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More than 900 million people in the world suffer from severe food insecurity. That’s more than double the population of the United States. This staggering number has many organizations asking what can be done to address global food security.
Surprisingly, the issue is not that the world doesn’t produce enough food to feed everyone. The problem is the availability of food in specific regions. According to the World Food Programme (WFP) there are four drivers of hunger:
When war hits, hunger follows. Conflict forces families from their homes, destroys economies, ruins infrastructure, and makes food nearly impossible to find or afford. Sixty percent of the world’s hungriest people live in conflict zones.
Droughts, floods, and wildfires are just a few of the more frequent and intense weather events that are destroying farmland, livestock, and crops.
Nearly 60 percent of people suffering from severe hunger are women and girls, who often eat last and least, in countries facing conflict and hunger.
Globally, almost 30 percent of food is lost or wasted every year. In low-income countries, most food loss occurs due to insects, pests, and mold in the early stages of growth, harvest, and storage. In high-income countries, food is wasted because people buy more than they can consume.
The World Food Programme (WFP), the world’s largest humanitarian organization providing food assistance, has faced an ongoing obstacle in delivering nutrient-rich foods that have a long shelf life so they can be distributed to people in crisis around the world. Kemin has been proud to partner with WFP for nearly 20 years, and we have helped them develop tools to ensure robust food safety and quality management, improving the nutritional profile and shelf life of the food WFP uses in its operations.
The partnership between Kemin and WFP has successfully enhanced a range of emergency-use food products, including those aimed at addressing moderate acute malnutrition and used in conflict-affected countries. We have a team member on our staff in Europe who works directly with WFP on their food safety management process. Our partnership has helped those in war-torn such as Yemen, Jordan, and Turkey.
"WFP is grateful to our long-time corporate partners who, like Kemin, help us fight hunger and deliver lifesaving, life-changing assistance to the most vulnerable," said Virginia Siebenrok, Head of Food Safety and Quality, WFP. "For nearly two decades, Kemin has provided critical support, shared resources and expertise, and strengthened our food safety and quality practices and tools. As one of our original corporate partners, the Kemin partnership has helped WFP deliver safe and nutritious food in emergencies, improve nutrition, and build long-term resilience in the communities we serve."
Kemin’s vision is to strive to sustainably transform the quality of life every day for 80 percent of the world's population with our products and services. Continuing our partnership with the World Food Programme is just one way we’re fulfilling that mission.
Lauren Burt has worked at Kemin Industries for nearly ten years as a strategic communications expert. She leads Kemin’s media relations, crisis management, and global community engagement.
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