such as shortbread for a melt-in-the-mouth texture.
• Corn originated in Central America 6500 years ago and was grown in Peru, Mexico, and by the Indias of southern parts of North America
• Corn spread to North America, Egypt, and Africa in the late 17th century after being introduced to Europe
• Poor people found it easy and cheap to produce
• All cereals are deficient in the amino acid lysine (risk protein and niacin (Vitamin B13) deficiency)
• Southern Europe and Southern parts of North America developed pellagra (niacin deficiency)
• Symptoms of pellagra: red skin lesions, diarrhea, weakness + mental confusion
• Mexicans do not suffer pellagra due to consumption of corn meal as tortilla
• Tortillas = corn meal + lime water
• The alkaline conditions release the bound niacin
• Potatoes need rich soil and a cool climate to grow.
• The potato was first cultivated in the Andes (e.g., Peru, Chile).
• Introduced to Europe (e.g. Ireland) by the Spaniards after conquest of Central and Southern America
• 1845-1849 blight disease destroyed Ireland crops (thousands of people died)
• Potato + milk = adequate quantities of all nutrients
• Large no. of Germans (to South Australia, Queensland) to escape prosecution from Frederick William III of Prussia.
• Geman wine growers;wine-growing knowledge, Barossa Valley, pineapples,
• 1853- chinese immigrants moved to California during the gold rush and opened their own markets.
• 1860-Afghan cameleers; transporting food and supplies to remote settlements
• 1878- banans in Queenland opened
• 1870-1902-Scandinavian Dairy opened
• Legumes/pulses are plants with edible seeds within a pod (e.g. peas, beans, lentils, chickpeas).
• Soybeans, a staple in many Asian countries (e.g. China and Japan), are good for large populations.
• Soybeans originated in Africa and China and were introduced to Japan and Korea over 1000 years ago.
• Small, oval soybean are excellent sources of complete protein and edible vegetable oil
• Help with the production of products; E.g. soy milk, flour, edible oil and tofu
• Animal staple food is a staple in many hunter gatherer countries
• Some cultural groups in harsh climates (Africa , Middle East) developed a nomadic (moving around) system of herding animals
• When settled in one place people began cultivating crops and domesticate animals (only killed once they were old and past producing special cultural/religious occasions)
• Animals provide many valuable resources: milk, eggs, wool, fuel
• Animals as a protein source = inefficient, with 20x more protein derived from a hectare of soyabeans compared to grazing beef.
• Animals were a waste of valuable farming land as well as human/non-human energy
• Meat consumed: Most likely in one sitting since there was no refrigeration, however drying was practiced by some cultures, such as dried fish in Asia.

Use of Foods Native to Australia

• 30,000 Years Ago Aboriginal peoples' diet consisted of native bush tucker harvest with Kangaroos, wild turkeys, snakes, grubs, fish, fruits and seeds
• 1788 European settlers were unfamiliar with Aboriginal bush tucker and brought basic British food supplies of They baked flour into bread and damper
• 1838 German Wine growers began arriving mainly to South Australia and Queensland. They brough wine-growing knowledge and helped establish wine regions such as the Barossa Valley
• 1853 Chinese immigrants established markets, shops and gardens around digging holes and grew their own vegetables
• 1860 Afghan Cameleers helped transport food and supplies to remote settlements. They also brought over Indian spices such as turmeric, cumin, coriander, chickpeas
• 1878 Chinese immigrants who were attracted to the goldfields in Queensland brought banana seeds with them.. Chinese farmers established large banana plantations in Eastern Queensland
• 1870-1901 Scandinavian immigrants contributed to the development of the Australian dairy Industry
• 1880s Lebanese Christians began arriving in Australia bringing with them unique vegetables
• 1901: The 'White Australian Policy' dramatically impacted the multicultural influence of food, almost ceasing Asian food influence and increasing European cuisine influence
• First Espresso in 1928
• 1930s During The Great Depression government introduced importation tariffs to protect the Australian food industry which lead to many overseas companies moving to Australia and manufacturing their goods, primarily companies from America and the UK, for example:
• 1943- WWII and American Servicemen who influenced Australian food, bringing the influence of fast food, hamburgers, hot dogs and soft drinks.
• 1943-1970 populate or perish scheme occurred when Many of their countries suffered immensely from the war and could not house or feed their citizens leading to migration. at this time Australia embraced migrants with over 170,000 Ukrainians, Hungarians, Czechs 1943- 1945: assisted Passage migration scheme with voyages from the UK to Australia reduced to just 10 pounds per adult- Americans were also encouraged to make this voyage through assisted immigration 1970-80 The Colombo plan encouraged middle-class South Asian students to travel to Australia for educational purpose and supported Australians to visit Asian countries 2000 Refugees Varies refugees including people from Iraq, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Sudan, India and Sri Lanka, usually fleeing war-torn countries. 2010 Immigration rates continue to grow. Most immigrants entering Australia each year since 2010 come from the UK, China, India and New Zealand.
• 2010-2020 International travel
• 2020 Pandemic
• 2021 Australia experienced a Shift in food preferences and purchasing habits (largely due to rising living costs and increased awareness of health and sustainability).

