Hunger Archives – Food Tank

Congressman Dwight Evans of Pennsylvania detailed for Food Tank his work on food security and the importance of strong food policy in America.

Food Security and the Farm Bill: A Talk with Congressman Dwight Evans

Congressman Dwight Evans of Pennsylvania details his work on food security in America and the importance of strong food policy both domestically and internationally in a conversation with Food Tank.

Africa Needs Better Farm Policy—Not Better Farmers

I’ve recently spent several weeks in Malawi, and for about 15 years I have been working with colleagues on measuring the impacts of agricultural input use in Africa. With American budget cuts looming, I spent some of my time overseas reflecting on the importance of the research that is often support

Insights from Tracking Promises: Guatemala

Malnutrition levels comparable to Malawi, hazard risk exposure greater than Haiti, and lower-middle-income status. These perplexing conditions mark the country of Guatemala, the wealthiest country served by the U.S. government’s global hunger and food security initiative Feed the Future.

Free from Debt and Suicide: India’s Natural Farmers

Ashlesha Khadse’s friends in Bangalore’s hi-tech boom are sometimes envious of her work. It’s true that they have their weekends free, but being immersed in a David and Goliath fight for a fair food system seems like pretty meaty stuff. Ashlesha’s been swallowed whole by a mo

Recently, Sri Lanka experienced the worst flooding in 14 years, brought on by monsoon rains across southwestern portions of the country which have affected an estimated 684,000 people, according to the country’s U.N. Resident Coordinator. A total of 212 deaths had been confirmed and 79 people remained missing as of early June. The main cause for severe flooding was two rivers overflowing, particularly in the southern Galle and Kalutara. CNN reported that Ratnapura—63 miles southeast of the capital Colombo—experienced up to 453 millimeters (17.8 inches) of rain over just three days. Ratnapura was the district with the highest death count of any area, with 79 deaths. There, shops and houses remained submerged in 3 to 9 meters (10 to 30 feet) of water. As average rainfall begins to decrease, it’s replaced by concern about landslides, mainly in Ratnapura, Kalutara, Galle, Kegalle, Matara, Nuwara Eliya, and Hambanota districts. About 22,000 people remain temporarily displaced in 202 safe locations, while 2,500 houses have been destroyed and 15,890 are partially damaged, according to U.N. Resident Coordinator for Sri Lanka. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reported that the Government has released a grant of 166 million Sri Lankan rupees (nearly US$1,084,000) for the flood response. A total of 22 agencies are currently providing health, protection, education, food security, WASH, emergency shelter, Non-Food Items (NFIs), and early recovery activities in nine districts. U.N. Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) has set an Emergency Response Plan for US$22.7 million, which outlines the support between U.N. agencies and NGOs. Meanwhile, some are pointing to a lack of prevention measures prior to these events. In a speech in Galle, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said “people who oppose prevention plans are the ones who cry hoarse when the floods occur” The Wire reports. International response has been prompt, as neighboring countries like India, Australia, Russia, China, and Bangladesh have provided assistance with the emergency and recovery operations. Rains have also hit Thailand, producing heavy rainfall and widespread flooding. Extreme weather caused these monsoon rains to be the worst to hit Sri Lanka since 2003. This comes just two months after nearly 900,000 people were affected by the country’s worst drought in 40 years, according to the World Food Programme (WFP), and were undergoing serious food insecurity and malnutrition.

Sri Lanka Hit by Worst Flood in Decades

Get a hold of Sri Lanka’s situation after its worst flooding in 14 years, measures being taken and what’s to come.

Lovin’ Spoonfuls Reduces Food Waste While Feeding People

Boston-area organization Lovin’ Spoonfuls serves a dual mission: reduce food waste and feed the hungry. Lauren Palumbo, the organization’s COO talks with Food Tank about food rescue, the environment, and reducing our food waste footprints.

Smart Food for a Global Population, an Interview with Joanna Kane-Potaka

The Smart Food Project is hoping to popularize nutrient-rich, drought-tolerant crops in an effort to diversify diets and ensure global food security. An initiative by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the Smart Food Project is promoting the consumption o

Saving Lives and Livelihoods

Hunger weakens people to the extent that they cannot fight off even the simplest illness—a common cold can become a death sentence. In South Sudan, this is happening right now.

Food Bank works towards systemic change to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin County.

SF-Marin Food Bank Works Towards Systemic Change

Teri Olle, Policy and Advocacy Director at SF-Marin Food Bank, emphasizes the importance of collaboration in order to end food insecurity and hunger in San Francisco and Marin County, where 1 in 4 residents need food assistance.

New Book Highlights Worldwide Benefits of Agroecology

The Institute for Food and Development Policy, a nonprofit known as Food First, released a new book entitled Fertile Ground: Scaling Agroecology from the Ground Up, edited by Groundswell International Executive Director and co-founder Steve Brescia. Fertile Ground presents nine innovative case studi