surveyed 469 households in Mexico, Nicaragua, growing counterparts in Africa and Asia. These UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM El Salvador, and Guatemala found that 63% of findings from Mexico and Central America coffee households suffered food insecurity further reveal the need for comparable research during the year (Méndez, 2010). These figures in other coffee growing regions to better assess are troubling, especially in a region that tends the global situation. Hunger and Food Africa suffers the highest rates of hunger in the to enjoy better food security than its coffee- world with roughly one quarter of the population Insecurity: A Global being malnourished (FAO, 2013). Studies Problem from Central America have revealed that a significant percentage of farmers experience food insecurity at some point during the harvest production cycle each year. For example, a Hunger and food insecurity constitute a 6-year study that surveyed 177 smallholders in complex global development dilemma, as it is Nicaragua found that 69% of them were unable estimated that 842 million people suffer from to meet their nutritional needs throughout the chronic hunger worldwide (FAO, 2013). year (Bacon, 2008). Similarly, a study that While food security has numerous definitions, in the context of this paper it can be understood as the dilemma that households face when they experience the inability to access a nutritious diet in terms of both quality and quantity. While it is widely believed that hunger is a result of a globally insufficient food supply, the problem is actually a product of poverty and inequality. As studies have noted, the world produces ample food to feed everyone a sufficient diet (Caswell, 2012; Kremen et al., 2012). The existing empirical studies that examine hunger and food security specifically among coffee-growers are heavily concentrated in Latin America, although it is undoubtedly an urgent and perhaps more worrisome issue among growers in Africa and Asia where poverty tends to be more extreme and social safety nets are less available. For example, Sub-Saharan How Coffee-Growing forced to choose between food and a roof over risks outlined above, to ones fundamentally poor governance, poor access to and/or quality means that smallholders and laborers regularly imagine the setbacks that result from a chronically Beauchelt, 2011; Beauchelt, 2012). For Pueblo a Pueblo, and the Coffee Trust. their heads. In Latin America, rural dwellers ingrained in the environments where coffee is of education, and restricted access to finance, suffer nutrition-related illnesses, which leads malnourished workforce. In addition, the community development, a wide variety of While eliminating hunger from coffee regions Households Experience have termed these periods of food scarcity “los grown. Virtually all coffee producing countries all of which play a fundamental role in preventing to lowered productivity in the fields and higher onset of climate change is expected to disrupt stakeholders have become engaged in supporting will require long term work and significant livelihoods diversification projects, which most changes, (Caswell, 2012), the following recom- meses flacos,” which translates to “the thin suffer from “institutional voids,” gaps in rural smallholders from advancing out of household expenditure on personal healthcare. both coffee harvests and subsistence agriculture, Hunger mendations provide immediate and actionable Given that coffee production is a physically which will exacerbate the food insecurity unless often include the provision of technical assistance months.” market ecosystems that prevent businesses from poverty. for subsistence cropping and food storage, as steps appropriate for all industry stakeholders demanding endeavor, it is not difficult to industry stakeholders take action. thriving. These voids often include major gaps well as finding income generating market to get involved in taking a stand against hunger. It is challenging to identify a single cause of The recommendations are taken from the Hunger and malnutrition in coffee growing in infrastructure, weak legislative systems and opportunities for new products. Some of the hunger among coffee growing communities non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that publication, “Food Security and Smallholder regions are seasonal crises that typically occur Coffee Production: Current Issues and Future since farmers suffer from multiple layers of have launched such food security projects during the rainy season, the food planting FRAMING SOLUTIONS include Coffee Kids, Save the Children, Catholic Directions,” which were documented by Caswell, vulnerability that contribute to food insecurity. season, or the early months of the harvest THIS PROBLEM IMPACTS THE WHOLE Relief Services, Food4Farmers, Heifer Inter- et al., 2012. Each of the following In addition to surviving with scarce income, season (Caswell, 2012). Since most coffee national, Mercy Corps, CII-ASDENIC, the recommendations includes a case example to coffee farmers live at the mercy of coffee price growing households receive only one annual SPECIALTY COFFEE INDUSTRY Community Agroecology Network (CAN), illustrate its effectiveness on the ground. fluctuations in the global market, and thus feel Food insecurity in coffee-growing regions is a paycheck for their crop, they face the difficulty an immediate and severe impact on their livelihoods complicated issue that requires integrated of distributing that lump sum throughout the when prices plummet. Additionally, farmers multi-stakeholder driven solutions aimed at following year to meet all of their household ence growth stunting, a condition that prevents face enormous agricultural risks to their creating structural change (Caswell et al., needs until the next harvest. Additionally, the them from ever reaching their full height 2012). Achieving this change will require coffee harvest, including unfavorable weather income that farmers earn from coffee is often potential as adults. Malnourished children also additional empirical research to develop an conditions, pests, and disease outbreaks. less than most farmers’ annual spending needs. grow up with lowered reasoning ability and enhanced understanding of the problem, food consumed in the household (Bacon, Unfortunately, this is true even among farmers perceptual-spatial functioning skills (Whaley, particularly in African and Asian coffee growing Providing Farmers with 2008). These farmers tend to produce only Given the risks of relying solely on coffee to who receive a price premium for fair trade or et. al., 2003; Grantham-McGregor, 1995). communities that have been largely neglected Adequate Support and staple beans and maize, which is not enough to provide income for the entire household, feed the household throughout the year. Two organic certifications (Bacon, 2008; Méndez, They also tend to have poorer school grades from the research process thus far. The issue of farmers tend to employ the practice of subsistence poor food security among coffee farmers has, Technical Assistance to themes are important here. First, technical 2010; Beauchelt, 2011; Beauchelt, 2012). than their well-nourished peers, are less attentive, assistance and access to sustainable inputs is agriculture on their land, meaning they grow however, steadily increased in visibility over Farmers are often pressured to make difficult and can be unresponsive to play behavior. Maximize Food Production recent years in Latin America, much of which important to reduce the risk of crop loss and other crops primarily for household consumption increase yields of the substance crops. Second, household purchasing decisions among critical is thanks to research and awareness-raising Potential and Attain that complement their coffee production. The negative impact of malnutrition does not stop when farmers plant more fruit trees (Bacon et basic needs as they are forced to decide to efforts spearheaded by Green Mountain Coffee However, the additional food production is with the individual as it also takes a devastating The existing hunger-related research promotes Balanced Nutrition al., forthcoming) or diversify their subsistence spend on shelter, food, or the farm investments Roasters. In the wake of compelling evidence of solutions to ending hunger in the coffeelands often not sufficient to hedge against the risks to toll on community welfare. High rates of cropping through growing vegetables in addition required for the next year’s harvest. They also widespread food insecurity, multiple organizations based on improved trade relationships, the coffee harvest or last the full 12 months of malnutrition translate into educational losses to beans and corn, they are likely to be less face debt, education and healthcare expenses. Malnutrition is one of the leading causes of have risen to the challenge of fighting hunger increased investment, and creative community sensitive to the thin months and enjoy a more the year, and it is rarely enough to support in learning and school performance, lowered Organizations that have launched projects In the face of such income scarcity, spending death and disease among children worldwide by launching projects that not only address development projects (Bacon, 2008). In terms nutritionally balanced diet throughout the year. families through “the thin months,” even when work productivity, and higher health costs (The targeting alternative livelihood strategies have on food is often compromised, and farmers (Pelletier, 1994)