Cultivators of Change: Food Justice in Social Work Education

Social work and food security: Case study on the nutritional capabilities of the landfill waste pickers in South Africa

“…For decades, countries have been preoccupied with food (in)security and (mal)nutrition, since these phenomena directly impact the daily existence and well-being of communities the world over (Kaiser, 2011; Kaiser et al, 2015; Tacoli et al, 2013). A person’s nutritional status directly influences (and is influenced by) their physical and mental health and work/school performance, and is regarded as the most critical development factor in the first 3 years of a child’s life (Cusick and Georgieff, 2012).…”

“…A country’s nutrition patterns, for example, are seen to have lasting effects on that country’s health and prosperity (Cusick and Georgieff, 2012, 2016; Devereux and Waidler, 2017). Food security, in turn, is considered to be directly dependent on and sensitive to political, socioeconomic and environmental dynamics and policies globally, both nationally and locally, and does not only suggest access to, and the availability of, food (Kaiser et al, 2015; Riches, 2011). Sen (1999) concurs with this, saying that food deprivation will not be found in corruption-free countries with good governance, freedom, democracy, good planning and an independent media that monitors government policies.…”

“…Sen (1999) concurs with this, saying that food deprivation will not be found in corruption-free countries with good governance, freedom, democracy, good planning and an independent media that monitors government policies. Hunger and food insecurity should therefore not be seen as only a family problem; it also relates to human rights and social justice, and has deep political roots (Burgess and Shier, 2016; Council on Social Work Education, 2016; Kaiser et al, 2015; Terzi, 2007). This should be of significant concern to the social work profession (Council on Social Work Education, 2016).…”

“…Despite the fact that food (in)security has been attracting growing attention, it is not clear why social workers have not actively joined the research effort. To date, their involvement has largely been confined to charitable or developmental initiatives relating to food stamps, soup/food kitchens, food parcels and food garden development programmes (Kaiser, 2011; Kaiser et al, 2015). Burgess and Shier (2016) urge social workers to become involved in facilitating greater food security, such as developing a thorough understanding of, and intervening in, food security problems at multiple levels.…”

Food insecurity and social work: A comprehensive literature review

“…Food is rooted within a broad, global ecosystem in which geopolitical, economic, political and environmental aspects are connected to food security issues (Kaiser et al, 2015). These interconnected issues demand that social workers, who are concerned with human rights and social and economic justice, plan interventions with consideration of the multiple-system levels involved in food insecurity (Kaiser et al, 2015). Food insecurity has multifaceted links to health, sustainable economic development, environment and trade (World Health Organization [WHO], 2015).…”