Hunger in the U.S.: Agents of Change Needed

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Introduction

Recently, food security has become a significant issue for millions of Americans. The problem, which required immediate action in the past, has become even more acute due to the coronavirus pandemic. According to government statistics, in 2019, 35 million Americans were facing hunger (Houseman, 2020). Among them are workers in critical areas, older people, children, and teenagers. Growing food insecurity has a highly negative effect on national health and well-being. Despite government initiatives, the problem remains unresolved, and the number of US citizens needing support continues to grow. The essay discusses food insecurity and the need for food security for the vulnerable population in the US by providing case analysis of the problem, its impacts on vulnerable groups, the potential solutions, and a reflection.

Research indicates that food insecurity is a growing social and economic challenge in the US. Experts report a 10 billion-dollar gap between the populations food needs and financial support from the state in 2020, including problems with attracting volunteers and contact distribution of food (Housman, 2020). Ways to help meet food needs include supporting local food banks, political lobbying for initiatives to overcome hunger and public support for government nutrition programs. No Kids Hungry is a campaign by a national non-profit organization that fights hunger and tries to meet the needs of the 22 million school children eligible for free or reduced meals in 2019 by implementing alternative food delivery models through school bus delivery (Housman, 2020). Therefore, food insecurity is an issue of national well-being and health, given that half of American families were food insecure during pandemics. The state has several initiatives that have proven their effectiveness in the past, but the support of volunteers and non-governmental and non-profit organizations is essential.

Food insecurity among US citizens is caused by income differences, making it difficult for them to afford the wholesome meals available in local grocery stores. Since low-income families are more likely to reside in rural locations, these families are at the core of experiencing food insecurity. However, middle-class people are susceptible to hunger due to losing their jobs. As a result, it restricts the amount of money that can be used to buy them all balanced diet meals. Despite their financial capabilities, those with terminal diseases, frailty, and other difficulties that might cause social isolation are highly at risk of experiencing greater food insecurity.

Impact on Vulnerable Groups

The older population living in the US is severely impacted by the issue of food insecurity. Several sources have characterized the population as receiving the least attention from volunteers and the state. According to Ziliak and Gundersen (2020), over 7 million older people were facing food insecurity, with 5.2 million highly affected, while those with low food security are 1.9 million in 2019. Importantly, people living in non-metropolitan areas showed slightly higher food insecurity of 8.3% compared to 6.8% for metro areas, which is counter-intuitive from the eco-sustainable perspective (Ziliak & Gundersen, 2020). Additionally, Ziliak and Gundersen (2020) states an increasing trend over the last 20 years with doubled and tripled the amount of elderly in food insecure and VLFS groups in the US. This means that the globalization of the economy and the use of technology in production did not positively impact the agricultural sector, the development of which does not have an adequate relationship with the growth of the population and food needs.

In addition, the younger population, especially students, although having more job opportunities than people from other vulnerable groups, face food insecurity no less often. Broughton et al. (2018) share the study results saying that many college students skip meals. At the same time, a lower percentage of students are eligible for participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) when they can get food stamps since this program has too strict income and assets, including criteria like caring for a dependent child, working no less than 20 hours per week, or participation in employment-related programs (Weaver & Mai, 2018). In other words, the governmental SNAP initiative is targeted at the VLFS group, which is smaller than the total amount of food-insecure students. According to Weaver and Mai (2018), students lack of time and money to adequately supply food is the leading cause of food insecurity.

This means that adolescents and young adults need help with providing material resources, such as subsidies or food stamps. Government and non-government initiatives usually focus on primary school children, but older children face the same challenges, mainly due to high food prices. Food is the basic need of the states population, which should guarantee stability and security. Therefore, solving the problems of the agricultural sector and food equality are urgent issues for US governments at all levels.

Solving the Hunger Crisis to Sustain a Healthy Nation

The development of the agricultural sector is crucial in producing the revenues required to guarantee food security. The majority of the worlds poor, between 50% and 65%, dwell in rural regions where agriculture predominates (CDC, 2022). Smallholder farmers do the majority of the farming, and with food prices on the rise, smallholder farmers now have more robust prospects than they had in many years to establish financially successful businesses. However, while some smallholders seize such chances, others will leave agriculture in favor of new, ultimately more lucrative, endeavors. It is crucial to acknowledge that, as has been the case in other nations, the majority of the next generations will have more options outside of agriculture than within it. In order to end world hunger in a sustained manner, broad-based income growth is necessary.

