Team:SDU-Denmark/Tour21

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<h4>A World Wide Problem</h4>
<h4>A World Wide Problem</h4>
<p>
<p>
-
<span class="intro">805 million people suffered</span> from undernourishment in 2012-2014. This makes a total of 11.24 %, or more than
+
<span class="intro">805 million people suffered</span> from undernourishment in 2012-2014. This makes a total of 11.24%, or more than
every ninth person in the entire
every ninth person in the entire
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<a href="http://www.fao.org/hunger/en/" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span><br><br>
<a href="http://www.fao.org/hunger/en/" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span><br><br>
-
<span class="intro">The Food and Agriculture</span> Organization of the United Nations define undernourishment as a state, lasting
+
<a class="popupImg alignRight" style="width:300px" target="_blank" href="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2014/d/dd/2014SDUfacts5.png" title="Figure 1: Earths total biocapacity vs. the Ecological Footprint of humanity, as a function of time.">
 +
  <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2014/d/dd/2014SDUfacts5.png" style="width:300px" />
 +
Figure 1: Earths total biocapacity vs. the Ecological Footprint of humanity, as a function of
 +
<span class="sourceReference">time.</span>
 +
<span class="tooltip">
 +
  <span class="tooltipHeader">Source:</span>
 +
    WWF, Living Planet Report 2012: Biodiversity, biocapacity and better chioces. P. 40.</span>
 +
</a>
 +
 
 +
<span class="intro">The Food and Agriculture Organization</span> of the United Nations define undernourishment as a state, lasting
for at least one year, of inability to acquire enough food, defined as a level of food intake, insufficient  
for at least one year, of inability to acquire enough food, defined as a level of food intake, insufficient  
to meet dietary energy  
to meet dietary energy  
-
<span class="sourceReference">requirement.</span>
+
<span class="sourceReference"> requirement.</span>
<span class="tooltip">
<span class="tooltip">
   <span class="tooltipHeader">Source:</span>
   <span class="tooltipHeader">Source:</span>
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<a href="http://www.fao.org/hunger/en/" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span>  
<a href="http://www.fao.org/hunger/en/" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span>  
Undernourishment is mostly seen in developing
Undernourishment is mostly seen in developing
-
countries, like many African countries, where the PPP (Purchasing Power Parity per capita) is very low,  
+
countries, e.g. many African countries, where the PPP (Purchasing Power Parity per capita) is very low,  
compared with e.g. European  
compared with e.g. European  
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<a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span>  
<a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span>  
-
In fact, there is enough food, as we in total,
+
We in fact already produce enough food worldwide to feed every person with at least 2720 calories per  
-
worldwide, produce enough to feed everyone with at least 2720 calories per  
+
<span class="sourceReference">day.</span>
<span class="sourceReference">day.</span>
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<a href="http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world%20hunger%20facts%202002.htm" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span>  
<a href="http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world%20hunger%20facts%202002.htm" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span>  
-
But many people have too little income or no land to grow, which
+
But many people have too little income or no land to cultivate them, which makes them unable to produce enough food. Charitable organizations are working hard against the hunger  
-
makes enough food out of reach for them. Charitable organizations are working hard against the hunger  
+
problem in especially Africa, Latin America, and  
problem in especially Africa, Latin America, and  
-
<span class="sourceReference">South-East Asia,</span>
+
<span class="sourceReference"> South-East Asia,</span>
<span class="tooltip">
<span class="tooltip">
   <span class="tooltipHeader">Source:</span>
   <span class="tooltipHeader">Source:</span>
     Save the Children, 2014: Where do we work.
     Save the Children, 2014: Where do we work.
-
 
<a href="http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6146359/k.9C15/Where_We_Work.htm" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span>  
<a href="http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6146359/k.9C15/Where_We_Work.htm" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span>  
-
but lack of money and resources, poor infrastructures, and war make it a nearly insoluble problem.<br><br>
+
but a lack of money and resources, poor infrastructures and war make it a nearly insoluble problem.<br><br>
 +
 
