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 American Journal of  
Food Science and Technology (AJFST)

A Review of  Food Security Crisis in Uncertain Times
Abdulfatah Said Mohamed1*

Volume 4 Issue 1, Year 2025
ISSN: 2834-0086 (Online)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54536/ajfst.v4i1.3622
https://journals.e-palli.com/home/index.php/ajfst

Article Information ABSTRACT

Received: August 10, 2024

Accepted: September 09, 2024

Published: April 25, 2025

Hunger and poverty are not the only issues linked to the food insecurity challenge. Increased 
violence, terrorism, natural catastrophes, climate change, and the most recent worldwide 
pandemic known as the COVID-19 Pandemic have all drawn attention to the issue of  
food poverty. Before the world’s economy fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, 
the globe was particularly affected by the Russian invasion of  Ukraine and the grain crisis, 
which intensified the situation to never-before-seen proportions. This article describes the 
numerous complex issues underlying the food shortage and how it affects the world’s least 
developed nations and individuals. This article analyses the challenges of  global food scarcity, 
especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The method of  study involved conducting a 
comprehensive literature search on electronic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, 
and Embase. The relevant results were then recorded in a qualitative descriptive form. It 
examines the impact of  the pandemic on food systems, its implications for the worldwide 
supply chain, and food and addressing the shortage. The review also explores factors 
contributing to food scarcity, such as the controversial role of  biofuels. The article discusses 
the extent of  hunger and food insecurity, emphasizing the moral implications of  unhealthy 
eating practices and the relationship between food security and other global concerns. The 
long-term impacts of  food shortage on political stability are also discussed, emphasizing the 
potential for unstable political circumstances to arise from food insufficiency. The assessment 
also covers the Black Sea Grain Initiative and how it has improved food security. The essay 
provides a greater understanding of  the relationship between global issues and food shortages 
while elucidating ethical dilemmas, financial implications, and environmental elements.

Keywords

COVID-19, Food Crisis, 
Food Insecurity, Food Systems, 
Nutritional Inadequacy, 
Sustainable Solutions

1 Global Affairs and Islam, College of  Islamic Studies, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar
* Corresponding author’s e-mail: Abdulmohamed@hbku.edu.qa 

INTRODUCTION
The food security predicament is an intricate challenge 
aggravated by climate change, conflict, and economic 
inequality (Barnett & Adger, 2007). Food insecurity can 
disappear if  humanitarian help is given; however, to 
build a more equitable and sustainable food system that 
benefits everyone, the core causes of  the issue must be 
addressed. Additionally, crop cultivation is made difficult 
by extreme weather events like droughts and floods, 
which are brought on by climate change. This affects food 
production and distribution. Furthermore, economic 
inequality exacerbates the gap between the rich and the 
poor, making it more difficult for the impoverished to buy 
food (Global Poverty and Hunger, 2018). Poverty refers 
to the situation due to a lack of  resources, which leads to 
the inability to fulfil basic human needs. People live on 
less than 1.90 dollars per person per day, which is much 
less than enough to support a healthy lifestyle; most of  
these statistics are from India, Nigeria, Congo, Ethiopia, 
and Bangladesh (Khan et al., 2020). This menace is 
embarking upon the world in an unending cyclical manner 
as its effects cause an increase in its causes and effects 
(Nurrachmi & Review, 2018). The COVID-19 pandemic 
has been distressing for the global system, resulting in a 
complex worldwide food crisis. Food systems have seen 
significant changes since the virus started to spread widely 
at the beginning of  2020. There are now disturbances and 
widespread hunger.

The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that the 
crisis will cause acute hunger to affect an additional 
130 million people. The strategies to deal with this 
problem include funding sustainable agriculture, cutting 
down on food waste, offering humanitarian aid, and 
tackling the underlying causes of  the situation. Those 
experiencing food insecurity would receive necessary 
supplies if  humanitarian assistance were given. It is 
imperative to tackle the underlying causes of  the issue to 
construct a more equitable and sustainable food system 
for everybody. Good and nourishing cuisine. Droughts 
and floods, two extreme weather phenomena brought 
on by climate change, make it challenging to cultivate 
crops. Food production and distribution are disrupted by 
conflict, and the wealth and poverty gaps grow due to 
economic inequality, making it more difficult for people 
experiencing poverty to afford food.

