Clean cooking is essential

Clean cooking is essential for enhancing global food security by tackling both health and environmental issues that affect food systems. Traditional cooking methods, which often depend on burning wood, charcoal, or other solid fuels, produce harmful smoke and pollutants. This leads to serious health risks, particularly for women and children, who spend the most time near cooking fires. These health impacts can reduce the ability of individuals to work and care for their families, thereby limiting their access to food.

Additionally, the use of inefficient stoves contributes to deforestation, as wood is often gathered unsustainably, and the burning of these fuels accelerates climate change. These environmental changes directly affect food production, as shifts in climate patterns disrupt farming and food availability.

By adopting clean cooking solutions, such as improved cookstoves or renewable energy options, households can reduce their exposure to toxic smoke, lessen deforestation, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Cleaner cooking methods also save time and resources, enabling families to better focus on food production and nutrition. This holistic approach strengthens food security, helping vulnerable communities build resilience to both health and environmental challenges.