 +
<a class="popupImg alignLeft" style="width:300px" target="_blank" href="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2014/9/90/2014SDUfacts4.png" title="Figure 2: The total of Earth's biocapacity consumed by humanity, as a function of time.">
 +
  <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2014/9/90/2014SDUfacts4.png" style="width:300px" />
 +
Figure 2: The total of Earth's biocapacity consumed by humanity, as a function of
 +
<span class="sourceReference">time.</span>
 +
<span class="tooltip">
 +
  <span class="tooltipHeader">Source:</span>
 +
    WWF, Living Planet Report 2012: Biodiversity, biocapacity and better chioces. P. 38.</span>
 +
</a>
-
<span class="intro">Right now, the world's</span> population is about 7 billion people and grows by 1.2 % per year, which means that
+
<span class="intro">Right now, the world's population</span> is about 7 billion people and grows by 1.2% per year, which means that
we will be twice as many people in the world in about  
we will be twice as many people in the world in about  
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Our food production cannot cover
Our food production cannot cover
-
the needs of so many people, and it is therefore unlikely that we will be able to produce enough meat, without  
+
the needs of so many people, and it is unlikely that we will be able to produce enough meat, without  
-
worsening the animals living conditions. This forces us to find alternative food sources.<br><br>
+
worsening the living conditions of the animals. This forces us to find alternative food sources.<br><br>
 +
 
 +
<span class="intro">In addition to this,</span> people of the Earth consume more than the total biocapacity, that can be regenerated from renewable resources in the same time span.
 +
The Ecological Footprint of humanity is defined as the sum of the areas needed for biologically productive land and/or fishing grounds to supply resources  for the human population’s consumption, and to assimilate associated waste. This has exceeded  the biocapacity available since the 1970’s, as shown in figure 1.
 +
 
 +
In 2008, the total biocapacity of the Earth was 12.0 billion gha, and thus 1.8 gha per person.
 +
In contrast to this, the total Ecological Footprint was 18.2 billion gha, and thus 2.7 gha per person. This ecological overshoot means that it takes the Earth around 1.5 years to generate the renewable resources. In other words we are consuming the biocapacity of 1.5 planet Earths every year, shown in figure 2, and this means that the biocapacity has decreased and will continue to do
 +
 
 +
<span class="sourceReference"> so.</span>
 +
<span class="tooltip">
 +
  <span class="tooltipHeader">Source:</span>
 +
    WWF, Living Planet Report 2012: Biodiversity, biocapacity and better chioces. P. 38-40.
 +
 
 +
<a href="http://d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/downloads/1_lpr_2012_online_full_size_single_pages_final_120516.pdf " target="_blank">(Link)</a></span>
 +
<br><br>
 +
 
-
In addition to this, people of the Earth consume more of the total biocapacity, than can be regenerated for renewable resources in the same time span. The Ecological Footprint of humanity, defined as the sum of the areas needed for biologically productive land and/or fishing grounds to supply resources  for the human population’s consumption, and to assimilate associated waste, has exceeded  the biocapacity available since the 1970’s, as shown in figure 1. In 2008, the total biocapacity of the Earth was 12.0 billion gha, and thus 1.8 gha per person. In contrast to this, the total Ecological Footprint was 18.2 billion gha, and thus 2.7 gha per person. This ecological overshoot means that it takes the Earth around 1.5 years to generate the renewable resources – we are, in other words, consuming the biocapacity of 1.5 planet Earths every year, shown in figure 2, and in this way, the biocapacity has become and will continue to become less and less.
 
-
</p>
 
<table style="width:800px">
<table style="width:800px">
   <tr>
   <tr>
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</tr>
</tr>
</table>
</table>
-
 
+
<br>
<h4>What do we eat?</h4>
<h4>What do we eat?</h4>
<p>
<p>
-
<span class="sourceReference"><span class="intro">Figure 1</span></span>
+
<span class="intro">Figure 3 shows</span> the contribution of carbohydrates in total dietary consumption in the world. WHO recommends a minimum of 55% of carbohydrates in the daily diet, but they also caution that a daily intake  
-
<span class="tooltip">
+
of more than 75% can lead to health  
-
  <span class="tooltipHeader">Source:</span>
+
-
    Contribution of Carbohydrates in Total Dietary Consumption:
+
-
 
