South Africa faces a dual malnutrition challenge. Chronic hunger affects at least 10 percent of the population. Conversely, close to half of all adult South Africans are obese, largely because of food insecurity. With statistics like these, you’d expect regular mass marches. After all, poor nutrition has a cascade of negative effects, from cognitive and behavioural issues in children to lower productivity levels. The absence of protest activity speaks to a sense of inevitability about the situation when, in fact, our farms produce more than enough food to feed the population.
Tracy Ledger’s astute analysis of the South African agri-food system in An Empty Plate asks two crucial questions: How did we get to this point and how might we solve the problem? From today until Monday, 19 October, get this must-read book at half price.
'An Empty Plate' is published by Jacana Media
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