by Ellen Wang
11th grade at Lexington High School (Lexington, MA)
Honorable Mention
Coming home after school, I shrug my backpack off and head for the kitchen. Prying open the pantry door, I am mesmerized by a variety of snacks, from neatly oriented cereal boxes to plastic containers filled with trail mix. In the refrigerator are forgotten fresh vegetables from the local farmers' market. While these foods are easily accessible at my fingertips, this reality is a dream for many. Recent findings report that "nearly 690 million people are hungry," meaning that these individuals do not have regular access to safe and nutritious food (Goal 2: Zero Hunger - United Nations Sustainable Development). In reaction to this crisis, engineers have used innovative solutions to address the global food crisis from two angles: increasing food production and targeting equal food distribution.
The Food and Agriculture Organization reported that a 60% increase in food production is necessary to sustain the predicted 9.3 billion global 2025 population (Graziano Da Silva). In the past, traditional agricultural methods to maximize food production have devastated natural resources; however, recent engineering techniques have found sustainable strategies to optimize food production. For example, The Yield, an Australian technology company, brings the power of artificial intelligence and sustainable agriculture together. The company's IoT sensor system considers the varying microclimates of farms by dividing the farm into grids and "tak[ing] measurements every 15 minutes in each specific area" (The Yield, 2020). Then, artificial intelligence algorithms analyze the gathered data, including factors such as soil conditions and leaf wetness. The data is sent to an app where farmers can view the farm's conditions and a 7-day forecast. These statistics allow farmers to prepare ahead of time, an essential factor in protecting crops from weather damage. Preparation is particularly important as climate change is driving more extreme and unpredictable weather conditions.
Furthermore, microclimate predictions for specific grid areas can help farmers determine which crops are best suited for those particular areas, enhancing the quality and yield of crops. Also, through its optimization processes, the app addresses leading agricultural problems, such as water waste and the overuse of chemical pesticides. The joint inputs of engineers, data scientists, and agricultural experts have proven effective as the company achieved "90% accurate predictions of microclimate weather" and managed more than "50,000 hectares" (The Yield AgTech Solutions: Farm Sensors & Technology). The impactful work of The Yield demonstrates how the collaboration of professionals accompanied by the advancements of AI can help fight the global food crisis without compromising the environment.
One of the leading causes of acute undernutrition, which many children from Africa and Southern Asia suffer from, is unequal food distribution. In 2015, The World Economic Forum reported that compared to Americans, who spend up to "6.4% of their household income on food", families in developing countries spend "over half of household income on food" (Gray, 2016). To address this disparity, engineers have turned to 3D food printing. First, "food ink" is created by mixing desired ingredients. Then, computer-aided design helps develop the required parts and transmit this data to an stereolithography file, which guides the nozzle printers in depositing the food mixture in specific design templates (Crawford, 2019). The customization features of 3D printing are effective in addressing malnutrition, as they accommodate various dietary needs. For example, in developing countries, 3D food printing could combine the region's most accessible staple crop with specific ingredients to help individuals reach adequate nutrient intake levels (Creswell, 2020). Even in the case of a natural disaster, where resources may be cut off, 3D printing can still feed individuals due to its portability. As a disruptive technological advancement, 3D food printing has proved capable of combating global hunger cost-effectively.
Now, when I sit at my dinner table, I am reminded to have a heart of gratitude for my circumstances. Through new and sustainable innovations, along with the tireless collaboration of engineers and professionals, the day when hunger is defeated becomes a growing possibility.
Annotated Bibliography
Crawford, M. (2019, March 8). Solving World Hunger with 3D-Printed Food. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Retrieved January 3, 2022, from https://www.asme.org/topics-resources/content/solving-world-hunger-3dprinted-food
This article covered the 3D food printing process in great detail, from creating the initial mixture of ingredients to the AI-driven technologies that help deposit the mixture into its final product. While the article included many applications of 3D food printing, it had a particular focus on addressing global hunger. This source was unique as it included a variety of quotes from professionals leading research in the 3D food printing field.
Creswell, J. (2020, February 21). 4 Technologies For Equal Food Distribution. The Borgen Project. Retrieved January 3, 2022, from https://borgenproject.org/equal-food-distribution/
This article focused on the role of engineering in improving food distribution. Many efficient and innovative solutions were mentioned, from farming and machine learning algorithms to 3D printing food. Additionally, the article emphasized the critical need for collaborative efforts between farmers and engineers in tackling unequal food distribution.
Goal 2: Zero Hunger - United Nations Sustainable Development. (n.d.). United Nations. Retrieved December 31, 2021, from https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/hunger/
This article provided valuable context regarding the global hunger situation by providing past statistics, current estimations, and future projections of the number of individuals affected by the worldwide crisis. Compared to other articles, this one clearly outlined a list of goals addressing global hunger that the world should aim to accomplish through cooperative and innovative solutions. This source comes from the United Nations, the world's largest international organization, known for presenting accurate and reliable information.
Gray, A. (2016, December 7). This map shows how much each country spends on food. World Economic Forum. Retrieved January 2, 2022, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/12/this-map-shows-how-much-each-country-spends-on-food/
This website provided statistics regarding the percentage of household income that families worldwide spend on food. These statistics were displayed through creative visuals such as geographical maps and bar charts, which made drawing comparisons simple and effective. A limitation of the website is that the reported data is slightly outdated as the article was published in 2016.
Graziano Da Silva, J. (n.d.). Feeding the World Sustainably. United Nations. Retrieved January 1, 2022, from https://www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/feeding-world-sustainably
This article illustrated how the global food crisis has evolved since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. By referencing the devastating consequences of past attempts to increase food production, the article highlights the need for sustainable methods. While some solutions are proposed, the author emphasizes that the world's future truly lies in the hands of the global cooperation between professionals from different fields and each individual's part. This article is reputable as author José Graziano Da Silva is a well-seasoned expert in this field, serving as the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
The Yield. (2020, March 1). The Yield Point Weather Data vs Gridded Weather [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ku9X0f29NU
This video showcases The Yield's innovative app that sends real-time analysis of farm conditions to farmers. The video helped provide illustrations and graphics that broke down the data transmission process in layman’s terms. Furthermore, this source highlighted the expansive capabilities that technology can accomplish in our daily lives, such as enhancing crop quality and production.
The Yield AgTech Solutions: Farm Sensors & Technology. (n.d.). The Yield. Retrieved January 1, 2022, from https://www.theyield.com/
This website shared how the Australian company, The Yield Technology Solutions, is helping address the challenges of food production. Through the use of AI algorithms and IoT sensors, different microclimates of farms are surveyed, and a 7-day forecast is compiled to inform farmers with up-to-date information. The website also demonstrated that the successes of engineering results from the collective inputs of professionals from diverse fields.