1 – Deep Ocean Currents in Antarctica:

GS I 

Geography related issues

Context:

The deep ocean currents (called ‘Overturning Circulations’) in Antarctica, which play a crucial role in redistributing heat, carbon, and nutrients around the globe, are slowing down earlier than predicted (as per the new research, published in the journal Nature Climate Change).

Finding:

Overturning circulation has slowed by almost a third (30%) and deep ocean oxygen levels are declining.

These changes were expected by 2050, but are already happening.

What are the Overturning Circulations?

Overturning Circulations refers to the global network of ocean currents that redistribute heat, carbon, and nutrients. They play a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate, maintaining oxygen levels, and shaping ocean currents.

Why are the Overturning Circulations slowing?

The Overturning Circulations are slowing due to melting Antarctic ice, which freshens surface waters and reduces their density, hindering the sinking process and disrupting the circulation pattern.

Impact of ‘the Slowing’:

It can lead to reduced oxygen levels in the deep ocean, affecting marine organisms.

Disrupts the base of the food chain:As the Southern Ocean supports about three-quarters of global phytoplankton production → impacts the marine ecosystem.

It can also intensify global warming by reducing the ocean’s capacity to store carbon dioxide and heat.

It can contribute to rising sea levels due to the thermal expansion of warmer waters.

About Deep Water Circulations (DWC):

Deep Water Circulation (DWC):

About:

DWC refers to the movement of water in the deep ocean, driven by density differences caused by temperature and salinity variations.

Formation:

In polar regions, sea ice formation causes surrounding seawater to become saltier and denser, leading to sinking. The process repeats as surface water is pulled in to replace sinking water. This circulation pattern is known as thermohaline circulation.

Significance:

Heat Distribution; Carbon Dioxide Control; Shapes ocean currents and circulation patterns globally.

Affects sea level by redistributing heat and influencing thermal expansion.

Deep-Water Circulations in the Indian Ocean:

The Indian Ocean does not produce its own deep water; it receives it from other sources like the North Atlantic and the Antarctic.

Source à The Hindu

2 – Hunger Hotspots: 

GS II 

Poverty related issues

Context:

According to a new UN report – Hunger Hotspots – FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity – India’s neighbours (Pakistan, Afghanistan and Myanmar) are among the hunger hotspots in the world.

Highlights of the report:

Many hotspots [Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, Haiti, and the Sahel (Burkina Faso and Mali)] are facing growing hunger crises.

Conflict, climate extremes and economic shocks continue to drive more and more communities into crisis.

The spillover from the crisis in Sudan is driving massive population displacement and hunger among people in search of refuge.

Risks ahead:

Deepening economic shocks and a likely El Nino climatic phenomenon is raising fears of climate extremes in vulnerable countries around the globe.

Acute food insecurity can potentially increase in magnitude and severity.

Recommendations:

Support the upcoming cultivation with harvesting packages.

Sustain humanitarian assistance, including food assistance and agricultural inputs.     

Establish a local nutrition surveillance system to monitor the deterioration of the nutrition situation, especially in high-risk areas.

Supporting the establishment of green corridors between rural and urban centres to encourage safe spaces to sell produce.    

Nutrition-related and agricultural livelihoods programmes.  

Build the capacity of national and provincial disaster-management authorities on the inclusion of forecast-based financing and risk insurance.

Implement cash-for-work activities by supporting harvesting activities, to provide income sources for farmers.  

Maintain prevention and treatment of acute malnutrition activities integrated with the food security, health, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) package of services.        

Advocate for the return of female staff to work across the countries to reach populations in need.

Case of India:

The Global Hunger Index 2022 ranks India 107 (out of 121 countries), and the level of hunger and undernutrition in the country is now at “serious” levels.

India’s rank on this index has been worsening since 2020 – 94 in 2020 and 101 in 2021.

With 19.3%, India has the highest rate of child wasting (among under 5 children) in the world.

About 16.3% of Indians are undernourished, and about one in every three children is stunted.

Real problem:

India is the largest producer of milk, pulses, bananas, and the 2nd-largest producer of wheat, rice, and vegetables in the world.

