IPS: Aren’t We Missing Food Security Experts in the Incoming President-Elect Biden-Kamala Harris Administration?
Esther Ngumbi, assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, and senior food security New Voices fellow with the Aspen Institute, and Ifeanyi McWilliams Nsofor, senior New Voices fellow with the Aspen Institute, senior Atlantic fellow for health equity at George Washington University, and director of policy and advocacy at Nigeria Health Watch

“Food insecurity across the U.S. continues to be on the rise because of the effects of COVID-19. … As thought leaders in global health and food security, we are compelled to amplify this inequity in the world’s richest country. The last few months, clearly, have changed our perception of food insecurity and the narrative around it is changing. … Much more needs to be done. Here’s where to start. First, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris should include a food security expert in the COVID-19 Advisory Council. … COVID-19 is very well linked with food insecurity and failing to have a food security expert working alongside the other advisory council members would undermine the ability of the country to effectively tackle these tightly linked issues. … Second, develop a multi-stakeholder comprehensive food security plan as part of epidemic preparedness plans for the next pandemic. … Third, food banks should improve their process to enable long-term storage of nutritious foods such as green vegetables, fruits, proteins, milk etc. … Fourth, prioritize the needs of under-five children and women of child-bearing age. … Lastly, encourage families to form groups and run all seasons sustainable community gardens…” (12/17).