Food security issues: root causes and directions for the future

Abstract

The second United Nations Sustainable Development Goal is Zero Hunger. The issue stems from multiple root-causes that must be recognised and managed, to reduce the consequences of acute hunger and undernourishment. Two closely related topics are food security and food poverty. While the characterisation of these two problems is different, their causes are closely related. Aotearoa, New Zealand is confronting these problems as well, even though the country is exporting a significant amount of food from agricultural production. This paper is a realist review of food security issues in Aotearoa, New Zealand; the method aligns with selected secondary reviews devised for complex policy interventions. The focus is on several interdependent topics such as the living wage, eating habits, and the food system. While income is the most obvious aspect of a living wage, it is important to be aware of many encompassing factors such as eating habits. The food system is directly related to these issues and needs to evolve simultaneously and considerably. Fortunately, Aotearoa, New Zealand is rich in resources and culture; Māori culture influences our food industry. This paper will particularly discuss hāngī (traditional, earth-cooked food) and its connection to agriculture in Aotearoa, New Zealand. The paper outlines an alternative food system as one possible response that can be developed and adopted in the future.