World Food Day: Migration, food security, rural development

In 2015, there were 244 million international migrants, 40% more than in 2000. More people have been forced to flee their homes than at any time since the Second World War due to conflict and instability. In addition to these factors forcing people to leave their homes are hunger, poverty and an increase in extreme weather events linked to climate change.

This, in turn, has a huge impact on health. Health of the people fleeing, health of the environment and healthcare systems. Today is World Food Day, which brings together all these themes and looks at how they are connected.

Rural development can address factors that compel people to move by creating business opportunities and jobs. It can also lead to increased food security, more long-term employment, better access to services, reduced conflict over natural resources and solutions to environmental degradation and climate change.

Taken from our annual meeting on planetary health in September, Dr Tara Garnett from the Food Climate Research Network at the University of Oxford talks about the links between people, food and planet and why they matter.