|
|
FEBRUARY 2023
Nourishing the World
Fighting the global food security crisis doesn’t just mean feeding the world – it means nourishing the world too. One of the most serious effects of the crisis is malnutrition, especially for children. The World Bank estimates stunting – a measure of chronic malnutrition – hampers the cognitive and physical growth of children and causes global productivity losses of $3 trillion a year. As the world faces a global food security crisis of historic proportions, Feed the Future is acting with the urgency and at a scale necessary to respond to the worsening food security and nutrition needs of millions of people.
Feed the Future is dedicated to building resilient food systems that nourish populations, especially women and children, two groups who have been profoundly affected by the crisis. The U.S. government pledged $11 billion over the next three years to global nutrition commitments, including exclusive breastfeeding, nutrition data systems, and wasting treatment and prevention. With our past achievements and our future commitments, Feed the Future stands ready to support partner countries confronted with the global food security crisis and some of the highest malnutrition rates in the world.
For stories and updates related to Feed the Future and global food security progress, keep an eye out for our upcoming newsletter issues.
|
|
 Nutrition at the Center of the Storm
For smallholder farmers and families, the global food security crisis is taking a worrisome toll on their nutrition. Read USAID’s Acting Assistant to the Administrator and Global Food Crisis Coordinator Dina Esposito’s latest blog on how our response efforts are catalyzing solutions to help local food systems deliver safe, affordable and nutritious diets to vulnerable communities.
|
|
Ethiopian Inventor Promotes Safe, Nutritious Foods
Inventor and business owner Helen Weldemichael is the 2022 EatSafe Innovation Challenge Winner for her creation: a fermentation pot that makes processing enset, a staple food for 20 million Ethiopians, faster and more hygienic compared to traditional methods. As recent global shocks have exacerbated food insecurity in northern Ethiopia, safely fermented enset provides an important source of nutritious food.
Agrilinks Spotlight Webinar: Impacts of Global Shocks on Poverty, Hunger and Diets
How have countries been specifically impacted by recent global shocks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, high food and commodity prices, protracted humanitarian conflicts and climate change? The International Food Policy Research Institute presented its analysis of the impact of these shocks on poverty, hunger and diet in 20 countries in a recent Agrilinks Spotlight Webinar.
High-Level U.S. Officials Attend African Union Summit
The U.S. delegation met with African leaders on the sidelines of the African Union Summit to discuss the global food security crisis and its disproportionate impact on Africa as well as to follow up on U.S. commitments made at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in December 2022.
|
|
Feed the Future Photo Contest
From crop insurance and new irrigation methods to women and youth participating in agribusiness, the joint 2023 Feed the Future-Agrilinks photo contest has already received some amazing entries from Feed the Future projects and partners around the world. If you have inspiring photos that tell the Feed the Future story and show its impact, submit them for a chance to win $250. Remember to submit your images before March 3!
|
|
Creating a Buzz in Ethiopia
In many parts of northern Kenya, overgrazing of cattle and erratic weather patterns are increasingly degrading the quality and quantity of livestock pasture. To ease reliance on pastureland, farmers like Ebla Hassan are pivoting into diversified livelihoods, such as beekeeping. Ebla’s venture has paid off – she now has more than 60 beehives and expanded into growing and selling fruits and vegetables, mentoring other beekeepers and keeping livestock.
Food Systems For Nutrition Innovation Lab Launches New Website
Check out the Feed the Future Food Systems for Nutrition Innovation Lab new website for the latest news, events and publications. It’s a great resource for information on food system innovations, novel technologies and best practices to improve diet quality, nutrition and resilience.
Irrigation Solutions in Nepal
In Nepal, where one in four families is impoverished, smallholder farmers are struggling to get enough imported fuel and fertilizer, but one possible solution is harnessing groundwater for irrigation. Not only is it more affordable, it is also a more accessible option for farmers, especially women.
|
|
|
Feed the Future is the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security initiative.
Photo Credit: Bariki Chambulikasi, DAI Global LLC
|
|
|
|
