The rise of food deserts

So many of us take food for granted. It’s readily available whenever we want it, and we don’t have to worry about our next meal or whether the local store will have everything we need.

Unfortunately, food insecurity is a huge problem for so many, and food deserts are becoming more common and prominent in urban areas.

A food desert is defined as a community where the closest full-service grocery store is more than 1,600 metres away. As cities expand and populations become denser, these food-sparse areas are popping up more frequently.

In Australia, there are food deserts concentrated in the western suburbs of Sydney. Greater Western Sydney is a large metropolitan area with predominantly working-class citizens and a highly multicultural population. This underserved, diverse area is, subsequently, two to three times more likely to deal with health issues, such as type 2 diabetes.

So, how is urbanization leading to food insecurity? How can low-income communities access fresh fruits, vegetables, and other healthy ingredients? Let’s look at the rise of food deserts and what you can do to help.

How Food Deserts Affect People

There are obvious concerns when it comes to food deserts and food scarcity. Families who don’t have access to nutritious food can suffer in a variety of ways, including developing health issues. Some of the greatest risks for individuals include heart disease; stroke; type 2 diabetes; high blood pressure and obesity.

These problems tend to be multi-generational for underserved and low-income communities. It’s not just the adults who are suffering, but children have no control over the communities in which they are raised. When kids don’t have access to adequate nutrition, it can stunt their physical and developmental growth. They might struggle in school, develop illnesses, and have shortened lifespans.

Many of these common health issues are why more doctors are concerned about grocery shopping and dietary habits. Working with medical professionals to put together a realistic nutrition plan is one of the best ways someone living in a food desert can meet the dietary needs of children and improve household health.

A Community Crisis

Food deserts should be considered a public health crisis. Because they tend to impact underserved neighbourhoods, it’s the responsibility of local governments, organizations, and other communities to come together for those who struggle with food access.

Why should you care about a food crisis in another community? Why should the Australian government do more for those in underserved areas?

In addition to it being the moral and ethical thing to do, the reality is that urbanization could start to negatively impact more areas across the country. Rapid urban growth often leads to poverty, greater air pollution, and a stronger negative impact on human health.

While growing communities might seem like a good thing at first, a rapid influx of people in small city neighbourhoods can be problematic for everyone. Both individuals and local officials need to step in as quickly and as often as possible.

What Can You Do?

Thankfully, you don’t have to be in a political position to make a difference. You can help with local food insecurity in a variety of ways. Not only will your help ensure greater nutrition to those in need, but it can bolster underserved communities to the point where they might be able to escape their current state of food insecurity.

Simply put, with a little motivation and dedication, you can do extraordinary things for your neighbours in nearby communities.

It starts with education. You might be surprised to find food deserts in your own “backyard.” Up to an estimated 13% of Australian citizens deal with food insecurity. This percentage only increases among indigenous groups in certain locations. The pandemic made things even worse for these communities, as supply chain issues and shuttered stores became the norm for over two years. The more you educate yourself on those staggering statistics, the more motivated you’ll be to spark change.

Some of the best ways to fight back against local food deserts include starting or supporting community gardens; encouraging mobile farmers’ markets; improving public transportation options; working with local council members and politicians to encourage change; and appealing to nonprofit organizations to provide help.

Urbanization will undoubtedly continue to become a problem across the country.

More people are moving to big cities in droves to find better jobs, raise families, and be a part of greater communities. While there can be benefits to that, many of the people moving are stepping into communities that are already underserved and run down. Urbanization can increase poverty levels, crime waves, and of course, food scarcity.

Whether you have the power to do something from a political standpoint or you’re a concerned community member wanting to do your part, stay educated and informed about food deserts, and do what you can to take a stand for these communities in Australia.