Current Solutions

Currently, there is enough food being produced worldwide to feed everyone - yet, this food does not always reach those who need it. As a direct result of food deficits and a lack of ability to transport food to the right place, nearly 1 billion people do not eat enough and almost 400 million people are chronically malnourished. Each year, over 11 million children under the age of 5 die from hunger or other hunger-related issues. And as the population gets bigger, this problem is only going to get worse.

Despite this, however, mankind has been working towards producing better farming methods and ensuring the high efficiency of crops is maintained in order to feed the most amount of people possible. Techniques such as disease-resistant varieties of foods, better and stronger chemical pesticides and fertilizers, and increased area for irrigation have all allowed farming to become more efficient and let a larger volume of higher quality food be produced for the same effort.

The below image shows how the predicted human population will at least triple by 2050 - that means our food production has to be tripled as well. But aside from what we need to do, what are we currently doing in developing countries to combat the food issues stemming from overpopulation?

Population growth 1950-2050 (uses predicted date) - Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Bank

Current Genetic Modification in the Developing World

Across 2018, more than 18 million farmers opted towards genetically modified crops for their farms, and more than 50% of these farmers were in developing countries. However, genetically modifying crops isn't particularly cheap especially if you have to import seeds from overseas. And these developing countries that face the strongest risk of hunger when the population rises also have the least amount of extra money to spend on importing GMO crops. So they have to do it themselves.

In Africa, there are many countries working together to develop a range of genetically modified foods that can be sent around the continent at a much cheaper price than if they were to have been imported, Notably, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, and about 10 others are working on seeds that are especially drought resistance and insect resistant - issues that are quite common in the generally arid areas in these countries. Already, South Africa especially has approved the development of GMO maize (corn) that can be insect-resistant, drought-tolerant, herbicide-tolerant, and water-efficient which significantly increases the survivability issue that farmers in South Africa face.

Genetically modified crops being tested - Source: EnviroLogix

How have Organisations Reduced Hunger in Developing Countries?

Many global organisations, including the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the World Food Programme, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the International Food Policy Research Institute have begun to take measures in hope of eliminating poverty and food insecurity in the world. Along with this, people worldwide have donated to funds in support of these organisations and in attempt to ease the pressure off hungry communities in developing countries.

Particularly, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) helped “restore farmers’ livelihoods and strengthen their resilience” in Nigeria. From donations across the world, FAO was able to support 63,000 families in Nigeria during the 2020 cultivation season. These households consisted of displaced people and returnees that returned because of Nigeria’s regain of relative stability. FAO provided them with fertilizers and crop seeds, which allowed them to produce enough food to earn an income, and be able to afford food and their children’s education. The farmer Alhaji Modi was interviewed and said “Things could have been worse for us if we did not get those seeds”.

The FAO also took action to limit the undernutrition and hunger in Zimbabwe. In May 2021, FAO collaborated with HarvestPlus and the Department of Research and Specialist Services of Zimbabwe to encourage the growth of bio fortified vitamin A orange maize, which has proven to suit Zimbabwe’s dry and hot climate conditions. Together, they established demonstration programs and education programs to train farmers to produce crops in an effective manner and use efficient agricultural practices, which would ultimately increase yields and income of farming families across Zimbabwe.

Woman and her child in South Sudan where 6.5 million are undernourished - Source: Food and Agriculture Organisation

How have Businesses Reduced Hunger in Developing Countries?

Corporations have begun developing innovative ideas to support farmers in developing countries. It was found that the lack of technology and knowledge lead to a waste of valuable and costly resources such as water. Along with this, it can often mean that workers in agriculture must put in an excessive amount of effort with little result, meaning that the land is not producing as much food as it could without the assistance of new ways of agriculture.

One example of a company taking on the opportunity to help out farmers is Hello Tractor. "Hello Tractor" is a tech company that operates in Kenya and Nigeria, working to provide farmers with agriculture technology that would normally be unreachable. Individuals can use their mobile phones to rent tractors at an affordable cost, allowing cheap, convenient, and accessible tractor services for those in need of farming support. The cost of renting the service will be nothing compared to the amount of extra money they will make with the tractors. It allows better farming maintenance and improves productivity, therefore, creating more crops to feed the world.

Hello Tractor being implemented in Africa - Source: Hello Tractor