Pursuing Sustainable Development Goals
Food and Environmental Security in Türki̇ye: to End Hunger and Promote Sustainable Agriculture
Hatice Dilara Mumcu AkanThe 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the UN addresses global challenges. The global prevalence of hunger and poverty is increasing daily. The concept of food security is gaining importance. A large amount of the food supply comes from agricultural land, which also provides essential ecosystem services. Agriculture is vital for food security and achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2. Food security challenges are predicted to worsen due to demographic growth, urbanization, unsustainable resource exploitation, climate change, and changing consumption patterns. By 2050, the global population will reach 10 billion, necessitating sustainable farming for food security. Urbanization challenges food distribution, requiring reliable access to nutritious food in cities. Increased use of nonrenewable resources in agriculture threatens the ecosystem, requiring a transition to sustainable techniques. Extreme weather from climate change threatens food security. Increased consumption of resource-intensive foods strains agriculture. Addressing these difficulties needs collaboration among stakeholders. Sustainable farming, like organic practices, minimizes environmental harm. Investing in research and technology can boost crop yields and resilience. Food waste can be reduced by efficient transport and storage. Resilient farming and consumer education are crucial to address climate-related food poverty. Meanwhile, environmental contamination threatens biodiversity, water, and public health. Major contributors are deforestation, industrial waste, and air pollution. Global collaboration is crucial for reducing emissions and protecting the environment sustainably. According to the Global Food Security Index, Türkiye ranks 49th out of 113 countries in food security. Water and food security are important topics of discussion in the context of climate change. One problem in sustainable development is environmental security. Food security, a crucial aspect of environmental security, has gained relevance in recent years due to the COVID-19 epidemic affecting supply chains and causing a food crisis. Countries must create strategies to ensure food security in anticipation of the global food crisis. The purpose of this study is to analyze current food and environmental security policies and initiatives in Türkiye. This section will emphasize the measures needed to maintain policy consistency in this area. The challenge of sustainable food security and agriculture is exacerbated by the growing global and Turkish populations. The subject concerns political and economic policies applied by governments, corporations, institutions, and organizations. SDG3 focuses on fostering excellent health and well-being, while efforts to improve food security and achieve SDG2 may hinder its achievement. Food system sustainability depends on ensuring future generations’ food security.
