In the United States, one in six people are fighting hunger.  One in four children live in a home where food is not guaranteed.  While we live in one of the most prosperous countries in the world, nearly 52 million Americans are hungry. And hunger is not only an issue in the United States – it is a crisis throughout the world. On April 17 and 18, HungerU, an initiative of the Farm Journal Foundation, will visit Oklahoma State University.  Its purpose is to educate college students about the importance of modern agriculture practices and how it will affect the world food crisis. The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Student Council will host HungerU.  Luke Chapman, a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Lydia Blaine, a member of Chi Omega, are two council members facilitating the event.       

“HungerU is here to inform Oklahoma State students about how we can be advocates for agriculture and help solve the global food crisis,” Blaine said. 

The world’s population is expected to reach nine billion by the year 2050, meaning the world’s current food output must increase by 70 percent.  HungerU says technology is the only way to meet the demand.  

“Agriculture is the key component to fighting world hunger,” Chapman said. “Without production agriculture, we wouldn’t be here.” 

Chapman said agriculture must be promoted to solve the hunger problem.  HungerU is a perfect way to do so, he said. 
HungerU will give OSU students an up-close look at hunger by bringing its trailer onto our campus.  The trailer features a video presentation highlighting key issues about hunger and agriculture.              

“The dynamic video presentation takes audiences through the complex, global issue of hunger and demonstrates how modern agriculture continues to support practical solutions to fight hunger,” according to the HungerU website.       
       
The tour will also have team members on-site to answer questions or give more information about hunger. 

The HungerU team will return to OSU a week later to facilitate a meal packing program.  CASNR Student Council will gather its students to pack meals for the hungry in developing countries.
 “The meal packaging program provides volunteers the opportunity to package dehydrated, high protein and highly nutritious meals that are used primarily to support development programs and to save lives in developing countries,” Blaine said. 

The HungerU bus has visited college campuses across the US including Auburn University, the University of Mississippi, George Washington University, Texas A&M University and others. 

Norman Borlaug, the father of the Green Revolution, said, “Civilization as it is known today could not have evolved, nor can it survive, without an adequate food supply.”  Hunger is important.  Food is even more important.  Agriculture is the most important.        
      
“The OSU Greek community is one of the most influential groups on campus,” Blaine said.  “By getting involved with HungerU, we can help educate others on the importance of ending world hunger.”          
   
For more information on the tour, visit http://www.hungeru.com, follow @HungerUTour on Twitter or like HungerU on Facebook.