The Right to Food : The Global Campaign to End Hunger and Malnutrition

This book examines the global campaign to end hunger and malnutrition. Focus is placed on the work of the United Nations which has led international efforts to improve food security in the world's poorest countries. The book first reviews the long-term project to establish access to safe, sufficient, and nutritious food as a universally recognized human right. This is followed by separate chapters that examine the nature and central causes of food insecurity in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. These chapters also review the contemporary work of three United Nations agencies - the World Food Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization, and International Fund for Agricultural Development - in providing both food aid and food assistance to each region of the developing world. This includes the provision of emergency food aid in response to natural disaster and civil conflict, as well as longer-term food assistance to promote agricultural productivity, advance rural development, and preserve natural environments. The concluding chapter considers ways to strengthen food aid and assistance in the years to come, with many of the recommendations advanced reflecting lessons learned from the actual experience of food aid and assistance described in this book. Francis Adams completed his doctorate in Government at Cornell University and is University Professor of Political Science and International Studies at Old Dominion University. Dr. Adams has served as Director of the undergraduate International Studies program, Associate and Acting Director of the Graduate Program in International Studies, and Chair of the Department of Political Science and Geography. His teaching and research areas include international political economy, international development, globalization, and Latin American politics Preface 6 Contents 8 Acronyms 9 1 Introduction 14 Hunger, Malnutrition, and Food Insecurity 14 Food Insecurity Measurements 16 Causes of Food Insecurity 18 Economic Causes 19 Political Causes 20 Environmental Causes 22 International Causes 25 Food Aid and Food Assistance 27 Chapter Outline 29 2 The Right to Food 38 Regime Origins 38 World Food Crisis 40 Regime Strengthening 41 General Comment Number 12 42 Millennium Development Goals 44 Right to Food Guidelines 45 Food Assistance Convention 47 Sustainable Development Goals 49 Food Assistance Agencies 51 World Food Programme 51 Food and Agriculture Organization 54 International Fund for Agricultural Development 55 Conclusion 57 3 Latin America 65 Regional Context 65 Causes of Food Insecurity 67 Emergency Food Aid 73 Agricultural Productivity 77 Rural Development 79 Environmental Preservation 80 Conclusion 82 4 Africa 90 Regional Context 90 Causes of Food Insecurity 91 Emergency Food Aid 97 Agricultural Productivity 102 Rural Development 105 Environmental Preservation 107 Conclusion 110 5 The Middle East 117 Regional Context 117 Causes of Food Insecurity 118 Emergency Food Aid 123 Agricultural Productivity 126 Rural Development 128 Environmental Preservation 129 Conclusion 130 6 Asia 135 Regional Context 136 Causes of Food Insecurity 137 Emergency Food Aid 142 Agricultural Productivity 146 Rural Development 148 Environmental Preservation 149 Conclusion 152 7 Conclusion 158 Emergency Food Aid 159 Agricultural Productivity 161 Rural Development 164 Environmental Preservation 166 The Road Forward 168 Bibliography 174 Index 198 Front Matter ....Pages i-xv Introduction (Francis Adams)....Pages 1-24 The Right to Food (Francis Adams)....Pages 25-51 Latin America (Francis Adams)....Pages 53-77 Africa (Francis Adams)....Pages 79-105 The Middle East (Francis Adams)....Pages 107-124 Asia (Francis Adams)....Pages 125-147 Conclusion (Francis Adams)....Pages 149-164 Back Matter ....Pages 165-194