LITERATURE REVIEW
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 
(SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda for Global Progress
In 2015, Global Leaders during the United Nations 
General Assembly decided to initiate the United Nations 
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Agenda for 
2030 as the framework to improve humanity, equality, 
and inclusivity (Friedman & Gostin, 2016). The SDGs 
established in 2015 addressed poverty and hunger as the 
key issues for achieving sustainable development. Even 



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though the problem of  continuous rise in global poverty 
and difficulties in its eradication has been marginalized 
in the presence of  new issues such as terrorism, climate 
change, resource depletion, access wars, and gender 
inequality issues (Sustainable Development Goals, March 
2020). Only 193 foreign heads of  state adopted the 2030 
Agenda and the 17 SDGs that go along with it in 2015. 
SDGs have reclaimed worldwide significance and are 
organized around people, nature, ethics, development, 
equality, and collaboration (Leal Filho et al., 2018). With 
goals of  eradicating inequality, promoting sustainable 
development, preserving sovereignty, and achieving 
stability, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have 
won great praise for their significant political articulation. 
Most individuals think that the SDGs result from an 
unprecedented collaborative process in the context of  
global health apart from its precursor, the United Nations 
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which have 
been based primarily on assisting poorer areas through 
international assistance. The SDGs include a wider set 
of  objectives that apply to wealthy and poor states and 
are thus “buttressed by data and evidence.” The 2030 
Agenda has received widespread plaudits from academics, 
activists, corporations, and policymakers for tying 
“sustainable” and “development” together through the 
notions of  “universality,” “integration,” and “leaving no 
one behind.” Conversely, the SDGs have been chastised 
for their lofty goals and lack of  focus (Svoboda et al., 
2015).

Challenges and Hurdles in Achieving SDGs; 
Complex Socioeconomic Realities: Global Warming, 
Food Insecurity, and Development Initiatives
One of  the many unresolved issues is how Baltic and 
confrontation fragile states can schedule, organize, and 
fund development initiatives consistent with the SDGs 
and their strategic interests (Ramcharan & Ramcharan, 
2020). There are real doubts that several of  the poorest 
countries in the world would be unable to identify 
initiatives and get the necessary support from the 
Developed World to improve the SDGs implementation 
– creating a good position for private investments 
and the hundreds of  billions of  dollars in economic 
opportunities that SDGs reopen. The world is moving 
farther away from attaining SDG 2, according to the 
Special Rapporteur on Financial Distress and Individual 
Rights (Human Rights Council 2019). If  global warming 
continues, many thousand individuals will suffer from 
malnutrition owing to overall agricultural reductions. The 
impoverished would suffer greatly from an increase in the 
frequency of  flooding and the ensuing migration. One of  
the most basic manifestations of  impoverishment, poor 
nutrition, and cognitive impairment in children is food. 
Africa, the world’s most impoverished and consequently 
hungry area, is confronted with serious health problems, 
especially those that affect developing children (Sasson, 
2012). The number of  people living in poverty worldwide 
is rising daily, with 8.9% of  the world’s population 

sleeping on bad food. World Food Programme Hunger 
Map of  2018 depicts a population of  821 million people 
facing food deficiency, mostly from Africa and Asia to 
Latin America and Near East Asia. A notable increase in 
world hunger shows an increase in poverty and lacking 
on behalf  of  institutions and governments to end it. 
Providing food supplies and donation strategies are 
not the ultimate solution; they can only be regarded as 
temporary relief  strategies. However, practical steps are 
needed at higher levels, including policy-making and 
action at the prevention stages (WFP, 2018). Rewriting 
strategies and forming interdisciplinary strategic 
partnerships across various political contexts would be 
necessary to address food insecurity. Additionally, it would 
be important to ensure that World Food Programme 
(WFP) interventions are implemented geographically and 
ethnically, considering issues such as sexual identity, social 
inequality, disagreement, and global climate change.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A comprehensive literature search was conducted on 
electronic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, 
and Embase. Relevant results were recorded in qualitative 
descriptive form.
This study utilized secondary data collected through 
a systematic literature review. Electronic databases, 
including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Embase, were 
searched extensively to gather relevant literature. The 
search focused on identifying peer-reviewed articles, 
reports, and studies related to food security, global hunger, 
and the impacts of  global crises such as the COVID-19 
pandemic and the Russian invasion of  Ukraine.
The filtering process involved a multi-step approach. 
First, the collected data was screened for relevance based 
on title and abstract, followed by a full-text review of  
selected articles to ensure that they met the inclusion 
criteria. These criteria included a focus on food security 
issues, the socioeconomic impacts of  crises, and the 
global supply chain’s response to food shortages. In 
total, approximately 75 relevant articles and reports were 
considered for this study.
The analysis of  data involved categorizing the literature 
into thematic areas such as the impact of  global crises on 
food systems, the role of  international policy in addressing 
hunger, and the socioeconomic implications of  food 
shortages. Qualitative descriptive analysis was employed 
to identify key trends, challenges, and solutions discussed 
in the literature. Additionally, cross-referencing between 
sources was done to ensure accuracy and consistency in 
findings.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Hunger and Poverty Worldwide and Its Impact on 
Muslim Nations
Poverty and hunger are multi-factorial problems 
encompassing the issues of  health, economics, education, 
environment, and quality of  life. Malnourishment, 
developmental delays, and nutritional deficiencies are 



