Problem because we haven’t designed this process very well. Almost 0,9b people are hungry, that is 1 in 8 of global population (UN FAO)Global food demand is expected to double in the next 25-50 years. Pic: http://cdn.aarp.net/content/dam/aarp/health/healthy-living/2012-12/620-best-cancer-fighting-foods-prevent-nuts-berries-greens.imgcache.rev1355167418396.jpg
But, we have enough food.Stats even worse here – 1.4b people overweight, of which 0.5b obese (UN FAO)UN FAO stats in terms of malnutrition – defined to include both under and over nutritionThe problem is not food production so much as the way food is grown and distributed is very unfairMore people die from unhealthy eating than cigarette smokingSouth Africa is the 3rd most overweight adult population of any major country in the world! Around 34% of adultsPic: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01814/moobs_1814781c.jpg
The current food system is not sustainable.New patterns of production and consumption are required providing local sourcing to bolster quality and reduce cost, waste – one-third of food generated for human consumption is wasted- and ecological impact. Agriculture accounts for 70% of the worlds increasing use of scarce water supplies and deforestation for food production produces more greenhouse gases than all forms of transportation combined(Hultprize.org) Pic: http://www.jwgreynolds.co.uk/index.php?/far-foods/
Jacques du ToitHead: Sustainable Livelihoods and Greening ProgrammesEnvironmental Resource Management Department
There are major issues but equally many people and organisations doing amazing work to alleviate malnutrition and improve the environment using food design.We would like to collaborate with as many of these initiatives as possible.