It is a tragic fact that the global climate crisis and war have largely shaped the current global food shortage, leaving millions starving.   To think there is enough food to feed all seven billion of us in the world, but dozens of countries suffer major food insecurity. It is truly jarring. The global imbalance is evident, and we witness it in our daily lives. On this side of the world, what we know as the developed world, we waste tons of food daily – resources that we could actually divert to places that are in dire need of food. In the United States itself, we waste 133 billion pounds and $161 billion worth of food (USDA). The global imbalance tipped even more as Russia stopped a UN-brokered deal to allow grain shipments from Ukraine but later agreed to re-start shipments. Ukraine is one of the world’s largest grain exporters and uncertainty of war has led to record prices.  

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN defines food security as a state or condition “when all people at all times have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life” (FAO 1996, 2012). Out of the many countries with severe food insecurity, Yemen and Afghanistan are two prime examples of countries where food insecurity has been exacerbated by war and the global climate crisis. Famine is a difficult subject to talk about or even read about, but this crisis is important. Those who care can help raise awareness. Those in key positions to direct humanitarian aid will know that feminists want to see more emphasis on directing resources to the women and children who are the most disproportionately affected demographic.