+
-
<a href="http://chartsbin.com/view/1154" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span>
+
-
<span class="intro"> shows the</span> contribution of carbohydrates in total dietary consumption in the world. WHO recommends at least 55 % of carbohydrates in the daily diet, but they also cautions that a daily intake  
+
-
of more than 75 % can lead to health  
+
<span class="sourceReference">problems.</span>
<span class="sourceReference">problems.</span>
<span class="tooltip">
<span class="tooltip">
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<a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/W8079E/w8079e08.htm#carbohydrates in the diet" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span>
<a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/W8079E/w8079e08.htm#carbohydrates in the diet" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span>
-
Figure 1 shows that the proportional intake of carbohydrates is very high in Africa, with more than 60 % daily intake in all countries, and an intake of more than 75 % in six countries. In addition, many high-income countries, like the United States of America, United Kingdom or   
+
Figure 3 shows that the proportional intake of carbohydrates is very high in Africa, with more than 60% daily intake in all countries, and an intake of more than 75% in six countries. In addition, many high-income countries, like the United States of America, United Kingdom or   
<span class="sourceReference">France,</span>
<span class="sourceReference">France,</span>
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<a href="http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.CD" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span>
<a href="http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.CD" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span>
-
have a very low intake of carbohydrates, with less than 50 %.<br><br>
+
have a very low intake of carbohydrates, with less than 50%.<br><br>
-
<span class="sourceReference"><span class="intro">Figure 2</span></span>
+
<span class="intro">Figure 4 shows</span> the contribution of proteins in total dietary consumption in the world.  
-
<span class="tooltip">
+
10-20% proteins per day are recommended by  
-
  <span class="tooltipHeader">Source:</span>
+
-
    Contribution of Proteins in Total Dietary Consumption:
+
-
 
+
-
<a href="http://chartsbin.com/view/1157" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span>
+
-
<span class="intro"> shows the</span> contribution of proteins in total dietary consumption in the world.  
+
-
10-20 % proteins are recommended by  
+
-
<span class="sourceReference">WHO,</span>
+
<span class="sourceReference"> WHO,</span>
<span class="tooltip">
<span class="tooltip">
   <span class="tooltipHeader">Source:</span>
   <span class="tooltipHeader">Source:</span>
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<a href="http://whqlibdoc.who.int/trs/WHO_TRS_935_eng.pdf?ua=1" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span>
<a href="http://whqlibdoc.who.int/trs/WHO_TRS_935_eng.pdf?ua=1" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span>
-
<span class="sourceReference"></span>
+
but as it is seen in figure 4, protein intake is very low, with less than 16% daily consumption worldwide, and under 10% in many African countries.<br><br>
-
<span class="tooltip">
+
-
  <span class="tooltipHeader">Source:</span>
+
-
    Consumption of Fats in Total Dietary Consumption:
+
-
 
+
-
<a href="http://chartsbin.com/view/1158" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span>
+
-
&nbsp; shows the consumption of fats in total dietary consumption in the world. A daily intake of more than 35 % fats can
+
-
lead to massive overweight and diseases like cancer, as in addition, a daily intake of less than 20 % can lead
+
-
to vitamin
+
 +
<span class="intro">Figure 5 shows</span> the consumption of fats in total dietary consumption in the world. A daily intake of more than 35 % fats can lead to massive overweight and diseases like cancer. In addition, a daily intake of less than 20 % can lead to vitamin 
<span class="sourceReference">deficiency.</span>
<span class="sourceReference">deficiency.</span>
<span class="tooltip">
<span class="tooltip">
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Nutrition Paper, 2010. Vol. 91: p. 11-12.
Nutrition Paper, 2010. Vol. 91: p. 11-12.
-
<a href="http://foris.fao.org/preview/25553-0ece4cb94ac52f9a25af77ca5cfba7a8c.pdf" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span><br><br>
+
<a href="http://foris.fao.org/preview/25553-0ece4cb94ac52f9a25af77ca5cfba7a8c.pdf" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span>
-
<span class="intro">
+
Figure 5 shows that many countries in Africa, South-East Asia and Latin America have a daily intake of less than 20 % fats, while other countries, like USA, UK and France have a intake higher than 35 %.
-
<span class="sourceReference"><span class="intro">Figure 3</span></span></span>
+
<br><br>
-
<span class="tooltip">
+
-
  <span class="tooltipHeader">Source:</span>
+
-
    Consumption of Fats in Total Dietary Consumption:
+
-
 
