Effects of International and Local Brands in a Country Food is one of the most fundamental necessities that should be met in the eyes of the public.(Joshi et al., 2019) Malnutrition is one of the numerous problems the Filipino people face, which might have negative health repercussions.(Chowdhury, 2019) Deficits, excesses, or imbalances in a person's energy and nutritional consumption are described by the World Health Organization as malnutrition. One of the key factors contributing to national malnutrition has been identified as food instability.(Fact Sheets - Malnutrition, 2021) As a result, the population needs more everyday access to sufficient food. Getting rid of hunger and poverty is still a long way off for the Philippines regarding sustainable development. In order to secure lasting food security for the Philippines and, notably, its citizens, the Filipinos, the government must impose import restrictions on commodities from abroad while also supporting the nation's agricultural industry. The Food and Agriculture Organization defines food security as having constant physical, social, and economic access to wholesome food. Then, it is possible to separate it into three aspects: food availability, economic and physical access to food, food usage, and stability through time are all important considerations. The availability of food should come first. One of the Philippines' primary industries and sources of revenue remains agriculture. Food security in the nation is negatively impacted by challenges experienced by farmers and fishermen because the agriculture sector provides the bulk of the nation's food. The Philippines is home to several lush plains ideal for planting agriculture.(National Geographic Staff, 2021) Food availability in the country has been affected by supply instability brought on by external challenges, ranging from those that can be managed efficiently to those that are just impossible to endure. Unsurprisingly, natural catastrophes rank among the significant causes of food insecurity. Because of its location in the Pacific, the Philippines is vulnerable to typhoons and droughts, which may be deadly. The Philippines, a country in the Pacific, has recently faced severe food security risks. Three hundred forty-nine thousand six hundred thirty metric tons of crops worth 4.8 billion pesos were destroyed by a dry spell brought on by El Nino in the previous year, 2020. On the other hand, the number of typhoons that hit the nation at the end of the year significantly reduced the rate of agricultural growth in the nation. The lack of accessible channels between farmers and retailers is another reason causing the market's erratic food supply. Farmers cannot transport their products because there need to be more farm-to-market roads (FMRs), which are national highways connecting farms and coastal areas to main highways. The absence of FMRs has sparked alarm among several local and international political bodies. The Philippine government agreed to adopt a study by (AusAID) that recommended the construction of 48,350 kilometers of FMRs. Because of inefficiencies, farmers and fishermen decide to let their produce go to waste rather than invest time and resources in attempting to market it. These farmers become embroiled in an unpleasant cycle of suffering and poverty due to the losses they are forced to endure. Access to stable food sources is the next. The biggest problem with the Philippines' ability to get food is the need for more funds brought on by unemployment. Nine of the nation's most impoverished provinces are found in Mindanao, a notable example of this. The Maute gang, an ISIS affiliate, and the Philippine military are engaged in combat in Muslim Mindanao, where sixty cents a day is the average income for most impoverished people.(Battle for Marawi, n.d.) Lack of income has been cited as the primary reason by thirty-seven percent of respondents, followed by a lack of employment by eighteen percent and natural disasters by twelve percent. Food usage is the third point. Using food properly ensures that it "has a favorable nutritional influence on humans" and that people know basic hygiene, personal health, sanitation, and sharing behaviors. A shortage of money once again hampers the country's food security. Access to nutrient-rich food is only possible for those who are privileged enough. The unfortunate must settle for a less expensive alternative if they have any or none at all. It is more challenging to address food insecurity because fruits and vegetables are among the most costly goods in the city. The cheapest products are typically rich in salt or sugar, and what is worse is that people need to recognize the hazards involved in consuming these products.(J. Smith, 2020) With 8.3% of children aged ten to nineteen and 31.1% of people over twenty being overweight or obese, the obesity prevalence has surged as a result. The most significant prevalence of adult obesity in the country is found in the capital, with 39.9% of people.(Obesity and Overweight, 2021) With focused efforts to improve public nutrition education and provide essential public transit, most issues connected to food insecurity may be resolved. Once farmers and fishermen are free to produce and sell their goods, and people can purchase nutrient-rich food that meets their nutritional needs, the country's poverty problem could be solved. We must first solve the issues that prohibit us from providing food to everyone in the country before we can secure the nation's food supply. Yvette Tan, the editor-in-chief of Manila Bulletin's Agriculture Monthly section, claims that several factors are to blame for the nation's food insecurity. Insufficient food supplies, high prices, and a high cost of living are a few of them. She remarked, "Now we have a loss of jobs, a loss of money, and the closing of borders which results in less access to food or greater food waste since more food is spoilt waiting for customers." These factors, nevertheless, only oversimplified a difficult problem. Another issue that increases food insecurity is the absence of support in the local agricultural industry. It follows that the Philippine government must act in order to resolve this issue. Since most people are unaware of farmers' important role in keeping society alive, it is harder for them to appreciate the value of agriculture in a nation's growth and to support those who produce food. as the population increases, so does the effort needed to expand production, strengthen the global supply chain, reduce food waste, and ensure that those starving and malnourished have access to nutritional food. The apparent reason for this is that everyone needs nourishment.