There are three universal standards a human needs to survive: food, water, and shelter. In our world today, an estimated 10% of the world’s population, nearly 800 million people, is not adequately nourished on a daily basis. To address this issue, the Biden administration recently introduced a plan to end world hunger by the year 2030; however, it is still being determined how this task will be accomplished.

Following the coronavirus pandemic in 2019, the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization estimated an increase of roughly 161 million people in the malnourished population, a remarkably significant increase in just two years. 

A U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) survey revealed that 10% of households in the United States faced food insecurity, the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food, in the year 2021.

The problem of food insecurity is increasing in the U.S. which is why the Biden administration has begun to focus more directly on the issue. Olympic Heights junior Logan Zukerman is satisfied that “with all of the progression from the past, we as a country are finally doing something about this problem.”

The Biden Administration plan includes an $8 billion exchange from the federal government into new options for Americans. For example, over 2.5 of the $8 billion will be spent on startup companies with the goal of finding solutions to food insecurity. Another $4 billion will be allocated for healthier food options to be available in the U.S. as well as promoting healthy choices and increasing physical activity among the population. 

Under the USDA, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) supplies nutritional benefits to families in need with the goal to move towards self-sufficiency. With the new plan, the eligibility requirements of SNAP were modified to allow a greater range of people with its services. 

The Biden Administration plan also has benefits that are not directly related to its description. Many organizations and companies are also changing their practices to support people in need. For example, the National Restaurant Association has begun working with fast-food restaurants to have the chains include water or juices in their kids’ meals instead of sugary sodas. Another instance is organizations such as Rethink food, which is set to limit food waste in the restaurant industry which will provide more resources to those in need of proper nutrition.

The main question that people have is if this plan will actually make a substantial difference. The answer to that question is yes and no. Providing more meals for families who are not able to put food on the table on a daily basis will make a difference; however, with the physical movement encouragement portion of the plan, Americans will have to make that decision themselves if they want to inspire change in themself. 

OH junior Tyler Scaglione has conflicting opinions with Zukerman. Scaglione believes that the plan has little chance of being effective with the country’s current inflation rates and the possibility of a recession.