What are the major factors influencing food security in Nunavut?
- Cultural Assimilation
- depletion of traditions
- social factors - Climate conditions
- climate change
- harsh conditions - Importations
- high food costs
- isolated environment - Household crowding
- sanitation, preparation + psychological concerns
What is the most important to Nunavummuit in terms of food?
country food > local food production > store bought food
How does cultural assimilation affect food security in Nunavut?
segregation + racism –> loss of knowledge, depression, alcohol + drugs
Define household crowding
more than one person per one room, excluding living room and the kitchen
What are the consequences of household crowding?
key player in food utilization:
- sanitation concerns
- preparation concerns
- psychological concerns
How is climate change affecting Nunavut in terms of food security?
melting of ice –>
- rerouting of migration pathways
- hard to reach the hunting sites
- issues with hunting and harvesting country foods
Why is there loss of knowledge on hunting and harvesting in Nunavut?
- young prefer the store bought food
- efficacy
- rising cost of harvesting and hunting
- environmental change
=
loss of knowledge on hunting, harvesting, and food preparation passed down to generations
What did the US government do in 2006 in terms of food security in their country?
they replaced “hunger” with the term “food insecure” to describe any household where sometime during the previous year, people didn’t have enough food to eat.
How does the US classify food insecurity?
Moderate –> anxiety regarding the next meal and compromised quality of meals
Severe –> anxiety, compromised quality and quantity, and experience of hunger
Which groups of people are more vulnerable to food insecurity in the USA?
single mom > single men > Black Hispanic households > White non-hispanic households
Describe the conditions in the USA in terms of agriculture
- Urban areas tripled in 63 year
- 59% decrease in forest land
- crop value > livestock value
- ## exports > imports
Describe the situation in the USA in terms of access
- limited access to healthy food –> greater access to energy dense food
- larger stores
- increased transportation costs
- higher food prices
What did the USDA stated in 2006 in terms of hunger and food insecurity?
Hunger is a concept distinct from food insecurity, which is an indicator of and possible consequence of food insecurity that can be useful in characterizing severity of food insecurity. Hunger itself is an important concept that should be measured at the individual level distinct from, but in the context of, food insecurity
What are the categories proposed by the USDA in terms of food security?
High Food Security –> No problem or anxiety accessing adequate and safe foods.
Marginal Food Security –> Problems/anxiety at times accessing adequate foods, but quality, quantity and variety were not substantially lowered.
Low Food Security –> Households reduced the quality, variety and desirability of their diet, but quantity and normal eating habits were not substantially disrupted.
Very Low Food Security –> Eating patterns of one or more household members was disrupted and food intake was reduced due to lack of resources sometime during the previous year.
What is U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM)?
18 questions divided into 3 stages with screeners to minimize stress placed on respondent, yet still get reliable results without bias
What are other adaptations to the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM)?
U.S. Adult Food Security Survey Module → 10 questions, for households without children
“Short Form” of the Food Security Survey Module → 6 questions, faster screening, BUT less precise and doesn’t make distinctions
Children Food Security Scale → 8 child-specific questions to better measure child experience with food insecurity and malnourishment
Spanish version of HFSSM → includes a measure for past food insecurity amongst Hispanic immigrant mothers
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) → adapted to the current epidemic of chronic diseases in the U.S. to assess nutritional behaviours and risk of disease
The three major federal and community food and nutrition assistance programs in the USA
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) → 44.2 million people
National School Lunch Program (NSLP) → 30.3 million children
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) → 7.7 million participants per month
Who is a refugee?
Any person forced to flee from their country by violence or persecution.
More likely, they cannot return home or are afraid to do so.
51% of refugees are school-aged children under the age of 18.
What is an asylum seeker?
An asylum-seeker is someone whose request for sanctuary has yet to be processed.
Who is UNHCR?
The UN Refugee Agency - The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
A global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people
Availability in refugee camps
- Incomplete food baskets
- Late delivery of food
- Food rations only distributed to registered refugees
- Lack of dietary diversity
- No or little local food production
Physical access in refugee camps
- No safe access to markets and services
- Food basket distribution lack organization
- Camps located in marginalized area
- Secluded camps
Economical access in refugee camps
- Limited access to labor market
- Prevalence of absolute poverty
- Increased share of food expenditure
Utilization in refugee camps
- No or little access to clean water
- No proper food and water storage
- Food aid can be sold/exchanged for non-food goods
- Absence/shortage of sanitation services
- Poor quality diet and non ensured public health interventions: development of infectious diseases