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additionally deteriorating the situation thus negatively 
influencing the quality of  living. Food And Agriculture 
Organization (FAO) estimated that 1.02 billion people 
are undernourished, mostly children, who had a poverty-
stricken life (“Poverty And Hunger Around The World,” 
2017). The issue of  hunger interlinked with poverty 
and health sector crises casts damaging outrages on the 
economy of  a country. In an unending cycle, instability 
between sources and consumption increases; therefore, 
its results, which are economic failure, lead to poverty, 
hunger, and lack of  basic needs and well-being. The 
health of  a huge community becomes at risk due to 
resulting malnourishment and nutritional deficiencies, 
causing further damage to the capacities of  people, be it 
physical, emotional, or mental. Due to the prevalence of  
hunger and deficient nutrition, Hunger Maps of  2019 and 
2020 show prevailing undernourishment in African, Asia, 
and Latin American countries since 2017, the rate of  
which has remained constant (WFP, 2019, 2020). There 
have been surveys showing deaths of  around 9 million 
people due to hunger and related diseases. 3.1 million 
children die each year due to the same cause. The number 
of  people affected by hunger has declined since 1999, 
but no further progress has been observed recently. Since 
2015, the numbers have escalated, posing a challenge to 
the SDGs on ending hunger by 2030, as 1 in 9 people 
go to bed hungry. 20% of  the African population suffers 
from the problem of  hunger, especially in Eastern and 
Southern regions where the percentage is 30%, and 
a huge number of  children population suffer from 
malnourishment, stunted growth, nutrient deficiencies, 
and cognitive disabilities (“people who died from hunger,” 
2021). Among Muslim countries, African countries are 
the most affected by poverty, hunger, and undernutrition, 
as Somalia ranks as one of  the top Muslim countries 
with a death rate of  42% due to malnourishment. Other 
countries as Sudan and Indonesia, also have high rates, 
and countries like Kuwait and Singapore with the lowest 
rates of  deaths due to malnutrition (World Health 
Rankings, 2021). 

Global Impact of  the COVID-19 Pandemic on 
Amplifying Poverty, Hunger, Uncertainty and Food 
Insecurity
The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly influenced the 
world and multiplied the effects of  present frailties and 
vulnerabilities. This unusual and quickly changing scenario 
will likely precipitate a worldwide recession. According 
to an OECD study published on March 2, 2020, the 
global GDP growth rate would fall to 2.4 per cent (from 
the previously predicted 2.9 per cent) because of  the 
worldwide well-being crisis. In the worst-case scenario, 
GDP development may drop to less than 2 per cent. The 
predictions were produced before the latest events of  
new waves of  the pandemic within the European Union 
and the USA and the recent severe falls in stock and oil 
markets. Parallels may be made between the effect of  
previous medical epidemics (such as the Ebola outbreaks) 

and the 2008 food price crisis, particularly regarding 
policy suggestions. Previous crises seriously affecting 
agriculture output, trade, and price volatility(Svoboda et 
al., 2015) have also caused global distress. 
An exacerbating aspect, however, is that the present 
COVID-19 problem is unprecedented worldwide, and 
the situation is quickly evolving, with many unknowns. 
In terms of  risk management, every reaction must be 
indicative of  the changing circumstances. In addition 
to the immediate health effects, there should be short-, 
medium-, and long-term effects on food production, 
sustainable development, and sustenance. COVID-19 
also has benefits and drawbacks on Food Security and 
Nutrition (FSN), with the eventual outcomes being 
influenced by the control period of  organizations, 
countries, and territories, and their tolerance to shocks. In 
consequence, a deteriorating food scarcity situation may 
have a detrimental effect on pandemic development by 
compromising immune systems. In any case, the weakest 
and most marginalized sectors of  the population will be 
the most impacted (including the refugees and displaced). 
The poorest and most vulnerable people have fewer 
resources to deal with day-by-day job segments of  people 
and loss of  income, rising food costs, and unstable food 
supply, and therefore have less capacity to adjust to the 
crisis. Countries and areas already coping with other 
crises, such as the desert locust epidemic, which has 
already exacerbated food insecurity among impacted 
people, may find dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic 
more difficult. (Banik, 2019)
Food shortage involves short and long-term terrible 
outcomes such as hunger, malnutrition, higher death rates, 
and political instability; therefore, it must be addressed 
jointly via both emergency and long-term solutions. This 
is a major global issue, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. 
Economic, environmental, and societal factors contribute 
to food shortage (Dugger, 2011).

