Food Security in Trinidad and Tobago part 2

What do we know about Food Security?

With the onset of the pandemic, we have learned the importance of food security. As you go to the groceries, I am sure you have all noticed that some of the common items you usually pick up are unavailable on the shelves. Most of these missing items are imported products. As we know (from the previous article – Food Security in Trinidad and Tobago), the Food Import Bill for Trinidad and Tobago in 2019 was a staggering $5.67 Billion; but what exactly is the problem with food security in Trinidad and Tobago? You may be surprised to know that although 2.8 million people around the world suffer from obesity (WHO 2021), on average about 9 million people die from starvation, most of which are children (The World Count 2017). In this article, we will dive into the past and current issues with Food Security in our nation and what we can do to improve it.

Figure 1: Free Range Stock 2021

Questions that pop up when we think about Food Security 

These may include:

Do we have enough space to produce goods?

Do we produce enough food right now?

Are Trinibagonians under the impression that anything from foreign lands is better than local?

Is Trinidad and Tobago up to the task of achieving food security? How do we get there?

Food Wastage

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, one-third (1/3) of all food produced globally is WASTED. This amounts to approximately 1.3 billion tonnes of food per year (FAO 2011). Dr. Lystra Fletcher-Paul stated that the Caribbean and Latin America alone accounts for 6% of global food wastage, approximately 78 million tonnes. From this region, Trinidad and Tobago has been deemed as the MOST wasteful country per capita. She further went on to say that if we reduce the food and water wastage in Trinidad and Tobago by just 50%, that quantity would be enough to supply all undernourished persons (approximately 100,000 people) in the country with nourishment (The Borgen Project 2017). This means that Trinidad and Tobago currently has enough food for the entire nation as is but this includes imported goods.

Figure 2: Vatican News 2019

What can we do as citizens?

As mentioned in the last article there are many local alternatives to the goods that we import. By implementing Hydroponics in small or confined spaces we will be able to produce a large quantity of goods without the need for a vast expanse of land. However, this method is not applicable to all crops; for example, vine crops and ground provisions cannot be grown hydroponically, land is required (Rural Living Gardening 2021). As a nation, we can combat our wasteful habits by making simple changes to our lifestyle. One suggestion that can make a major impact on food wastage is meal planning. This will make it easier to buy the produce you need and therefore result in less wastage. Another suggestion is buying produce weekly instead of monthly. This will ensure that goods are used within their peak freshness rather than be forgotten about at the back of the refrigerator. The final suggestion is to cook only what you need. Many times, especially in Trinidad and Tobago, the cultural norm is to cook a little extra “because you never know who will pass by” but this results in leftovers which usually stay in the refrigerator and is thrown out by the end of the week.

Figure 3: Green Matters 2021

Next week we will continue on our journey to Food Security in Trinidad and Tobago by answering the questions: “Are Trinibagonians under the impression that anything from foreign lands is better than local? Is Trinidad and Tobago up to the task of achieving food security? And how do we get there?”

 

References

"Food Loss And Food Waste". 2021. Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations. http://www.fao.org/food-loss-and-food-waste/flw-data).

"Obesity". 2021. Who.Int. https://www.who.int/news-room/facts-in-pictures/detail/6-facts-on-obesity#:~:text=At%20least%202.8%20million%20people%20each%20year%20die%20as,of%20being%20overweight%20or%20obese.

"The World Counts". 2017. Theworldcounts.Com. https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/people-and-poverty/hunger-and-obesity/how-many-people-die-from-hunger-each-year/story.

"Wasteful Hunger In Trinidad And Tobago". 2017. The Borgen Project. https://borgenproject.org/hunger-in-trinidad-and-tobago/.

"What Cannot Be Grown Hydroponically: Do's And Don'ts". 2021. Rural Living Gardening | Hydroponics | Generators. https://rurallivingtoday.com/hydroponics/what-cannot-be-grown-hydroponically/.

 

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Manatees in Trinidad and Tobago

Image
What are Manatees? Manatees, though they live in water, are classified as mammals because they come up to the surface every three to five minutes to get oxygen through their nostrils. In the Caribbean, we have the West Indian Manatee (Latin Name: Trichechus Manatus), also known as the ‘Sea Cow’. These gentle giants can grow up to 13 feet long and weigh up to 1200 pounds. Their diet consists of seagrasses and small invertebrates, consuming up to 15% of their body weight in vegetation. It is believed that the lack of predators in Trinidad and Tobago allows our Manatees to live up to sixty (60) years. Figure 1: showing a manatee floating (WNW Press Release 2021) What is the Status of our Manatees? In Trinidad, the Nariva Swamp is the most well-known habitat for manatees. However, based on an evaluation by UNEP/CEP in 1995, they determined that the manatee population consisted of twenty-five (25) to thirty (30) individuals in total. At that time the trend was that the population was de
Read more

Deforestation in Trinidad and Tobago

Image
What is deforestation in Trinidad and Tobago? Deforestation is defined as the removal of trees from forested areas across the world. Locally, we have three main forested areas: the Northern range, Central Range in Trinidad, and the Main Ridge in Tobago. It is important to mention that South Trinidad is also largely forested especially in and around the Trinity Hills. These forested areas are constantly under attack by legal and illegal deforestation. Figure 1: showing deforestation in Trinidad (Loop News 2021) Deforestation in Trinidad and Tobago Firstly, not all deforestation is illegal. Companies that require space for infrastructural development can apply to the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) for approval on the project. The EMA can determine the impact that the project would cause on the environment based on the details of the venture. Lumber companies also need to apply for a license before they teardown trees from any area. However, a large portion of the trees
Read more

The East Coast Terror: Sargassum Seaweed

Image
  What is Sargassum Seaweed? Sargassum, also called gulfweed or sea holly, is a type of large, brown seaweed that floats on the surface of the ocean. Unlike many other types of seaweed, it never attaches to the seafloor. This type of seaweed is very abundant in the Atlantic Ocean from January to May (the Dry Season). It almost looks like a moving island, due to the large mats the seaweed forms in the ocean. It is deposited along the coastlines of Trinidad and Tobago. Figure 1: showing Sargassum mats in a Bay in Trinidad and Tobago (TEMA 2022) Where does the Sargassum come from? Sargassum originates from two main sources, the Sargasso Sea, located in the Northern Atlantic Ocean, and the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt. The Atlantic Current is responsible for the movement of Sargassum and the deposits that are made along the West African Coast, the Eastern South American Coast, and throughout the Lesser Antilles. Figure 2: showing the circulation of Sargassum Seaweed in the Atlantic
Read more