The chances for low-income households can be improved by various policies, both inside and outside of agriculture. Enhancements in primary healthcare and education can support income development. They immediately increase nutrition and provide clean water. The general business climate, which depends on fundamental elements like stability and peace, solid macroeconomic management, decent governance and established institutions, unambiguous property rights, and enough physical infrastructure, is just as significant. Farmers benefit from these rules but are not discouraged from pursuing other non-farm possibilities when they arise.

The government developed government policies like the Thrifty Food Plan to stop hunger in the US, and it presents a variant of a practical, nutritious, budget-conscious diet. The US Department of Agriculture developed four types of food plans for its population, which differ in terms of cost: Thrifty, Low-Cost, Moderate-Cost, and Liberal Food Plan (The Thrifty food plan, 2021). These plans play a critical role in governmental support for those experiencing unsatisfied nutritional demands.

Potential Benefits of Healthy Diets and Food Security

Types of Health Diets

Food choices can be determined not only by personal preferences but also dictated by dietary requirements for nutrient content. Different diets include foods with a maximum nutrient content that promotes recovery from certain chronic diseases and supports overall good health. Diets with a higher content of essential nutrients should be included in USAD food plans to ensure food security. Cena and Calder (2020) analyzed the medical application of popular diets that are seen as healthy. These are the Mediterranean, Nordic, and traditional Asian diets. Interestingly, the Mediterranean diet is widely used for neurodegenerative delay treatment and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH).

The scholars emphasize that the Mediterranean diet is traditional for European-Mediterranean countries and is widely used in the US. It includes cereals, like whole-grain bread, pasta, fruits, and vegetables high in micronutrients, fiber, and phytochemicals, dairy products, such as low-fat yogurt, cheese, and other fermented dairies, olive oil, wine, water, fish, white meat, eggs, and less frequently the red and processed meat. Nordic diet is often seen as a translation of other popular diets into a regional dietary pattern, and its foods are seen as eco-sustainable and public-friendly. The product pattern features green leaf vegetables, other vegetables, fruits, fish and seafood, potatoes, rapeseed, sunflower, and/ or soya oils and limited intake of fresh red meat and sugar (Cena & Calder, 2020). The diet helps lose weight for people with diabetes.

Cardiovascular Disease Dietary Interventions

Cardiovascular disease, one of the most widespread chronic conditions among Americans, can be effectively prevented through healthy diets. Yu et al. (2018) report that US-observed practices aimed at preventing cardiovascular disease include food consumption policies that are developed in line with scientifically based dietary goals. Nutrition labeling for products rich with trans fats and legislation on the removal of trans fats are exemplary decisions in this sphere.

There is an initiative to reduce the consumption of unhealthy products through taxation on sugar-supplied beverages. Importantly, scholars say that a tax increase of 10% is needed to make an appreciable impact (Yu et al., 2018). Other pricing policies are agricultural subsidies to improve the accessibility of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and whole grains. The mentioned practices determine the scope and potential variability of practices that governments can develop and introduce to ensure food security, health benefits, and chronic disease prevention for vulnerable groups.

Global Hunger Crisis and Agricultural Sector

Hunger and food insecurity is an international problem which is often attended to from an environmental perspective. Different disciplines suggest unique decisions for the hunger problem, such as engineering, ecological, healthcare, and agricultural perspectives. Sustainable farming is one resistant approach that evolved at the intersection of ecological, economic, and agricultural standpoints. For instance, macroeconomic factors that impact sustainable farming are total area, population, and GDP per capita. Agri-food sector factors are employment share, GDP share, export share earnings, predominant farm sizes, and prevalent farming characteristics. Different countries have different levels of the factors mentioned, so hunger standards are more likely to vary.

Consequently, farming decisions differ depending on global regions, but some typical attitudes are universal and appropriate for the US agricultural sector. Cheo and Tapiwa (2021) reported that farming in Ghana, Gambia, and Nigeria is predominantly smallholder (from 1.6 to 2 ha), traditional, and rain-fed. These farms are perceived as insufficiently small to solve the local problems of food insecurity (Cheo & Tapiwa, 2021). In the US, small farming can be an adequate decision due to high unemployment rates and access to sustainable engineering. Siegner et al. (2019) admit that 35 small urban farms in East Bay are introducing sustainable farming practices using the agroecology prism. Agroecology entails the creation of essential spaces for food, community, health, and culture, and these farms can become role models for a new type of agricultural practice in the US.

