Seventy-one percent of Americans worry about food shortages, and 69 percent fear impending “food deserts,” regions of the country with limited access to affordable, nutritious food offerings, according to a Harris Poll commissioned by Bayer, the pharmaceutical and biotech company.
Inflation and increasing prices of goods and services worry roughly 90 percent of Americans, with 87 percent particularly concerned with the rising grocery costs, and 76 percent noticing more empty shelves than at the beginning of this year.
“Within the next three months, a quarter of a billion people will have less access to food,” says Patrick Lockwood-Taylor, president of Bayer U.S. and president of Consumer Health NA, in a statement. “That is starting to approach starvation conditions. As always, it is the most underserved populations who are at greatest risk. As one of the country’s leading life sciences companies, Bayer is solving for this issue head-on in pursuit of our vision of Health for All, Hunger for None. Bayer is committed to empowering farmers on the ground by providing access to the seed and technologies they need to be most effective during this time of hardship.”
Bayer has made investments in its vegetable seeds business to help farmers grow crops and ensure maximum production capabilities, according to the company. It has also helped arm farmers with innovations and increase accessibility to tools to help close the food security gap.
To support farmers in Ukraine, the company donated 40,000 bags of seed to grow food in the country.
Related: Supermarket Beef Prices Lower; USDA to Invest Up to $300 Million in Organic Initiative