One Billion World Population Malnourished – Expert

An estimated one billion of the world population suffer from malnutrition, while one third of the total food produced are wasted, due to recklessness in food consumption and conservation.

This statistics was revealed in a lecture Delivered by an environmental expert and university don, Dr John Onwuteaka, Senior lecturer, department of Applied Environmental Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology to mark the 2013 edition of World Environment Day in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.

In his analysis, the university don, said the population of the world was on the increase to an estimated 9 billion in 2015 by United Nations projection, requiring 70 per cent of more food to feed the population.

He however, alerted that despite these realities, large quantities of food are wasted due to inefficient practices, poor quality standards and ignorance.

Dr Onwuteaka who spoke on the topic ‘Think Eat Save’ which is the theme of the 2013 World Environmental Day, also posited that food wastages resulted in environmental hazards that lead to generation of the green house emission. He cautioned against food wastages, and called on the government to evolve sustainable policies that would address issues of technical limitations in the preservation of food. He said efficient management of food would not only reduce poverty level in society, but would lead to “efficient land use, better water resources management and positive repercussion on the climate change.”

Earlier, in her address, the Administrator, Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority, Dame Aleruchi Cookey Gam, had emphasized the need to protect the environment which she described as ‘Man’s first right.’ She said the theme for the 2013 edition of the World Environment Day, was apt as it draws attention to an important component of human existence which is food management.

The Administrator, who was represented by the Director of Finance of the Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority, Mr Aaron Obele also appealed to government to create sustainable policies that would enhance better food conservation and management.

Taneh Beemene