Since 1960 the world has produced enough food to feed everybody yet, with few exceptions globally, hunger -- or food insecurity -- has increased.
South Africa is one of a handful of countries that is capable of providing enough food for its people. However, 40% of our population, amounting to over 19 million South Africans, are food insecure. Food insecurity is directly linked to poverty and poverty is directly linked to income inequality. The country has one of the highest rates of income inequality in the world., with the richest 10% of the population receiving almost half the income and the poorest 20% receiving only 3.3%. Poverty plays out on racial lines, with estimates indicating that 56% of black people are poor compared to 36% of coloured people, 15% of Indian people and 7% of white people. Whilst poverty and food insecurity are rife in urban areas of South Africa, the rural areas where approximately two thirds of the country's poor live are particularly hard hit.
In South Africa, hunger is not a matter of supply. We can grow enough food. Rather the problem is one of access and logistics.
Every day huge volumes of good food are wasted. Why is this, when the country has thousands of worthy agencies, not-for-profit organisations and programmes trying to secure food for the needy?
The issue is that in the past they have largely worked independently, with inadequate resources. No existing organisation has, until now, harnessed South Africa's private and public resources. The result? Huge, avoidable and unacceptable inefficiencies: unharvested crops, unused manufacturing products and wasted surpluses of quality food.
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