Introduction
The emerging threat to the world’s food and water security is a crucial issue for the academic community. Access to clean and nourishing food and water is a requirement for any individual throughout the world. However, in the current age, some countries are struggling to provide their citizens with these necessities due to the lack of resources or finances. With many nations encountering food and water security problems, the consequences of such events have become global, giving rise to multiple outcomes of food and water insecurity (Young, 2020). Hunger, malnutrition, and decreased resource distribution frequently manifest in communities having issues with food and water security, which devastatingly decreases the well-being of such individuals (Young, 2020). Of special concern are the ethical implications of this phenomenon, such as labor exploitation and social injustice, which arise due to the unequal distribution of food and water resources. The world’s governments must contribute additional efforts to improve food and water security in developing countries, identifying initiatives that can help resolve this complication.
The Development of Food and Water Security Issue
The unequal access to clean food and water has been the topic of scholarly and government investigations for several decades. As food and water security complications became evident in such developing countries as Africa, India, and Haiti, numerous organizations directed their attention to the mitigation of this problem. Since 1982, the decreasing amount of food and water resources has been noted by several international corporations, which suggested that such might lead to the potential decrease of the affected populations (Young, 2020). Although efforts to improve the food and water resources have been made, the consistent demand for sufficient amounts of water for farming has tremendously reduced the agricultural yields. With the reserves of clean freshwater becoming depleted in a worrying fashion, the water security issues have been recognized as a viable threat to the well-being of various communities throughout the world.
Another critical factor closely connected to food and water insecurity is the degradation of farming locations. Numerous scholars reporting the recent evidence on agricultural yields state that the square footage of areas that were previously utilized for farming has diminished drastically, thus inevitably affecting food production outputs (Bagdi et al., 2017). As the majority of farmlands are being repurposed into factories and urban locations, the overall likelihood of establishing food security decreases (Bagdi et al., 2017). Therefore, more and more populations are encountering such complications as food shortages, malnutrition, and hunger, and these numbers are expected to increase in the future if appropriate measures are not implemented.
Possible Resolution Strategies
Water Conservation Technologies
Based on the relevant research findings, several methods to address the food and water insecurity complication have been suggested. First of all, as food and water security is largely dependent on the water resources available for distribution and farming, it has been proposed that the current amounts of water yields should be conserved (Mishra et al., 2021). Water Conservation Technologies (WCT) has been suggested as a prominent instrument for battling the complications related to excessive water use in farming, which can potentially help save water resources (Mishra et al., 2021). Integrating the latest technological advances, the WCT focuses on improving the efficiency of irrigation systems and utilizing rainwater for farming. Such methods are exceptionally useful for preserving water resources and maintaining high-quality food yields.
For some countries, WCT appears to be a promising resolution. For instance, in India, where the majority of the farming activities are conducted using the traditional approaches, the WST strategy could be of tremendous benefit (Kumar et al., 2020). Although WCT typically requires switching from the traditional approach and utilizing better technical equipment, it allows for the establishment of more developed measures and contributes to the improvement of the farms’ productivity (Kumar et al., 2020). With the implementation of WCT, it becomes possible to use smaller amounts of water in comparison to traditional farming while also ensuring that the production outputs are not negatively impacted by such changes.
In addition, a crucial benefit of the WCT approach is the opportunity to stabilize crop yields, preventing potential decreases in outputs and subsequent loss of food production levels. Drought and soil degradation are common factors that negatively influence the possibility of maintaining better yields and can result in the death of crops. Considering that the majority of agricultural clusters are located in regions with high annual temperatures, ensuring the protection of crops is vital for securing consistent production outputs (Mishra et al., 2021). As such, WCT should be implemented by world governments to mitigate the risks of plant death due to drought or extremely harsh conditions, increasing the chances of producing the necessary food resources.
Legacy Soil Phosphorus
Another strategy that could be highly advantageous for addressing the food and water security challenge could be the utilization of legacy soil phosphorus in farming. While water availability undoubtedly plays a critical role in the efficiency of agricultural establishments, access to efficient natural fertilizers is also essential for high crop yields. In the majority of farming regions, phosphate fertilizers are frequently used to promote plant growth and stabilize their outputs; however, with the phosphate resources being non-replenishable and slowly degrading, other means are needed (Rowe et al., 2016). Legacy phosphorus, a substance accumulated as a result of fertilizer input, has been proposed as a substitute for natural phosphorus (Rowe et al., 2016). By accessing legacy phosphorus and altering it, it is possible to fertilize the soil without having to rely on chemical solutions.
Recent research on legacy phosphorus demonstrates that this strategy can be incredibly effective. The majority of currently utilized fertilizers and soil mixtures have a chemical nature and can have a long-term negative influence on the soil, decreasing its potential. In contrast, natural substitutes are regarded as a highly demanded source that might improve the farms’ efficiency (Rowe et al., 2016). Nevertheless, as most natural fertilizers are less potent and might not have the immediate effect needed, most farmers continue using the chemicals. Legacy phosphorus, on the other hand, has a high level of potency and can be utilized safely without having to rely on artificial substances, it could be implemented to resolve the food security issue. Therefore, local governments should introduce policies to integrate legacy phosphorus as a substitute for chemical fertilizers, improving the likelihood of high crop production.
Conclusion
To conclude, two strategies for addressing the global food and water security problem have been discussed in this paper, highlighting the WCT and legacy phosphorus approaches as critical for mitigating the issue’s consequences. As the food and water resources remain at risk in the current age, it is essential to implement methods that can help efficiently resolve the named insecurity. Therefore, international governments must participate in promoting WCT and legacy phosphorus tactics among the farmers in developing countries, suggesting initiatives relevant for this complication.
References
Bagdi, G. L., Mishra, P. K., Arya, S. L., & Patil, S. L. (2017). Factors for continued adoption of soil and water conservation technologies for watersheds management in India. International Journal of Extended Education, 13(66).
Kumar, S., Singh, D. R., Singh, A., Singh, N. P., & Jha, G. K. (2020). Does adoption of soil and water conservation practice enhance productivity and reduce risk exposure? Empirical evidence from Semi-Arid Tropics (SAT), India. Sustainability, 12(17). Web.
Mishra, B. K., Kumar, P., Saraswat, C., Chakraborty, S., & Gautam, A. (2021). Water security in a changing environment: Concept, challenges and solutions. Water, 2021(13).
Rowe, H., Withers, P. J., Baas, P., Chan, N. I., Doody, D., Holiman, J., Jacobs, B., Li, H., MacDonald, G. K., McDowell, R., Sharpley, A. N., Shen, J., Taheri, W., Wallenstein, M., & Weintraub, M. N. (2016). Integrating legacy soil phosphorus into sustainable nutrient management strategies for future food, bioenergy and water security. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 104(3), 393-412.
Young, S. L. (2020). The human experience of water security and what it means for food security. CSIS. Web.
Young, S. L., Frongillo, E. A., Jamaluddine, Z., Melgar-Quiñonez, H., Pérez-Escamilla, R., Ringler, C., & Rosinger, A. Y. (2021). Perspective: The importance of water security for ensuring food security, good nutrition, and well-being. Advances in Nutrition, 12(4), 1058-1073.