Introduction
Food security is defined as the ability to deliver food to the market while also allowing individuals to access it. It refers to a plan to secure enough food for the inhabitants of a certain society so that there is no food shortage (Von Schomberg, 2012).
Importance of Food Security
Food security is a critical concern for a country's development. A hungry country cannot produce, which is why food security is such an important aspect in economic progress. The emphasis on food security is mostly on supply as opposed to demand (Barrett, 2013). In every plan on food security, the focus should always be on the consumption rate of the population against food needed to feed them. With changes in technology, a lot of things have changed. The Production methods, as well as storage techniques of food stuff, have been enhanced.
Technological Advancements in Food Conservation
Tscharntke et al. (2012) in their work titled "Global food security, biodiversity conservation and the future of agricultural intensification" stated that technology had changed a lot regarding food conservation. In ancient times, there were no biological as well as chemical methods to preserve foodstuffs and products. Also, the production technique was not that advanced to guarantee food security. Further, Tscharntke et al. (2012) claim that introduction of technologically advanced ways of production has helped ensure food security in the society. Currently, there are genetically modified foods that can take less time to mature and be ready for consumption. This has increased food supply as compared to the time that production was based on natural ways like waiting for the rain for the process to start (Hester and Harrison, 2012). Currently, there are sophisticated ways of irrigation that have helped even dry areas to be useful in the production of food products in the society. Also, the means of transport that is in the market currently is more advanced that limited amount of food get spoiled while transported to longer distances. This shows that there can be food supply from a far way nation to another nation to help feed her population (Lang and Barling, 2012). This essay will discuss the relationship that exists between the change in technology and food security and answer the question as to whether food security should be left for the market forces or not.
Improved Global Food Security
Global food security has improved with the changes in technology that has been experienced in the market over the last few decades. Change in technology has increased food supply as well as accessibility. The machines that have been made to help in food production have done good work in ensuring food security in the world (Qaim and Kouser, 2013). The relationship between food security and change in technology can be said to be direct. This is because the change in technology has increased the production and food security in the world.
Market Forces and Food Production
Vermeulen et al. (2012) argued that technology is one of the factors that can be used to increase production and food supply to the market. His argument is based on the fact that currently, some technologically enabled options can be used to increase the supply of food. These options can be applied to lower the period taken by food products to mature and also to increase the time before they can go bad. Some market forces, however, have been identified to be affecting food production under the era of technology (Shindell et al., 2012). Some of these forces are the level of income, literacy level among others. In the level of income, farmers who earn little may not be able to afford the level of technology needed in agricultural production. Thus they might not be involved in a better way of food production (Wright, 2012). Also, the level of literacy affects global food security in that the more illiterate the society is, the lower the level of food security. Illiterate people or farmers in the market might not have the knowledge of the existence of these technologies or even have the know-how technique of using them (Smith, 2013). Thus in these two cases, food security would not be a guarantee in the market and the community at large. Therefore issues of food security should not be left to the market forces.
Conclusion
In conclusion, technology has improved the level of food production and accessibility by the people in various countries. Technology has been used to shorten the maturity period of various food products so that food can be available for a short period. The storage facilities have also been improved by the use of coolers and chemicals that prevent foodstuff from becoming bad. Also, the means of transport have been enhanced through the use of technology to the level that it takes a shorter season for the food products to reach markets that are far away from production regions. However, market forces such as illiteracy, lower-level of income are still affecting food production and hence food security. Technology should be embraced in all areas of the market so that food security is not left for the market forces to decide.
References
Barrett, C. B. (Ed.). (2013). Food security and sociopolitical stability. OUP Oxford.
Hester, R. E., & Harrison, R. M. (2012). Soils and Food Security (Issues in Environmental Science and Technology). Royal Society of Chemistry.
Lang, T., & Barling, D. (2012). Food security and food sustainability: reformulating the debate. The Geographical Journal, 178(4), 313-326.
Qaim, M., & Kouser, S. (2013). Genetically modified crops and food security. PloS one, 8(6), e64879.
Shindell, D., Kuylenstierna, J. C., Vignati, E., van Dingenen, R., Amann, M., Klimont, Z., ... & Schwartz, J. (2012). Simultaneously mitigating near-term climate change and improving human health and food security. Science, 335(6065), 183-189.
Smith, P. (2013). Delivering food security without increasing pressure on land. Global Food Security, 2(1), 18-23.
Tscharntke, T., Clough, Y., Wanger, T. C., Jackson, L., Motzke, I., Perfecto, I.,& Whitbread, A. (2012). Global food security, biodiversity conservation and the future of agricultural intensification. Biological conservation, 151(1), 53-59.
Wright, J. (2012). Sustainable agriculture and food security in an era of oil scarcity: lessons from Cuba. Routledge.
Vermeulen, S. J., Aggarwal, P. K., Ainslie, A., Angelone, C., Campbell, B. M., Challinor, A. J., & Lau, C. (2012). Options for support to agriculture and food security under climate change. Environmental Science & Policy, 15(1), 136-144.
Von Schomberg, R. (2012). Prospects for technology assessment in a framework of responsible research and innovation. In Technikfolgen abschätzen lehren (pp. 39-61). VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
