Maple Leaf Foods Inc’s Post

Around the world food insecurity is improving, but New Zealand is getting worse. How can we turn the tide? A recent UN report shows food insecurity in New Zealand has climbed to 16.4% of the population, higher than Australia, the US, and the UK. Key drivers include rising food prices, inflation, and growing economic insecurity, disproportionately affecting Māori, Pacific communities, and low-income families. At KiwiHarvest, we see this firsthand, with demand for food support increasing every day. Currently we have fifty one recipient agencies on our waiting list requiring food assistance. Learn more about the impact of food insecurity:  https://lnkd.in/gUQ_YA38 #KiwiHarvest #FoodInsecurity #FoodRescue Image: Getty Images; additional design The Spinoff

A 2023 federal government report made 35 recommendations including the creation of a Ministry of Food and for Australia to finally have a national food security strategy. We are still waiting for the government response, and meanwhile food insecurity is an ever more pressing community problem in the cost of living crisis. https://lnkd.in/gWX4fPbW

Food is a fundamental human right, and it’s unacceptable that many families still struggle to put food on the table. No one should have to suffer from hunger or food insecurity, especially in a world where there is enough food to go around. Ensuring that all individuals have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food is essential for their well-being, health, and dignity. It’s a matter of social justice, and we should work together to address the root causes of hunger and food insecurity. Feed Canada Association is doing its part to combat these issues by providing support and resources to those in need. Through various front-yard food pantries and participation in other programs and initiatives, Feed Canada works to distribute food to underserved communities, advocate for policy changes, and raise awareness about the importance of food security. By partnering with local organizations, food banks, and volunteers, Feed Canada ensures that food is efficiently directed to families facing food insecurity. #communitysupport. #canada #foodsecurity. #strongcommunity.

Although from the UK, this article echo's some my concerns about the rise of food insecurity in Australia, and along with it, the normalisation and proliferation of food rescue and food relief initiatives and organisations in Australia. Emergency food relief is critical, particularly in the current economic environment. But it is another 'ambulance at the bottom of the cliff' when prevention through better social and food policies should be enabling households 'reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food'. https://lnkd.in/geYGjfV6

We’re excited to share the key findings from our latest report, Voices of the Network and Their Neighbours: Understanding Food Insecurity in Ottawa. This report shines a light on the deepening food insecurity crisis and the challenges our network of food programs faces in meeting the rising demand. Key Findings: Severe Food Insecurity is on the Rise: The percentage of severely food-insecure households in Ottawa has nearly doubled, reaching 61%. Overwhelming Demand: Many food banks are serving 11 to 25 people per hour, but fewer can provide even three days' worth of food due to limited resources. Beyond Food: Our member agencies are stepping up to offer critical non-food services like housing support and mental health services, but demand far exceeds capacity. This report underscores the urgent need for systemic changes to reduce food insecurity and highlights the resilience of our network in supporting neighbours. We invite you to read the full report and join us in advocating for a more food-secure Ottawa READ THE FULL REPORT: https://lnkd.in/eRbtPP9w

Food insecurity affects more than one million Dominicans A report by the Global Network Against Food Crises places the Dominican Republic in the fifth position on the list of countries with the highest nutritional insecurity in the region, with more than one million people. According to the document, prepared with other UN agencies, the number of persons in need of food increased in 2022, for the fourth consecutive year in the world, to 258 million in 58 nations, of which 17.8 million are in Latin America and the Caribbean. In the case of the Dominican Republic, the international organization argued that it is an upper middle-income country where the increase of price in 2021 and 2022 affected the real income and purchasing power of vulnerable households, with real limitations to access food for their livelihoods. From October 2022 to February 2023, an estimated 1.4 million Dominicans experienced food insecurity, of these 142 thousand were in emergency situations, particularly in the provinces of Bahoruco, Elías Piña, La Altagracia, Monte Plata, Pedernales and San Juan.

The COVID-19 pandemic increased food insecurity, with Rhode Island's insecurity hitting a 20 year high.  Multiple policy responses addressed this at the time, like the CARES Act which combatted hunger and supported food access programs across the state. However, funding has since run out, and Rhode Islanders are once again experiencing increased levels of food insecurity, along with an increase in food costs. MPA Grace Feisthamel explores the sustainability of impactful policy solutions and presents recommendations for addressing hunger. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/e2KNQ-9B #CornellPolicyReview #CornellMPA #GovernmentAndPolitics #FoodSecurity #FoodInsecurity #CARESAct #RhodeIsland 

3.7 million Australian households experienced food insecurity in 2023 - an increase of 10% from the year prior. For many Australians, putting food on the table has become increasingly challenging over the past few years due to #COVID, international conflict, changing climate and allegations of price gouging. Deakin University researchers Kathryn Backholer and Christina Zorbas have explained what the government is doing to ease the pressure in a #costofliving crisis, and what more can still be done. "The multi-year food price crisis has revealed the vulnerability of our food system. We need to recover from where we are, but we must do so in a way that ensures a more resilient food system with stable food prices over time," they said. https://bit.ly/487DWcL

Sustain today calls for the creation of a $250mn+ #FoodSystems and #FoodSecurity Fund to tackle the #costoflivingcrisis and #foodinsecurity crisis in Victoria. By some measures, 1 in 5 Victorian families and households now experience food insecurity. In a state as wealthy as ours, this is an outrage that must be ended. We must not and will not accept entrenched #poverty and food insecurity as the 'new normal'. The pathways to dignified #foodsecurity and the realisation of the #righttofood for all Victorians are already being created by the hundreds of community organisations and local groups at the frontline of this crisis. What they need is support and funding from the State government. The mechanisms for such funding already exist - in the form of the Payroll Tax Surcharge (which will raise $1 bn this FY for the Mental Health and Wellbeing Levy) and the Vacant Residential Land Tax - which could easily be extended to commercial land to address the land-banking practices of the major supermarkets - which stifle competition in the retail food sector and ultimately lead to less choice and higher prices for consumers. We've been mapping out a food systems transformation agenda for years now, through the Pandemic Gardening Survey, Growing Edible Towns and Cities and in our many submissions to various inquiries, State and Federal. In today's submission, we make a strong call for fiscal, regulatory and governance measures to plan and finance the urgent transition to the better food system that we want and need. Please read our submission and make your own voice heard to the Legal and Social Issues Committee Inquiry - submissions close this Friday, 26th July. https://lnkd.in/gWgvywdv Sustainable Table The Community Grocer Open Table Kelly Donati Winston Churchill Trust (Australia) Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Community Gardens Australia Kathryn Backholer Dr Rebecca Lindberg Dr Sue Kleve Liza Barbour STREAT Moving Feast Victoria Cultivating Community Amy Carrad Municipal Association of Victoria Victorian Local Governance Association Victorian Council of Social Service VICTORIAN TRADES HALL COUNCIL

Around 1.05 billion tons of food is wasted each year. This adds up to at least 1 billion meals wasted daily worldwide while 783 million face chronic hunger.  Through collaboration and systemic action, we can rid the world of this problem. Efforts are already underway, and we are excited to partner with incredible organizations in our +1 Food Security program to tackle this problem in sub-Saharan Africa. Learn more about the +1 Food Security program and the organizations who are making a difference in the region here: https://bit.ly/3E5RE3D #foodsecurity #globalimpact