The Geography of Food and Health

Global Food Security Index (GFSI)

A measurement tool that assesses disparities in food and health between countries based on affordability, availability, and quality of food, as well as climate resilience.

Global Hunger Index (GHI)

An index that measures undernourishment, child wasting, child stunting, and child mortality rates to assess food security.

Calories per person/capita

A measure of the amount of energy contained in a given amount of food, typically measured in kilocalories per person per day (kcal/person/day).

Indicators of malnutrition

Stunted growth, wasting, and undernourishment are indicators of malnutrition.

Sustainable Agriculture

The practice of farming that aims to produce food indefinitely without causing harm to the environment, conserving natural resources, and increasing profitability.

Environmental Costs of Increasing Food Production

The negative impacts of monoculture, agro-chemical use, pollution, and deforestation caused by large agribusinesses.

Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER)

A measure of the amount of energy input compared to the amount of output produced by a farm, calculated by dividing total output by total input.

Factors affecting energy subsidies or energy efficiency ratio

Climate, type of soil, type of crop cultivated, relief/topography, irrigation, and the type of farming system can all influence energy efficiency in agriculture.

Disease/agriculture innovation diffusion

The spread of diseases or agricultural innovations through expansion diffusion, relocation diffusion, network diffusion, contagious diffusion, or hierarchical diffusion.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

An organization that works to eliminate hunger, improve agriculture, reduce rural poverty, and promote sustainable food systems.

World Food Programme

An organization committed to ending hunger and achieving food security by providing emergency assistance, relief, and development aid.

World Health Organization (WHO)

An organization that provides leadership on health matters, sets norms and standards, and promotes evidence-based policy options.

Influence of TNCs or Agribusiness on food consumption habits

Large-scale food production by TNCs increases food availability, reduces costs, extends shelf life, and offers a wide range of food choices to consumers.

Criticisms of TNCs/Agribusiness

Negative impacts on the environment, land grabs, processed and unhealthy food, limited food crop cultivation, and control over seed supply are criticisms of TNCs and agribusiness.

Possible solutions to food insecurity

Economic solutions such as investment in agriculture and loans, political solutions like food aid and fair trade, and technological solutions like irrigation, mechanization, and reducing food waste.

Contemporary approaches to food production

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs), vertical farming, and in vitro meat are innovative methods of food production.

Preventive Health Care

Measures taken to prevent diseases from occurring, focusing on prevention rather than treatment.

Curative Health Care

Treatment of diseases after they have occurred, involving investment in medical infrastructure and resources for hospitals and healthcare professionals.