Contributing Factors to Food Shortage and Global 
Nutritional Challenges  
Numerous socioeconomic reasons contribute to food 
shortages. The rate of  population growth is greater than 
the rate of  supply growth. The world consumes more 
food than it produces, causing food stores and storage 
to shrink and food prices to rise due to growing demand 
against a finite supply. Overcrowding, loss of  forests for 
human habitation, and increasing air and water pollution 
impact the ecosystem and food production (Hallegatte et 
al., 2021).
One of  our age’s main challenges is ensuring and providing 
sufficient, good, and processed foods to everybody 
while being environmentally friendly and clean, all while 
addressing the multiple difficulties of  undernourishment, 
excess weight, and overnutrition. As opposed to an 
objective that includes nutrition for well-being and growth, 
the food hygiene guideline emphasizes assuring that the 
world generates and eats sufficient calories to eradicate 
starvation and guarantee existence. To take the discussion 



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further, addressing the ethical problems that emerge 
when integrating food into the food hygiene framework 
is important. If  we do not change our strategy to feed 
people, the medical, environmental, socioeconomic, and 
political consequences will be severe. However, addressing 
this problem has legal and cultural implications(Locke 
& Henley, 2014). Key ethical issues to tackle would be 
making social decisions, creating standards about food 
production that affect produce content and the ethics 
and compliance between environmental sustainability 
and fulfilling human nutritional and health needs. Such 
intricate problems highlight the need to articulate the 
wider ethical context of  the nutrition discussion within 
the context of  global food security.

Nutrition in the Global Food System for Sustainable 
Well-Being
Surprisingly, little has been published publicly on the 
values of  what we consume and the standards we wish 
to maintain to create a better, more sustainable global 
food system. Nutrition is often overlooked in food 
security planning. Most of  the discussion and emphasis 
have been on elements of  the inequitable manner our 
food is produced. There needs to be more discussion 
on the disparities in access to high-quality, healthy meals 
and dietary choices. This leaves the people needing 
clarification about what ethical personal decisions they 
should make, who they can trust, and what responsibilities 
the government should play in resolving the problems. 
Inequities will continue until a more serious discussion 
and suggested pathways around health ethics and how it 
integrates into our globalized food system. Highlighting 
some of  these problems may stimulate constructive 
conversations and future solutions. Gillespie et al. 
(2013) observed that nutrition is often seen as apolitical, 
resulting in self-defeating and inadequate accountability 
to people. Attention and management for nutrition 
at all levels are required to achieve nutritional gains. 
Overcoming persistent poverty and impoverishment 
involves the allocation of  resources. If  the root causes of  
poor nourishment are to be addressed, more and more 
effectively targeted resources and improved cooperation 
within governments and national and international 
partnerships are required(Thaler & Africa, 2013). Without 
strong principles and ethical norms prioritizing nutrition 
for the betterment of  people and their nations, progress 
toward global food security would be halted.

The Magnitude of  Hunger and Food Deprivation
Food shortage has a variety of  short-term repercussions. 
The impact on children, mothers, and the elderly is 
apparent, as evidenced by malnutrition and hunger-related 
deaths. This means that school-age youngsters pay less 
attention in class and less time for social and recreational 
activities—vital to their development. Mothers have less 
energy to care for their children and engage in verbal 
conversation. Children cannot endure extended fasts; 
therefore, they succumb to hunger rapidly and often 

die before help can reach them. Due to rebellions and 
several years of  drought, Somali refugees have fled their 
country to Kenya and Ethiopia in search of  safety and 
food. Since the majority of  migrant seniors and children 
pass away during the journey and within a few days of  
arriving at the refugee camp, the majority of  the children 
among the Somali refugees are severely malnourished. 
This shortage has long-term consequences. These 
include a rise in food prices because of  demand and 
supply factors. Global food prices have increased due to 
several factors, including growing food production costs, 
rising fuel prices, and a protracted drought in regions that 
produce grains (Hasegawa et al., 2019). Transportation 
of  food, industrial agriculture, and fertilizers all suffered 
cost increases due to the oil price increase. Food prices 
have increased globally due to the growing middle-class 
population in Asia, their need for a more varied diet, 
and declining food supplies. In 2007, rising food prices 
caused social discontent and political inequality in several 
nations, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Burundi, 
Brazil, Congo, and Mexico. 

The Need for Immediate Actions
Food shortage may have immediate and long-term 
repercussions; the short-term effects primarily 
concentrate on women, children, and older people who 
cannot tolerate prolonged hunger. The above highlights 
how abundantly obvious it is that food scarcity is a major 
global problem with catastrophic consequences for the 
people and the government. It also requires immediate 
corrective actions by food industry stakeholders. The 
causes of  food scarcity are established and may be 
settled if  suitable steps to solve the issue are adopted and 
successfully executed. Laws may be used to address the 
environmental causes of  food scarcity, including pollution 
from human actions like deforestation, overgrazing, and 
climate change. Fruits and vegetables, as well as roots and 
tubers, have the greatest waste rates of  any food, at 40-50 
per cent —30 per cent for cereals, 35 per cent for fish, 
and 20 per cent for oil seeds, meat, and dairy (Hanjra & 
Qureshi, 2010).