Contrary, given the universalistic approach of the UN goals of sustainable development, the critics may notice that these goals will have an excessively diverse scope of solutions varying from region to region. Some parts of the world have better technology and business opportunities, and others must develop the mentioned sectors first. There is a difference in soil and water resources, which is critical for sustainable agriculture. Logistics options will be uneven in metropolitan and rural areas, especially considering there are particularly distant places on our planet. Therefore, the approaches for sustainable agriculture should be individualized depending on the opportunities and capacities of regions and local communities to help eradicate food insecurity rather than using the UN SDG that generalizes all nations.

Additionally, food insecurity can be used to stigmatize vulnerable groups. Food poverty can be not only a survival problem but also an obstacle to social realization, especially in societies where there is a more significant gap in the ownership of financial assets and background social, political, and economic problems and crises. Stigmatization of vulnerable groups is a traditional phenomenon, although recently, in the US, it is possible to observe a decrease in stigmatization due to the growth of civic consciousness. Rost and Lundälv (2022) note that food poverty stigmatization is on the rise in Sweden. However, scientists have emphasized the possibility of implementing support strategies considering the ways, causes, and types of stigmatizations.

Conclusion

Overcoming the hunger crisis in the US will help achieve food justice for all population groups. Equally important, solutions must focus not only on government support programs such as SNAP but also involve a strategic component. Support for the development of small farms and urban farms should become an essential area of support for the agro-industrial sector. Governments at all levels should contribute through the development of the legislative basis for the initiative of the development of small and urban farming. Practical implementation can result in the cultivation of products with a higher percentage of nutrients due to a careful attitude to soils, and the use of more ecological methods of achieving agricultural targets.

In general, strengthening food security will allow the formation of a healthier and more prosperous nation, which will be more resilient and ready to contribute to the economic development of society. Small farms will be able to cooperate with local communities to implement point provision of food to vulnerable groups. In a broader perspective, the development of farming will decrease food prices, from which all the citizens will benefit.

Reflection

Provide one example of a place where you have used rhetorical appeals or source material to support your argument. How does this enhance your essay?

Throughout the research, I mostly used the logos rhetorical tool, introducing cause-effect thinking, exemplification, elaboration, and coherent thought. For example, in the conclusion section, I use cause-effect thinking, saying that overcoming the hunger crisis will benefit communities, leading to more comprehensive economic and ecological sustainability.

Touchstone 4 is a revision of this draft. What kind of feedback would be helpful for you as you revise? Are there parts of your draft that youre uncertain about?

I am satisfied with my draft, but I suppose I could have used more logos techniques, such as comparison and analogical reasoning. I would also be interested in how I can strengthen my points by applying some pathetic techniques. I will also be interested to know how I can make a smoother transition from talking about current approaches to addressing hunger through government support programs to including small and urban farming support programs as a central element of such programs.

References

Cena, H., & Calder, P. C. (2020). Defining a healthy diet: Evidence for the role of contemporary dietary patterns in health and disease. Nutrients, 12(2), 334. doi.org/10.3390/nu12020334

Cheo, A. E., & Tapiwa, K. A. (2021). SDG2 Zero Hunger: Food Security, Improved Nutrition and Sustainable Agriculture (Concise Guides to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals). Emerald Publishing.

Food Security. (2022).

Housman, P. (2020). The Growing Hunger Crisis in America. American University.

Rost, S., & Lundälv, J. (2022). Social work responses to food poverty in Sweden: A qualitative study applying the concept of stigma. The British Journal of Social Work. doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcab228

Siegner, A. B., Acey, C., & Sowerwine, J. (2019). Producing urban agroecology in the East Bay: from soil health to community empowerment. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 44(5), 566593.

The Thrifty Food Plan: What It Is and Why It Matters. (2021). USDA.

Weaver, K., & Mai, M. (2018). Hunger in Higher Education: Experiences and Correlates of Food Insecurity among Wisconsin Undergraduates from Low-Income Families. Social Sciences, 7(10), 179.

Yu, E., Malik, V. S., & Hu, F. B. (2018). Cardiovascular Disease Prevention by Diet Modification. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 72(8), 914926.

Ziliak, J., & Gundersen, C. (2018). Senior food insecurity studies. Feeding America.

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