Improving local food security 225
Improving Local Food Security
Every government should try to make sure people do not go hungry. National
governments can make policies that promote the use of land for family farms,
protect against pollution of farmlands, make affordable credit available to
farmers, and help farmers solve problems.
Some national governments offer subsidies (money to support farmers, food
buyers, or both) as a way to improve food security. Kinds of subsidies include
price supports to help farmers by setting a higher market price for the foods
they produce, and price controls for food buyers (consumers) to make sure that
important foods are affordable.
Government support is often misused by giving it to corporations that
own large industrial farms or produce and distribute unhealthy foods. When
government support is corrupted by pressure from large corporations, the
result is often more hunger and malnutrition.
But with or without government support, there are many ways people can
improve local food security. From planting a small garden to organizing a
farmers’ market, changes that improve food security can often bring results
quickly and motivate people to do more.
Local food is healthy, fresher, and supports the local culture and economy.
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012