Impacts of  Climate Change on Food (In)Security
Environmental factors have greatly influenced the 
food security challenges. Agricultural output has been 
decreased because of  climate change. Human actions, 
and to a lesser degree, natural activities, are primarily 
responsible for climate change. Drought is the main cause 
of  food shortages worldwide; in Central America and 
Africa, prolonged droughts have resulted in significant 
crop failures and animal deaths. Recent floods in India 
and other third-world countries have destroyed crops 
and cattle, forcing many people to escape their homes. 
The World Bank program’s design and assessment must 
consider climate change and disaster risks to maximise 
the development advantages. Heat waves may harm 
buildings, flooding can affect roads, and pests and drought 
can impair agricultural operations. While projects may be 



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vulnerable to many hazards simultaneously, it is often 
possible to plan and carry out projects that are resilient to 
future effects of  climate change. To achieve this, though, 
these risks must be considered at every stage of  the 
project cycle.
High seed and fertilizer prices, outmoded farming 
methods by developing-country farmers, and a lack of  
agricultural research contribute to decreased food output. 
Food costs have risen due to the 2008 global financial 
crisis, as have sources of  financing for agriculture by 
people and governments in wealthy countries, resulting in 
lower food production.(Woertz & Keulertz, 2015).

Biofuel as a Need or Greed and Its Impact on Food 
Security 
Over the last five years, there has been growing concern 
that crop-based biofuel production will undermine food 
production and food security, with some arguing that 
land, labour, water, or other production factors will be 
switched to biofuel production or that existing amounts 
of  food harvests will be transitioned from food to biofuel 
markets. Others argue that high demand for sustainable 
biofuels will spur innovation in agricultural production. 
There may be collaborations between biofuel and food 
supply by funding relatively underdeveloped areas 
with limited access to input and output markets. ‘The 
‘biofuel initiatives’ category is poor for predicting food 
security results. Due to favourable market circumstances, 
Biofuel initiatives have generated unjustified investment 
opportunities, considering the high likelihood of  project 
failure. However, research must indicate that biofuel 
initiatives deserve consideration regarding their effect 
on local social stability. Instead, a greater emphasis on 
individualized project design and protection is required 
(Lasnik, 1995). Projects that take land away from 
the local population must adhere to best practices in 
consent-seeking and participation, stressing that safety 
measures are in place to preserve communities’ access 
to food and income and that compensation payments 
do not undervalue important resources.   In our grower 
program, it makes sense to let farmers intercrop cash 
crops with food crops, use the inputs meant for the cash 
crops for other crops, or purposefully lend these inputs. 
It is also important to ensure that women have access to 
the resources they need for any efforts that include using 
land that women may have previously utilized for a home 
garden or food crop (Mengoub, 2020)

Food Wastage around the Globe
Germany is one of  the world’s most populous nations. 
As a result, food waste is at an all-time high. According 
to estimates, the typical German wastes more than 80 
kilograms of  food each year. Household kitchens and 
commercial restaurants are the largest contributors to 
waste. Food waste is any solid and liquid food prepared 
for consumption that is wasted for any cause. Food waste 
is considered a pervasive issue in the food business, 
occurring at every stage of  the supply chain(Seed, 2015). 

The entire quantity of  food waste generated in the United 
States is believed to be close around 103 million tons 
per year. Every year, billions of  tons of  food are wasted 
globally. While it has long been assumed that wastage 
is primarily an issue in developed countries, estimates 
indicate it is also a problem in developing countries. Even 
though China and India generate the greatest household 
food waste each year, the average amount generated per 
capita in these nations is less than 70 kilos. In contrast, 
the typical Australian produces 102 kilos of  food waste 
yearly (Verma, 2015).
Food waste (FW) is a significant problem, mostly in Gulf  
Countries (GCC). Based on thorough research performed 
on Research Gate in Jan 2020. FW management 
techniques, such as reduction and distribution, are 
undervalued. The prospective study highlights the urgent 
need for additional research on food scraps in the GCC, 
concentrating on the identified knowledge gap, such as 
origins and causes, developments, quantity and range, 
ecological and financial impacts, and the consequences 
of  wasted food in food production processes. Since food 
waste affects all GCC countries, these relevant studies 
should be addressed in a global research program. In 
Saudi Arabia, the biggest member of  the GCC, analysts 
estimate that rice waste alone costs the country SR1.6 
billion each year. According to EcoMena, a waste 
awareness organization, almost half  of  the trash in 
Qatar’s landfills is food. (Baig et al., 2019).

Ethical Dilemma of  Unhealthy Eating Lifestyle
Obesity is expected to cause over 30,000 fatalities each 
year. Obesity robs individuals of  an extra Nine years of  
life in general, prohibiting many people from reaching 
pensionable age. Obesity may ultimately overtake 
tobacco consumption as the greatest preventable cause 
of  death. Obesity increases the risk of  several diseases. 
Obese persons are more inclined to acquire certain 
malignancies, including colon cancer, which is 3 times 
more prevalent in overweight people, and they are two 
and a half  times more likely to become obese, which is a 
risk factor for heart disease and type 2 diabetes which is 5 
times as prevalent in males. (Fry, 2012)Anorexia nervosa 
has the greatest death rate among the different eating 
disorders, according to most research. Individuals with 
anorexia nervosa had a standardized death rate of  5.35 in 
research. Persons with bulimia nervosa and binge eating 
disorder had a standardized death rate of  1.5 (Tincheva 
& Reviews, 2019).
The findings of  research at the European Congress on 
Obesity (ECO) in Glasgow in May 2021 revealed that 
most people with a BMI of  35-40 were almost nine 
times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes, and those 
with sleep apnea were 12 times more likely. Those with 
extreme obesity (BMI 40-45) were significantly more likely 
to acquire Type 2 diabetes and had a 22-fold increased 
risk of  sleep apnea. People with a BMI of  40-45 had a 
threefold increased risk of  heart failure, hypertension, 
and hyperlipidemia. A BMI of  40-45 was also associated 



