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.

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. Reports indicated that up to 50% of harvested tomatoes 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 agriculture and distribution systems ensure that most people have access to food, and minor inefficiencies are inevitable in any large-scale operation. Focusing on this distracts from more urgent global challenges. The world has always adapted to changing food demands, and alarmism about food mismanagement only serves to create unnecessary panic rather than addressing real, significant problems.