+
-
<a href="http://chartsbin.com/view/1158" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span>
+
-
<span class="intro"> shows that</span> many countries in Africa, South-East Asia
+
-
and Latin America have a daily intake of less than 20 %, while other countries, like USA, UK and France have  
+
-
an intake higher than 35 %.<br><br>
+
-
<span class="intro">It is important to</span> note, that even if the ratio between carbohydrates, proteins and fats is as recommended,  
+
<span class="intro">It is important to note</span> that even if the dietary ratio between carbohydrates, proteins and fats is as recommended, people may still not eat enough calories per day, and therefore still be undernourished. As an example, Congo has a distribution of 80% carbohydrates, 14% fats, and 6% protein. This shows that
-
it does not mean that people in a given country eat enough calories per day, they still might be  
+
-
undernourished. As an example, Congo has a distribution of 80 % carbohydrates, 14 % fats, and 6 % protein. This shows that
+
people in Congo eat comparatively too much carbohydrates, and insufficient amounts of protein and fats.  
people in Congo eat comparatively too much carbohydrates, and insufficient amounts of protein and fats.  
-
In contrast, USA has a contribution of 49 % carbohydrates, 38 % fats, and 12 % protein. This contribution  
+
In contrast, USA has a contribution of 49% carbohydrates, 38% fats, and 12% protein. This contribution  
-
has to little carbohydrates and way too many fats, and as mentioned above, even a harmful amount of fats.  
+
has too little carbohydrates and way too many fats, and as mentioned above, even a harmful amount of fats.  
-
But as in Congo, people in USA eat very little protein, which is fairly poor.<br><br>
+
But as in Congo, people in USA eat very little protein which is fairly poor.<br><br>
-
<span class="intro">Overall, the three figures</span> show that many countries in Africa, South-East Asia, and Latin America use
+
<span class="intro">Overall, the three figures show</span> that many countries in Africa, South-East Asia, and Latin America have
-
carbohydrates as the primary food source, while they eat too little protein and fats compared with the  
+
carbohydrates as their primary food source, while they eat too little protein and fats compared to the  
recommended amount. This might be because of their low income, as carbohydrates are less expensive and  
recommended amount. This might be because of their low income, as carbohydrates are less expensive and  
often the only available food  
often the only available food  
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<a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/w0078e/w0078e08.htm#P7404_499006" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span><br><br>
<a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/w0078e/w0078e08.htm#P7404_499006" target="_blank">(Link)</a></span><br><br>
-
<span class="intro">In contrast, high-income countries</span> that have access to all food sources also have a wrong contribution of  
+
<span class="intro">In contrast, high-income countries</span> that have access to all food sources also have a wrong composition of  
-
carbohydrates, proteins and fats. It is unknown, why people, who have the choice, don’t eat the right
+
carbohydrates, proteins and fats. It is unknown why people who have the choice, don’t eat the recommended amount of the food sources. It might be that these people don’t spend much time on cooking and make the easy choice of eating
-
amount of these food sources. It might be that those people don’t offer very much time on cooking, so that
+
fast food instead, which is rich in fats.<br><br>
-
fast food, which is rich in fats, is the easier choice.<br><br>
+
-
<span class="intro">Developing countries have many</span> problems with undernourishment, but the entire world has a problem  
+
<span class="intro">Developing countries have many problems</span> with undernourishment, but the entire world has a problem  
with malnourishment.
with malnourishment.
<br><br><br>
<br><br><br>

Latest revision as of 02:53, 18 October 2014

Facts and Statistics

The world without Edible coli

A World Wide Problem

805 million people suffered from undernourishment in 2012-2014. This makes a total of 11.24%, or more than every ninth person in the entire world. Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2014: Hunger Statistics. (Link)

Figure 1: Earths total biocapacity vs. the Ecological Footprint of humanity, as a function of time. Source: WWF, Living Planet Report 2012: Biodiversity, biocapacity and better chioces. P. 40. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations define undernourishment as a state, lasting for at least one year, of inability to acquire enough food, defined as a level of food intake, insufficient to meet dietary energy requirement. Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2014: Basic definitions. (Link) Undernourishment is mostly seen in developing countries, e.g. many African countries, where the PPP (Purchasing Power Parity per capita) is very low, compared with e.g. European countries. Source: Central intelligence Agency, 2014: The World Factbook. (Link) We in fact already produce enough food worldwide to feed every person with at least 2720 calories per day. Source: World Hunger, 2013: 2013 World Hunger and Poverty Facts and Statistics. (Link) But many people have too little income or no land to cultivate them, which makes them unable to produce enough food. Charitable organizations are working hard against the hunger problem in especially Africa, Latin America, and South-East Asia, Source: Save the Children, 2014: Where do we work. (Link) but a lack of money and resources, poor infrastructures and war make it a nearly insoluble problem.