(Admin, 2022) However, the difficulty of ensuring that everyone has enough food demonstrates. Hence, food security is a significant issue whether a nation is developed or not. Tan said one way to address the issue is to support farmers in well-rounded living lives and motivate young people to pursue careers in agriculture. To highlight once again how the industry has met our requirements. According to Rodolfo Viccera, the Department of Agriculture's Undersecretary for Policy and Planning, they have established a framework to battle food insecurity by first inspiring the farmers and fishermen of the local area. However, achieving food security in the coming years will only be possible with stakeholders from all industries working together to find a long-term solution. The five tactics they use to achieve their objective are farm consolidation, modernization, export promotion, and infrastructural development. These might be feasible with efficient funding distribution and investments in nearby agriculture and fisheries. These factors guarantee that food will be freely accessible for all Filipinos in the years to come. Lowering poverty rates, which is primarily but not entirely driven by economic growth, and keeping food costs stable and within reach are the two fundamental foundations on which food security is built. Growing agricultural yields are beneficial to both. Spikes in food prices, such as those that occurred in 2007–2008 and 2010–2011, postpone the decrease of poverty while increasing food insecurity. Social and food safety nets must safeguard disadvantaged groups from threats to their way of life and enable them to consume a reasonable amount of food when markets are unstable. The nation's efforts are primarily reliant on food security. Policies that promote agricultural productivity and price stability, expand food access and availability, and ensure proper nutrition, particularly for children, must be assessed and balanced in order to achieve food security. It would be necessary to strengthen strategic initiatives to advance agricultural research, invest in infrastructure, and increase trade to overcome these problems.(World Bank Group, 2020) When balancing short-, medium-, and long-term policies, it is important to consider factors such as natural endowment, transportation networks, stage of development, the agro-processing sector, trade liberalization, and fiscal soundness. Promoting successful agricultural and rural enterprises is of utmost importance because most of Asia's poor live in rural regions. Agriculture should be prioritized with a focus on smallholder, local, and sustainable systems. Having limited access to markets, technology, and inputs is the main cause of challenges for smallholder farmers. In order to ensure food security, cross-national cooperation and global solutions are needed. Building emergency food inventories, providing aid, exchanging market data, and fostering commerce are areas where international and regional cooperation may help ensure food security and reduce excessive price volatility. Low supply levels are typically linked to fluctuating food prices. Optimal levels of food supply may not be achieved if private company actions alone dictate them. The current levels seem to be too low to prevent any temporary supply or demand shocks, and higher levels could call for the right kind of tax or pricing incentives. In order to stop market speculation from becoming a food crisis catastrophe, it is also crucial to have current, precise knowledge about food markets and stockpiles. By keeping an eye on market trends and working together regularly, policymakers in the area may help coordinate measures in response. The Philippines' agriculture industry has prioritized obtaining and sustaining food security. This puts a demand on the statistics system to play a vital role in this process. An organized food security information system is therefore required, as this illustrates. Since the statistics on the country's food security are spread extensively and often unsuitable for use in government decision-making. Additionally, agricultural protectionism does nothing to alleviate the issue—rather, it makes it worse. Exporters and importers may discover that defending domestic markets backfires since certain nations are obliged to pay higher international fees while domestic prices in the other groups remain stable. Working together internationally can help prevent the destructive "beggar-thy-neighbor" mindset. Open worldwide food markets, research and development, expanded production, and regional, if not international, collaboration are all necessary for food security. In conclusion, eating is like breathing; we take it for granted because we get to eat three meals a day and snacks in between. However, in actuality, this is one of the fundamental needs for which we always put in much effort. We frequently choose foods based only on how good they taste and how they make us feel, disregarding their nutritious value. The primary objective of eating is to give the body all the necessary nutrients for proper operation. As a result, we need to consume a balanced diet that includes carbs, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Eating a variety of meals is critical to getting all the nutrients since different food categories contain differing amounts of essential nutrients. We should consume grains for carbs, seeds, pulses, and meat for protein, fruits, and vegetables for vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and dairy for essential fats and protein in our diets. Living a healthy and happy life is possible with a balanced diet. Food, thus, is a necessity for everyone, regardless of socioeconomic station. Given that we are all dependent on the agricultural industry to supply us with the food we need to exist, we can all contribute by just behaving appropriately and respecting farmers and fishers. All things considered, they do give us food. We eat a variety of things that come from both plants and animals, which are referred to as food. Humans are omnivores and consume a broad range of food items sourced from agricultural fields, forests, oceans, and farms. Food provides the energy to a person for proper physical and mental functioning, and every nutrient helps build and repair the body. The fact that humans are omnivores means that they eat a wide variety of foods that come from farms, woods, seas, and other agricultural areas. Food gives a person the energy they need for healthy physical and mental function, and every nutrient aids in the body's growth and repair.