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with a 50% increase in the chance of  dying early from any 
cause. Long-term junk food intake exposes a person to a 
variety of  life-threatening effects as well as other health-
related problems(Lask & Bryant-Waugh, 2000). Oils, 
refined carbohydrates, and carbs are abundant in junk 
food. Junk eating is associated with several issues:

Rich Saturated Fat Content
Fast foods such as pizza, chips, and sandwiches are high 
in saturated fat. Because lipids are difficult to digest, they 
accumulate, causing individuals to gain weight, resulting in 
obesity. This may lead to many heart and blood pressure 
issues, among other things.

Excessive Salt
Fast food includes more salt than the body needs. 
Increased blood pressure is caused by salt. Excessive salt 
consumption is harmful to the body since it may lead to 
hypertension.

High Sugar Content 
Sugar is present in sodas, cookies, and other baked goods. 
Everyone enjoys a sweet flavour, but too much sugar rots 
teeth and may cause various dental issues such as pain, 
among other things. Excess sugar raises blood sugar levels, 
possibly leading to diabetes (Tincheva & Reviews, 2019)

The Dilemma of  Nutrition Amidst COVID-19 
Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic is already impacting food 
production, both internally and externally, through 
impacts on food production and consumption and 
reducing purchasing capacity to manufacture and deliver 
food, which will have a distinguishable consequence 
and unfairly target the underprivileged. The duration 
of  the outbreak and the severity of  the preventive 
measures needed will assess the desired threat to world 
food production and food costs. Isolated country-level 
measures are anticipated to aggravate the crisis’s global 
effects on food and nutritional security, especially in 
developing and food-insecure countries. (Carter et al., 
2020) Moreover, the pandemic’s potential impact on 
food production in major food-producing countries (for 
example, China, the EU, and the United States) might 
have substantial consequences for world diet production 
and food costs. The bigger financial disaster arising from 
the COVID-19 problem poses major challenges for 
ensuring food security. For instance, labourers, utilities, 
restaurants, and shops face substantial job losses (partly 
due to physical distancing regulations and in part to a 
broader economic crisis), and their salaries will suffer 
as a consequence. While small farmers may still see the 
competition in the market, disconnections to agri-food 
distribution networks and markets may make their living 
standards less safe; developing countries with strict rules 
that are directing to a drop in total demand and a significant 
decrease in farmworkers’ ability to move to their jobs, 
both regionally and abroad. Income cutbacks have a direct 

effect on people’s food supplies. Because of  the broader 
economic slump, which many economists think has already 
started, the coming global financial crisis is also expected 
to have long-term implications for food and nutritional 
security (Naylor & Falcon, 2010). This next crisis will be 
quite distinct from the last economic catastrophe in that 
we could not witness a similar increase in agricultural 
prices that happened mostly during an economic slump. 
While there might be price gouging at the consumer 
stores, as previously mentioned, commodities prices have 
generally been falling due to a lack of  demand. Also, due 
to the extreme oil market battle, which has ended in a 
substantial drop in the oil price, we are currently seeing 
different forces leading to increasing food prices. However, 
food supply and demand shocks seem likely to influence 
people’s agricultural production. (Tsai, 2020).

Food Supply and Demand Chain Imbalance
COVID-19’s effect on food production and consumption 
The impacts of  COVID-19 on food production and 
consumption will influence all fundamental aspects 
of  food and nutritional security, both intrinsically and 
extrinsically (FSN). It is also expected that the restriction 
measures taken in several countries would have severe 
impacts and longer-term ramifications on the world 
economy. The impact on food production as the frequency 
of  COVID-19 infections rises in countries around the 
world, agri-food supply systems are anticipated to be 
affected. Although there may be plenty of  foodstuff  in 
the distribution systems at the beginning of  the crisis, 
food chain disruptions have followed outbreaks due 
to increased fear buying by people concerned about 
agricultural productivity during potential lockdowns. If  
pandemics across the globe are severe or persist for a 
substantial amount of  time, there will most certainly be 
many more big interruptions, which will decrease food 
supply in markets in the long term. These delays might 
be the consequence of  the economic strain brought 
on by pandemic activity, or they could raise the danger 
of  workers becoming ill. When demand declines due 
to a decline in purchasing power, farmers and other 
producers are less able and inclined to invest in and use 
suitable technologies, which lowers food output and 
supply. Beginning with physical segregation measures, the 
pandemic raises costs due to customers’ panic buying and 
stockpiling of  commodities, increasing the short-term 
need for food. Regretfully, a consistent decline in pricing 
may have preceded this spike in sales, both in terms of  
actual purchasing power and in terms of  insufficient 
funds owing to capital market freezes and layoffs. Shifts 
in narrow tastes due to perceptions of  agricultural 
production or ease may lead to major changes, affecting 
food production, food manufacturer livelihoods, and 
dietary diversity(Fan et al., 2021)