Figure 2: The total of Earth's biocapacity consumed by humanity, as a function of time. Source: WWF, Living Planet Report 2012: Biodiversity, biocapacity and better chioces. P. 38. Right now, the world's population is about 7 billion people and grows by 1.2% per year, which means that we will be twice as many people in the world in about 58 years. Source: Population media Center, 2009: Issue we Address. (Link) Our food production cannot cover the needs of so many people, and it is unlikely that we will be able to produce enough meat, without worsening the living conditions of the animals. This forces us to find alternative food sources.

In addition to this, people of the Earth consume more than the total biocapacity, that can be regenerated from renewable resources in the same time span. The Ecological Footprint of humanity is defined as the sum of the areas needed for biologically productive land and/or fishing grounds to supply resources for the human population’s consumption, and to assimilate associated waste. This has exceeded the biocapacity available since the 1970’s, as shown in figure 1. In 2008, the total biocapacity of the Earth was 12.0 billion gha, and thus 1.8 gha per person. In contrast to this, the total Ecological Footprint was 18.2 billion gha, and thus 2.7 gha per person. This ecological overshoot means that it takes the Earth around 1.5 years to generate the renewable resources. In other words we are consuming the biocapacity of 1.5 planet Earths every year, shown in figure 2, and this means that the biocapacity has decreased and will continue to do so. Source: WWF, Living Planet Report 2012: Biodiversity, biocapacity and better chioces. P. 38-40. (Link)

Figure 3: Contribution of carbohydrates in total dietary consumption. Figure 4: Contribution of protein in total dietary consumption. Figure 5: Contribution of fats in total dietary consumption.

What do we eat?

Figure 3 shows the contribution of carbohydrates in total dietary consumption in the world. WHO recommends a minimum of 55% of carbohydrates in the daily diet, but they also caution that a daily intake of more than 75% can lead to health problems. Source: FAO/WHO Expert Consultation: Carbohydrates in the human nutrition. FAO Food and Nutrition Paper, 1997. Vol. 66: Carbohydrates in the diet. (Link) Figure 3 shows that the proportional intake of carbohydrates is very high in Africa, with more than 60% daily intake in all countries, and an intake of more than 75% in six countries. In addition, many high-income countries, like the United States of America, United Kingdom or France, Source: The World Bank, 2014: GNI per Capita, Atlas method (current US$). (Link) have a very low intake of carbohydrates, with less than 50%.

Figure 4 shows the contribution of proteins in total dietary consumption in the world. 10-20% proteins per day are recommended by WHO, Source: WHO/FAO/UNU Expert Consultation: Protein and Amino Acid Requirement in Human Nutrition. WHO Technical Report Series, 2007. Vol. 935. (Link) but as it is seen in figure 4, protein intake is very low, with less than 16% daily consumption worldwide, and under 10% in many African countries.

Figure 5 shows the consumption of fats in total dietary consumption in the world. A daily intake of more than 35 % fats can lead to massive overweight and diseases like cancer. In addition, a daily intake of less than 20 % can lead to vitamin deficiency. Source: FAO Expert Consultation: Fats and fatty acids in human nutrition. FAO Food and Nutrition Paper, 2010. Vol. 91: p. 11-12. (Link) Figure 5 shows that many countries in Africa, South-East Asia and Latin America have a daily intake of less than 20 % fats, while other countries, like USA, UK and France have a intake higher than 35 %.

It is important to note that even if the dietary ratio between carbohydrates, proteins and fats is as recommended, people may still not eat enough calories per day, and therefore still be undernourished. As an example, Congo has a distribution of 80% carbohydrates, 14% fats, and 6% protein. This shows that people in Congo eat comparatively too much carbohydrates, and insufficient amounts of protein and fats. In contrast, USA has a contribution of 49% carbohydrates, 38% fats, and 12% protein. This contribution has too little carbohydrates and way too many fats, and as mentioned above, even a harmful amount of fats. But as in Congo, people in USA eat very little protein which is fairly poor.

Overall, the three figures show that many countries in Africa, South-East Asia, and Latin America have carbohydrates as their primary food source, while they eat too little protein and fats compared to the recommended amount. This might be because of their low income, as carbohydrates are less expensive and often the only available food source. Source: FAO: Chapter 7 - Food, nutrients and diets. (Link)

In contrast, high-income countries that have access to all food sources also have a wrong composition of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. It is unknown why people who have the choice, don’t eat the recommended amount of the food sources. It might be that these people don’t spend much time on cooking and make the easy choice of eating fast food instead, which is rich in fats.

Developing countries have many problems with undernourishment, but the entire world has a problem with malnourishment.