Therefore, poor hunger indices can be attributed mainly to food losses and wastage in India.

Crops lost between post-harvest and the retailer (due to poor storage, handling, and transportation) are referred to as losses. Food wastage is the loss of food at the consumer’s end.

Anywhere between 1% (in the case of milk) to 16% (guava) of the agricultural produce is lost by the time it reaches the retailer.

Way ahead for India:

By providing farmers with a mechanism to access real-time prices, processing to absorb ‘excess’ production and scientific storages like silos and logistical support.

Innovations and investments, both public and private, are key to addressing the food loss and waste challenges. For example,

GreenPod Labs is innovating in the packaging and storing of produce to augment their shelf life.

Dehaat provides an online marketplace to farmers and buyers that reduces the number of hands the food trades in.

Source à The Hindu

3 – Food Fortification: 

GS II 

Government Policies and Interventions

Context:

According to a UN report, India’s pilot studies on rice fortification showed a significant drop in the prevalence of anaemia among schoolchildren.

Food Fortification:

Meaning:

It is defined as the practice of adding vitamins and minerals to commonly consumed foods during processing to increase their nutritional value.

Food fortification has been identified as the strategy by the WHO and FAO for decreasing the incidence of nutrient deficiencies at the global level.

The scenario in India:

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2022 placed India at 107th position (out of 121 nations) and the undernourished population is one of the primary reasons for this poor performance of India.

In 2016, the FSSAI established standards for the fortification of rice, wheat flour, edible oil, double-fortified salt (DFS) and milk. It developed the ‘+F’ logo and helped build capacity for food producers.

The pilot – public food fortification programme, was launched in 2019 by the FSSAI in partnership with external non-profits, who are also associated with the nutraceutical industry.

Fortified foods are now being included in public food schemes like PDS, ICDS, and Mid-Day Meal Scheme/Poshan, helping to address the challenge of malnutrition.

Impact:

Fortification may contribute to the prevention, reduction and control of micronutrient deficiencies through mass fortification or targeted fortification.

Major issues with food fortification:

The one-sided portrayal of fortification as a ‘cure-all’: Without any significant scientific perspective and evidence on fortification.

No independent risk analysis: FSSAI’s statutory regulations caution against consuming iron-fortified food by patients with thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia.

Conflict of interest: The studies which FSSAI relies on to promote fortification are sponsored by private food companies.

Evaluation studies are still not publicly available.

Case of treating iron deficiency anaemia in India:

Iron is an essential mineral required for many bodily functions, including the formation of haemoglobin, but can be harmful when taken in excess (tolerable upper limit – 40 mg/day).

One of the methods suggested for the treatment of iron deficiency is fortification of food with iron.

As men cannot ‘excrete’ iron from the body (unlike women), they are particularly vulnerable to excess iron intake.

Studies have shown that unabsorbed iron can lead to constipation, and diarrhoea and has been closely linked to many chronic comorbidities like diabetes, and liver fibrosis/cirrhosis.

It can impair the absorption of other minerals such as zinc and copper, which are also essential for the body and lead to other deficiencies.

Way ahead:

Fortification should be pushed in a transparent manner.

To treat undernutrition in India, all three – dietary diversity, higher protein consumption and fortification, are essential.

It is imperative to develop individualised strategies and ensure thorough monitoring to detect any adverse events at the earliest.

Source à The Hindu 

4 – Gongadi Shawls: 

GS I 

Indian Culture

Context:

A group of alumni from the National Institute of Design has repurposed Telangana’s woollen gongadi shawls into all-weather shoes for farmers.

About Gongadi Shawls:

Gongadi is a traditional woollen blanket woven by the indigenous Kuruma and Kuruba pastoralist communities.     

Material:

It is made using the coarse wool of the Deccani sheep, known locally as Nalla gorrae. It is produced organically without using any dyes.

Durability:

Gongadi shawls are famous for their durability and versatility.

They are known for their ability to withstand all weather conditions and remain intact for a long time.

The shawls do not fade but grow darker in colour over time.

Source à The Hindu