COVID-19 Impacts on Economic Decline
Regarding job and income losses, low-exposure (LE) 
hosts saw a greater decline in economic output than 



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their more remote, high-exposure (HE) counterparts. 
According to these financial results, LE hosts have 
greater difficulty fulfilling basic food requirements during 
lockdowns and need to borrow money to buy food at 
a greater percentage. Since March 1st, one out of  every 
seven host families have reported getting help, with three-
quarters being new beneficiaries of  aid (compared to the 
beginning of  2020) and the overwhelming majority in 
the form of  regular food. High-exposure families report 
getting more help from non-governmental organizations 
(NGOs) than low-exposure households. (Bodrud-Doza et 
al., 2020) Ninety-six per cent of  camp families reported 
getting WFP food aid, although more than half  reported 
getting less food than normal. While the allowance and 
caloric value of  support offered per capita have not 
altered, the shift in method to fixed food baskets because 
of  new COVID-19 regulations has temporarily halted 
initiatives to improve nutritional intake and diet quality by 
the humanitarian response, which may be driving these 
negative perceptions. The local economy of  Bangladesh 
began to feel the effects of  the COVID-19 problem in 
early to mid-March 2020, with the first case recorded on 
March 7. From March 26 to May 28, the whole nation 
was under lockdown. This brief  examines reported 
consumption habits and dietary coping strategies used 
before COVID-19 (March-August 2019) and general 
results on access to necessities and support during the 
COVID-19 shutdowns (April-May 2020) (Tsai, 2020).

Unstable Political Scenarios Due to Food (In)Security
Food riots in several underdeveloped nations and concerns 
from numerous international groups about a global 
economic crisis have followed an increase in attention 
to the role of  meal accessibility and usage in recent 
times. This increase in interest is expected, considering 
the century’s turbulent humanitarian disaster in Sudan, 
Ethiopia, Malawi, and Niger. The query of  how and to 
what step starvation circumstances arise in these cases 
has garnered substantial scholarly, mass culture, and film 
interest. The dispute over interpretation and levels has 
had “horrific implications for reaction and accountability 
in a couple of  subsequent food insecurity.”Critically, since 
these dimensions of  globalization adhere to the ideology 
of  environmental sustainability as consciousness, they, in 
daily practice, possess the lowest point of  biopower on 
numerous occasions of  the country’s uninsured residents, 
retaining the neoliberal distinction between commercially 
insured population groups. Because of  its many features 
of  a “fragile state” and the significant participation of  
International NGOs and international groups in its 
federal agencies, Niger constitutes a region of  dependent 
nationality(Mengoub, 2020). Indeed, many of  these 
foreign actors have a strong record in Niger, such as 
the acquisition of  government duties. Ways to help, as 
a beginner to Niger and a non-mainstream international 
Islamic INGO, presents a great opportunity to also assess 
Duffield’s concept of  contingent independence in terms 
of  increased productivity and then provide the lacking 

act of  the process by which an international performer 
supposes a governmental function. The connections of  
Qatar Charity donations with Niger’s government officials 
assert the previously stated declaration as Qatar Charity’s 
agreements over the provision of  clinical care to project 
respondents reveal the institution’s progression against 
dependent sovereign powers as a difficult and iterative 
open dialogue with different practices and aspirations – 
specifically the regional “corruption complex” – instead 
of  a straightforward, one-time commodification. Qatar 
Charity’s ultimate version of  situational supremacy does 
not depend on the autonomous adoption of  public services 
but rather on collaboration with many other NGOs and 
a private industry actor, suggesting the significance of  the 
institution’s fetishization of  the justifying characteristics 
of  the organization’s “partnerships” to this process. At 
least in the context of  Qatar Charity, global development 
supports life continuity as normal. (Dugger, 2011).
Brazil is now regarded as one of  the twentieth century’s 
major development achievements. The country has 
significantly reduced its poverty and hunger burdens; 
it has made the leap from dictatorship to a democratic 
nation; and it has moved from a marginal role as a 
“sleeping giant” in global relations to an increasingly one 
of  the “emerging powers” of  the twenty-first century. 
Brazil has many persisting societal issues, the most 
serious of  which is steadily rising levels of  inequality, but 
in its current role as a global leader and aspiring to greater 
power, the nation has started to shift its focus outside 
and take an active interest in the development of  other 
countries. Improvements in agricultural productivity 
were a major factor in Brazil’s development during the 
20th century since they supported economic growth 
and helped reduce hunger in the rapidly expanding 
urban regions of  the nation. Brazil has expanded its 
international participation and is considered one of  its 
unique assets as it seeks to create better foreign ties in the 
Global South, notably in Africa. Agriculture has become 
a cornerstone of  the country’s development aid program 
and foreign direct investment. Food insecurity in Africa 
is a continuous worry for African governments and the 
international world. During the Green Revolution of  the 
1960s and 1970s, many developing countries in Asia and 
Latin America greatly expanded agricultural production. 
Still, the effects of  this shift in farming technologies and 
practices failed to take control in Africa, leaving analysts 
wondering how and when Africa might also achieve 
its green revolution. Brazil’s experience in significantly 
expanding its agricultural output has provided it with 
knowledge that may help African nations meet their food 
requirements. Brazilian agricultural aid and investment, 
on the other hand, have not been restricted to food 
production. Brazil has long been a worldwide leader in 
biofuel production and use(Mora et al., 2020). However, 
the Green Revolution has been criticized for increasing 
agricultural output while preserving and worsening social 
disparities. Liquid combustible fuels produced from 
crops or crop waste and biofuels have gained popularity 



