International (MNN) — Any more severe weather in major food-exporting countries like the USA, Australia, or Canada could trigger a global food crisis next year, warns the United Nations.
"We've not been producing as much as we are consuming," said Abdolreza Abbassian, a senior economist with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). "Supplies are now very tight across the world, and reserves are at a very low level, leaving no room for unexpected events next year."
What does this mean? Think back to 2008, says Peter Howard with Food for the Hungry.
"We saw food riots all over the world, especially in poorer countries where access to food is literally life and death," said Howard. "In parts of Africa, families have to fight for the food they're trying to access."
Violence is just one possible result of a global food crisis. Howard says it's like a ripple effect.
"[The food crisis] not only affects nutrition, but it can affect education, health, and then the social fabric of families and communities," he explains.
So how did we get here? The global food supply took a dive after severe droughts this summer. According to the FAO, 870 million people are malnourished and the food crisis is growing in the Middle East and Africa. Families in Central Asia and Haiti don't have enough food either.
In light of troublesome signs, Howard says there's good news, too.
"A lot of organizations like Food for the Hungry are working very closely at the community level and helping farmers with more drought-resistant crops that are improving production.
"And that's what we want to continue to do so we don't get back into a situation like we had in 2008 when there were riots."
Click here to see where FH works around the world. Pray that God would lead you to help fight world hunger. Pray for those waging war against physical hunger and spiritual hunger.
"Pray not only that we can help communities have more access to real physical food," Howard asks, "but also that we could walk with churches and communities and help them reach their full, God-given potential."
