Ridding Global Hunger with Science

Can global malnutrition be combated with scientific means, or is there a more natural solution? Get the facts here.

By Eve Whittenburg, Writer/Editor, Skinny Ms.

by Skinny Ms.

Most people believe that to solve world hunger, we need high-calorie foods such as bread. Bread and clean water pop into our minds as the perfect solution to this global issue, but are calories enough to sustain healthy bodies? Of course not. Our bodies need protein, vitamins, and minerals as well as calories to grow and develop properly. Scientists have come up with new sources of these vital nutrients that may be able to solve our global food crisis.

Currently, scientists are developing genetically engineered foods that contain Vitamin A, which is extremely important for your body’s immune system, and it guards against blindness; both of which are chronic problems in more destitute communities around the world. These modified staple foods can be grown locally and in poor areas that rely heavily on staple crops.

Scientists add micro-nutrients to foods to improve the nutrition of large populations, but many of these fortified foods are unavailable to very poor populations. Not only that, but many people are instinctively averse to scientifically tampered foods, claiming that they may come with unforeseen side-affects.

Another scientific solution to the food crisis a synthetic cultivation of meat. In laboratories, scientists are able to grow meat from cow cells. The process is still in preliminary stages and the meat is lacking in flavor, but its potential is quite large. Though it is expensive to produce at its current stage, synthetic meat has the possibility to provide large amounts of protein for a global population.

There are other, more natural solutions to malnutrition, but they are not for the squeamish. Countries like Thailand, where it is already a dietary norm, are developing insect farms. Certain insects are excellent sources of animal protein, fat, vitamins, and fiber. More than two-billion people around the world already consume insects regularly, and Thailand boasts 20, 000 insect farms used to combat malnutrition.

Global malnutrition is a rampant problem that seems impossible to solve in the near future, and the obstacles appear insurmountable. Perhaps the solution lies in new scientific advances with the synthetic growth of meat and the genetic engineering of staple crops, or maybe it will take the introduction of insects into our diets to consume enough nutrients. The answer is not simple, but will require the study of long-term effects and further developments and advances.

Source: BBC

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