Food security is defined as all people at all times having “access to enough food for an active, healthy life”. In Africa, literally all states have underscored the importance of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as a centrepiece in their struggle to attain food security and to fight poverty. But dramatic increases in world food prices in 2007 and 2008 have created global political and economic instability, and social unrest in both poor and developed nations.
The effects vary from country to country, and within countries, but factors behind the food crisis include higher input costs, low agricultural productivity, agroclimatic conditions and, in a few countries, civil unrest. Over-dependence on imported food also puts countries at risk; currently, Africa imports a quarter of its food consumption.
It is time to re-visit our biblical understanding of humanity’s relationship with nature: to co-exist with nature, not exploit it; to share the earth’s resources; to meet the basic needs of all of us – and food is “basic”.

Caring for the earth
The Bible and Christian teachings are clear about life and its fullness as promised by Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament the issues of land and labour are recurring themes. The book of Leviticus reminds land users not to over-exploit land or crops but to allow them to regenerate every 50 years: “The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines … eat only what is taken directly from the fields.”
In Paul’s epistle we read that people are to benefit from their agricultural labour: “The man who plants and the man who waters … each will be rewarded according to his own labour.”
The present-day food crisis is closely linked to environmental degradation where soils have eroded and can no longer support communities due to overpopulation and poor resource management. Water is life, and upon it depends food production. Yet it is now very scarce and tensions deepen as rivers dry up, become more polluted and as other water sources are depleted.
The book of Genesis clearly shows that human beings are meant to co-create and take care of the environment. Instead, the earth is subdued and dominated, not respected as part of the sacred creation that nurtures and sustains life. Competition and greed are contributing to the over-exploitation of resources in search of profit at all costs.

Sharing food resources
In the New Testament, repeatedly we see Jesus Christ responding compassionately to the hunger of his disciples and of large crowds alike, by encouraging the sharing of food. We see the early Church sharing meals as part of their worship and mutual responsibility.
In today’s world, we see developed countries producing surplus food that is fed to animals or simply dumped. There is no spirit of sharing; rather, the practice is to donate and demand repayment by food-recipient governments. The value and principle of sharing resources on the basis of need is challenged because resources are exploited for non-essential, luxurious uses.
Feeding most of the poor and vulnerable population in Africa, while preserving the natural resource base and the environment, is one of the most pressing developmental challenges of the 21st century. Africa’s rapidly-growing population already exceeds the productive capacity of the continent’s food production systems, and a vast majority of households, including rural ones, are net food buyers. In most of the eastern and southern African countries, populations live in rural areas and depend mainly on agriculture for their livelihoods. These people need to increase the productivity, profitability and sustainability of their farms. Clearly, much more needs to be done by governments, the international community and the private sector to reverse the low food production trends in Africa by stimulating agricultural sectors, thereby encouraging food security, poverty reduction and economic growth.
To assist the smallholder, for instance, appropriate agricultural policies, transfer of agricultural technologies and promotion of external trade on equal terms with the developed countries are key. Indeed, subsidised exports of surplus agricultural products from the developed countries, particularly foodstuffs, are destroying food markets in poor countries. Long-lasting multilateral trade negotiations are called for. If we do not share the food, we must at least share the market more fairly and efficiently.

Building strength to move ahead
Global food security hinges on concerted, harmonious and co-ordinated efforts from many actors including farmers, governments, the international community, civil society and non-governmental organisations. Without rapid and lasting action, the MDG 1 target for hunger reduction will be missed altogether.
Politicians from Africa, Europe and Japan recently met in Nairobi, Kenya, to discuss the current food shortages, adverse effects of climate change, and poverty. They collectively recognised that “sustainable development is hindered by climatic change and this is one of the biggest challenges humanity has ever faced”.
It is an utter scandal that millions starve in a world where nations affirm human rights and human dignity, where some nations are dumping food because of over-production, and where the environment and its protection is least on the agenda. -- Dr Agnes Abuom, Kenya