Mismanagement of food resources

Nature

Much of the starvation and malnutrition prevalent today is not due to problems of food production, but rather international food disorder rooted in the mismanagement of food resources. Many countries in the South produce foods which are insufficient in providing their peoples with a balanced diet, thus they are dependent upon the markets of wealthier nations. Agricultural infrastructure, research and finance are aimed at improving the production of export crops rather than at producing foods to be consumed by the countries' peoples; concurrent with this is the forced reduction of crops in industrialized countries, which elevates food prices.

Background

The mismanagement of food resources emerged as a global concern in the mid-20th century, when post-war surpluses contrasted sharply with persistent hunger in developing regions. International attention intensified following the 1974 World Food Conference, which highlighted inefficiencies in distribution, storage, and policy. Subsequent decades saw mounting evidence from organizations such as FAO and WFP, revealing systemic losses and waste throughout supply chains, prompting calls for coordinated international action and sustainable management practices.

Incidence

Mismanagement of food resources is a pervasive issue affecting both developed and developing nations, contributing to significant food loss and waste across the supply chain. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, approximately one-third of all food produced globally—about 1.3 billion tonnes annually—is lost or wasted, exacerbating hunger, environmental degradation, and economic inefficiency on a worldwide scale.
In 2022, Nigeria experienced severe post-harvest losses due to inadequate storage and transportation infrastructure, particularly in the northern states. Large quantities of perishable crops, such as tomatoes and onions, spoiled before reaching markets, intensifying food insecurity and economic hardship for local farmers.

Claim

Food is often used in international affairs as a political weapon. This bargaining, interfering and manipulating is counter to the fundamental and basic human right of all people to have adequate food. Every national also has the right to self-determination and self-reliance, and under no circumstances should food supplies - and food disorder - be used to control or limit that right.

Counter-claim

The so-called "mismanagement of food resources" is vastly overstated and hardly a pressing issue. Modern supply chains are efficient, and minor losses are inevitable in any system. With technological advancements and global trade, food scarcity is more a myth than reality. Energy and resources would be better spent addressing truly urgent problems rather than obsessing over marginal inefficiencies in food distribution. This topic simply does not warrant the concern it receives.