Food security is a serious and crucial issue that must be considered and addressed by all parties. Everybody has the right to adequate, nutritious, and safe food. Rapid climate change, expanding populations, wars, and land constraints caused by urbanisation are contributing to the deterioration of the food supply. In fact, food insecurity is increasing in a number of nations, reversing years of development progress and endangering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030.
Sufficient food has been recognised as a fundamental human right. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), undernourishment as a percentage of the world’s population fell by 4.3% from 2001 to 2019, but now it is on the rise again. Between 2019 and 2020, the prevalence of malnutrition increased from 8.4% to approximately 9.9%.
Food security awareness and comprehension are clearly recorded in the Quran, Surah Yusuf verses 46-49, and Prophet Yusuf AS exemplified this insight. However, technological advancement, planning and implementation are more prevalent in the Western and non-Muslim countries. They are the world’s foremost leaders, manufacturers, and suppliers, particularly in the food supply chain, but we are primarily consumers, despite having the Quran as a guide.
These verses of Surah Yusuf indicate that Prophet Yusuf AS not only interpreted dreams and made note of impending events, but he also proposed long term agro-economic suggestions or contingency plans to deal with the upcoming drought. As a result of the knowledge, awareness, planning, and cooperation of the Egyptian government and people at that time, they were finally able to face God’s destiny towards better planning.
Agriculture was crucial to the evolution of human civilization. Food has always been essential to human survival. However, the ways in which we obtain and produce food have changed drastically in recent years. Due to the current global situation, the food supply crisis is expected to persist if significant efforts are not made. Thus, the government must re-prioritize agro-economic policy as the agricultural industry contributes to human survival. As a result, comprehensive measures and efforts involving multiple sectors and parties must be implemented to avoid undesirable circumstances such as food insecurity.
We must learn from countries such as Thailand and the Netherlands, which have developed highly advanced agricultural innovations that maximise material and cost savings while requiring very minimal space. They are also the leading providers of agricultural and livestock-related technology and equipment on a global scale. Hence, agricultural growth is a major contributor to their economy and industry.
To educate the community about the food crisis issue, austerity must begin at home. It has a significant impact, particularly on household economic expenditures, despite being a small step. People must be made aware of and comprehend the significance of agriculture and livestock as food sources.
Currently, our country only has rice buffer stocks. As one of the strategies for ensuring food security and the source of food supply is not interrupted, it is critical to increase the buffer stock of other foods, such as chicken and food products. The availability of buffer stocks for different food sources will stabilise food supply and prices. Therefore, it is crucial to enhance the technological capacity that can be used to store and distribute food for a long period of time. The storage of food by ancient Egyptian kings during world famines is one of the greatest examples of food preservation for security. The Holy Quran also clarifies the Prophet Yusuf AS preserving food during famine.
In the food technology sector, it is essential to ensure that food can last a long time without losing its structure and taste. Several food packaging technologies can improve food accessibility by extending shelf life. Retort packaging technology is one of the technologies that can be used to extend the shelf life of food. Even though the technology may appear to be new, it has been used to store food for soldiers on the battlefield since the 1950s. Despite food shortages, it is a secret that soldiers can survive for a long time. Retort technology is widely used for various types of food products that apply sterilisation methods to eliminate bacteria and prevent food from spoiling. Numerous other methods of food preservation technology can be implemented as a mechanism for creating buffer stocks to ensure national food security.
Various food preservation techniques have been refined over the years in order to extend the shelf life of foods while maintaining their quality and nutritional value. The oldest method of food preservation is drying or dehydrating. Historically, people used this method to preserve meat or fish by drying them in the sun. Some individuals preserve fruits, vegetables, and seafood by dehydrating and freezing them for a brief period of time. This method is one of the safest and most cost-effective ways of enhancing food security, preventing food spoilage, preserving nutrients, and saving money. Why don’t we apply such methods to strengthen our national food security status currently?
In light of rising prices and food shortages, Malaysia’s agriculture and food policies require fundamental reform. Approved permits (AP) should be abolished in the short term to ensure national food security status, but other extensive measures should also be taken. Simultaneously, the nation’s food sovereignty must be protected through community-farmer partnerships to cultivate more local products rather than rely solely on imported goods. This is because dumping imported products affects the local agricultural ecosystem and creates uncertainty in quality, safety, and halal aspects. It is also important to note that the food security component is a state’s ability to grow enough food on its own land, meet the demand locally, and provide food to its citizens. Therefore, our country has to achieve food self-sufficiency accordingly to meet the community’s food requirements. Where are we now?