Problem
Did you know that up to 20% of the world’s population is starving? There are reasons behind this sad fact, problems that have caused the world to be where it is today. There are a myriad of variables that play into the hunger experienced around the planet, but the four main issues are as follows:
- Poverty
- Lack of land
- Lack of plant growth supplies
- Money
The ins and outs of these problems aren’t cut and dry. There’s an in-depth explanation that pairs with each rising issue.
Poverty
Poverty is a pandemic that continues to ravage our earth. A large percentage of the population is starving because of the high number of people who struggle financially. With poverty comes not only an inadequate amount of money to thrive (and potentially survive), but also the lack of resources to grow sustainable food, and the lack of ability to do so. All of these variables put together creates a missed opportunity for one to grow their own food.
Lack of land
With the increase of harmful chemicals like herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, comes more pollution in the world’s most arable soils. Without healthy, nutrient-rich soil, there is no good place to plant food. Even if this soil could sustain a viable food source, the end product may negatively affect the consumer’s health – when eating something grown from the earth, it’s important to make sure it came from the cleanest source available. And that is becoming less and less possible.
Lack of plant growth supplies
As more and more residential, commercial, and industrial developments are erected, the arable soil in these areas continues to erode. The rate of erosion is dangerously high, and it continues to rise as humans either fill up the land with man-made structures or leave the land barren, exposed, and wasted.
Money
Unfortunately, a lot of our world revolves around one thing: money. Because the number of food, flowers, medicines, and herbs are dwindling (due to humans’ wasteful nature), there is a monopoly being created on them. With less supply comes higher demand and a higher price. A large number of people depending on a lesser number of producers doesn’t make for a productive situation.