Technological developments:

Influential on food availability, production and manufacturing processes and equipment techniques; storage and distribution techniques; marketplace practices

• Australia is multiculturally with vast backgrounds and cultures with a wide variety of foods consumed
• Australia has staple foods, e.g; wheat
• Diverse foods, e.g; rice, vegetables, fruits, nuts, meat, seafood, cereal, sugar, honey, coffee, cocoas, and confectionary
• Availability of ingredients/foods can change due to Migration, demand, weather, travel, international relations (war), the state of the economy or even trade agreements with other countries.
• Australia Rankings is high on the Global Food Security Index overall with affordable prices of food
• Technology affects many aspects of the food industry including: Processing techniques, Production and manufacturing, Resources - energy, water, gas, Tools and machinery (domestic and commercial), Storage and distribution systems (e.g. supermarkets or local farmer markets)
• Automation refers to the use of technology, machinery and software to perform tasks traditionally carried out by workers
• Food Production processes involves better soil, nutrient, water and pest management
• Humans have gone from hunting to gathering (collectors) to subsistence agriculture and industrial agriculture (producers) Examples of smart farms include:
• Drip irrigation
• Robots
• Autonomous vehicle
• Vertical farming LED bulbs
• 3D printing
• Different levels of food processing:
• Minimally processed foods: foods still in their raw state.
• Moderately processed foods: other ingredients added to ensure food safety and preservation but are still recognizable in their true form.
• Heavily processed foods: made of multiple ingredients with many processes to change the raw ingredients
• Diets and food habits, people looking for more variety of foods and for foods to be available all year round. Multiculturalism with improvements in food packaging
• Suspended animation is the temporary (short- or long-term) slowing or stopping of biological function so that physiological capabilities are preserved
• Traditionaly food transportation used human, animal and water power
• Technological developments led to sophisticated storage systems (silo designs) with Main objective of the food distribution chain: maintenance of food safety and quality. and distribution is to protect food against physical, chemical and microbial contamination
• Super Markets today contain online shopping and easy self service functions
• Social, economic and political influences on food availability

Food Availability:

• 25% of world population inadequately fed
• The united Nations say poverty is: hunger, poor health, lack of education, social discrimination
• government policy, economic activity, relative poverty, absolute poverty

The Cycle of Poverty:

Absolute poverty, Poor family. Evident to all nations Breaking the cycle of poverty Organisation’s help children, youth and adults around the world:

• Oxfam
• Caritas
• CanHelp (a smaller group)

Affluence:

• Wealth and abundance. E.g. Australia
• Disease because of incomes, lack of exercise and a preference for fast food and sugary drinks. Type and State of the Economy determine how goods and services are produced, distributed and consumed. Economic Strength and Weakness- determined by style of economy strong economy- gives a country strong political power Weak economy- less protected from world market

Phases within the Economy:

Every Big Red Dragon

1. Expansion
2. Boom
3. Recession
4. Depression Types of Economies ASIMM

Political Factors

Politics: Refers to a system of public administration or government. Power decide how tax revenue will be spent, Food is essential worldwide

Government Policies:

Affect availability, pricing, the Australian food supply, government enforced to local producers, subsidies, ban international

War and armed conflict:

• Often associated with poor food security/availability, famine and death and long lasting effect.

Embargoes:

• Partial or complete trade bans within a particular or multiple countries, enforced by government: Often used in political situation,

Export strategies

-Trade is part of global food systems: Australian representatives are important, tariffs are used for trade policy, clean safe green image increasing deman overseas, and niche exports for high value.

Food Tax:

-Tax collected from corporation individuals

• Goods and Services Tax (GST): charged on goods, services etc
• Tariff added to the cost of imported
• China and Australia beginning reduce territories

Social Justice and Food Consumption Around the World.

• Equal social and economical opportunities