Resilience & Strength

Serious problems like wars and conflicts, biodiversity loss and pandemics put a strain on how we grow, distribute and eat food: our access to enough of the right food can be compromised by these kinds of shocks to the system. 

Some shocks happen together, causing further issues and making the problem worse.  War causes food insecurity, often in combination with climate change impacts like drought and failed crops which can  intensify conflict. Conflict also forces people to leave their homes and migrate to other countries – young people between the ages of 10 and 24 are the largest group of people affected by displacement from conflict. 

The pressures created by the pandemic have made hunger and malnutrition much worse all over the world.  

How can we make our food system more resilient?  

• Food produced in conflict-affected areas must be protected so that lives and communities can be rebuilt 
• We must invest in new ways of farming as climate change shocks threaten current methods 
• Countries must work together to make long-term refugees at home in their new local food systems  
• We must listen to the voices of everyone affected by shocks, and keep their different views and needs in mind when developing solutions.  

We need to strengthen our food system so that it supports us through serious problems and challenges.