Hunger and food insecurity are a growing issue in the world today, especially with global climate change contributing to crop instability. Anthropologists can and have been helpful in developing strategies to combat global food insecurity on both a short-term and long-term basis.
Anthropology emphasizes understanding a culture from the inside perspective. I feel that when developing strategies or products to alleviate food instability, it is especially important to have a thorough understanding of the social...
Hunger and food insecurity are a growing issue in the world today, especially with global climate change contributing to crop instability. Anthropologists can and have been helpful in developing strategies to combat global food insecurity on both a short-term and long-term basis.
Anthropology emphasizes understanding a culture from the inside perspective. I feel that when developing strategies or products to alleviate food instability, it is especially important to have a thorough understanding of the social makeup of a culture as well as their food and subsistence practices. Consider the wide variation in food practices, especially when it comes to taboos or food intolerance. Food-aid may be sent in the form of non-perishable goods to be consumed over a period of time, but it would not be wise to send something like powdered milk to a culture where most people are lactose intolerant. Similarly, it wouldn't be very helpful to send a meat product to a culture which has a religious value against eating meat. Consulting an anthropologist who specializes in a particular culture in need of aid in order to determine the best foods to send is a helpful practice.
I feel it is important to mention the value of providing aid to certain groups within a culture. In many places which suffer from food instability, women and children (especially young girls) are more likely to sacrifice or be denied food in order to provide for the men in their families. A "one size fits all" food assistance does not really help to uplift or provide nourishment for those at the greatest risk of food insecurity. Consider the special burden on pregnant and lactating mothers, who must eat enough to sustain both themselves and their babies. Some programs target pregnant and nursing women in particular to ensure they have enough food in addition to the other foods which may be given to their families.
One must also consider the long-term effects of food assistance. If non-perishable food sources are sent to a group in need, but no efforts are made to develop a long-term change in subsistence (like changes in agricultural practice to cope with drought), then the food aid is akin to slapping a bandage on a bullet wound.