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during the last two decades as one possible solution for 
addressing global energy requirements while decreasing 
greenhouse gas emissions. However, serious questions 
remain regarding the balance of  costs and advantages 
offered by biofuel production from various feedstocks, 
particularly the impact of  biofuel feedstock production 
on food security.

Food Security and the Black Sea Grain Initiative
Global food scarcity has been under further threat 
since the Russian Federation’s invasion of  Ukraine and 
its aftermath effects in February 2022. Both Russia 
and Ukraine are considered critical grain and fertilizers 
exporters, they are among the top three exporters of  
global grain exports (Food and Agriculture Organization 
Executive Report June 2022). 
Disturbance of  agricultural supplies due to the ongoing 
conflict has impacted agricultural markets and prices 
severely. At least developed countries such as Somalia have 
been hit the most and have already been facing a drought 
and famine for 2 years. The Russian invasion of  Ukraine 
in February 2022 has significantly impacted global food 
security, as both nations rely heavily on Eastern Europe 
for essential foodstuffs. The conflict disrupted agricultural 
production and exports, leading to market shocks, price 
surges, and increased hunger and malnutrition. These 
delays might be the consequence of  the economic strain 
brought on by pandemic activity, or they could raise the 
danger of  workers becoming ill. When demand declines 
due to a decline in purchasing power, farmers and other 
producers are less able and inclined to invest in and use 
suitable technologies, which lowers food output and 
supply. Beginning with physical segregation measures, the 
pandemic raises costs due to customers’ panic buying and 
stockpiling of  commodities, increasing the short-term 
need for food. Regretfully, a consistent decline in pricing 
may have preceded this spike in sales, both in terms of  
actual purchasing power and in terms of  insufficient 
funds owing to capital market freezes and layoffs. Due to 
the cascading consequences of  disruptions in important 
exporting locations, the Black Sea region’s disruption has 
greater implications for global food security. Through 
coordinated actions, humanitarian supplies, and political 
initiatives, the international community is attempting 
to resolve the problem. Strengthening global solidarity 
is crucial to address existing hunger crises and prevent 
future ones. Failure to navigate this delicate choreography 
could have devastating consequences for millions facing 
hunger and malnutrition.

Strengths and Future Implications
➢ The study discusses how the Russian invasion has 

affected food security worldwide.
➢ Adding credible references to reputable sources, 

such as the Food and Agriculture Organization Executive 
Report, enhances credibility.
➢ The research delves into the complex effects on 

prices, agricultural markets, and humanitarian emergencies.

➢ Draws attention to the effects on environmentally 
sensitive areas like Somalia and drought.
➢ Discusses the mitigation measures and response of  

the international community, highlighting the importance 
of  international cooperation.

Future Implications
Analyze how nations adapt their agricultural strategies 
and trade relationships post-conflict.

• Develop strategies for vulnerable regions to build 
adaptive capacities.

• Explore global governance mechanisms and crisis 
management strategies.

• Transition nations towards more sustainable and 
resilient agricultural systems.

•Investigate how geopolitical implications influence 
global cooperation.

•  Explore how precision agriculture and digital solutions 
can overcome global food supply chain disruptions.

CONCLUSION
This analysis emphasizes how crucial it is to handle 
disruptions in the world’s food supply systems and 
the serious repercussions they can have. The report 
emphasizes how critical it is for nations to work together 
to develop agricultural capacities, investigate sustainable 
techniques, and adjust to changing trade patterns. In 
the face of  complex problems, maintaining a safe and 
stable global food system requires focusing on resilience 
and preventative measures. Sustained investigation and 
coordinated efforts are essential for managing the intricate 
relationship between geopolitical developments and 
worldwide food security. Laws may be used to address the 
environmental causes of  food scarcity, including pollution 
from human activities like deforestation, overgrazing, and 
climate change.

Acknowledgements
None

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