If you find yourself wandering through Battery Park City in Lower Manhattan, a mere turn down Vesey Street toward North End Avenue reveals a powerful testament to human suffering: the Irish Hunger Memorial. This striking installation, composed of stones, soil, and moss, pays homage to the harrowing Irish famine of the mid-19th century—a tragedy that claimed the lives of over a million individuals and uprooted countless others, forcing them to seek refuge in cities like New York.
Yet, while the Irish famine is widely memorialized, it stands in stark contrast to other, equally devastating famines that have slipped into obscurity. The Bengal famine of 1943 and China’s famine from 1959 to 1961, which together resulted in the deaths of millions, lack similar public acknowledgment. This disparity raises critical questions about whose suffering is remembered and whose is overlooked—a reflection of deep-seated inequities in our global narrative.
Since 1870, approximately 140 million people have perished from famine—a staggering statistic that reveals the persistent threat of hunger throughout human history. Famines were once common, and their toll devastating; a famine in 14th-century northern Europe is estimated to have wiped out as much as 12 percent of the population within a few years. Today, while hunger persists on a shocking scale, full-blown famines are increasingly rare, often resulting from political failures rather than agricultural deficiencies. This is a monumental achievement of modern society, yet it’s one we frequently fail to recognize and celebrate.
The current agricultural landscape is promising. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) forecasts that, in the 2025–2026 farming season, the world will produce record levels of cereal crops, including wheat, corn, and rice. This growth is underscored by a remarkable global stocks-to-use ratio of 30.6 percent, indicating that we are generating nearly a third more food than we are consuming. The U.S. Department of Agriculture echoes this optimism, predicting a record corn crop and record yields—an indication that we are maximizing our agricultural efficiency.
However, the reality of food distribution starkly contrasts with these optimistic production numbers. Despite the world’s capacity to generate excess calories, a shocking 2.6 billion people still cannot afford a healthy diet, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The availability of food is not the sole issue; access is diminished by systemic inequalities that leave vulnerable populations at risk, reinforcing the notion that hunger is not merely a consequence of scarcity but a manifestation of socio-political failures.
When famines occur today, they are often driven by human-made crises rather than crop failures. The ongoing humanitarian disasters in Gaza and Sudan, where over 25 million individuals face acute food insecurity, starkly illustrate this point. These crises are exacerbated by political conditions and access failures, revealing a grotesque irony: in a world of abundance, millions are still left hungry due to the very systems designed to protect their rights.
As we examine the dynamics of food production, it is impossible to overlook the looming threats posed by climate change. While current crop yields have shown resilience, climate scientists warn of increasing risks to food security as temperatures rise. The potential for heat waves, droughts, and natural disasters threatens to undermine our agricultural systems. However, the capacity for adaptation—through innovative farming techniques, resilient crop varieties, and efficient irrigation—offers hope, though the window to implement these changes is narrowing.
Political decisions regarding trade can further exacerbate food insecurity. The global food price crisis of 2007–2008 illustrates how export restrictions, driven by nationalistic agendas, can precipitate hunger. Given recent political trends, such as the push for tariffs and trade barriers, the specter of another crisis looms ominously. It serves as a reminder that food security is intricately tied to the political climate and the decisions made by those in power.
The Irish Hunger Memorial serves not only as a reminder of past tragedies but also as a call to action in the present. Humanity has made significant strides in creating a food system that now supports eight billion people, consistently breaking harvest records—even amidst profound challenges. However, this progress is threatened by political decisions, climate change, and systemic inequities that continue to plague our world.
As a society, we must confront these challenges head-on, advocating for policies that prioritize equitable access to food, sustainable agricultural practices, and accountability from those who wield power over our food systems. The memory of those who suffered in the past should inspire us to ensure that all individuals today have the right to food, dignity, and security. In doing so, we honor their legacy and commit ourselves to a more just and equitable future.
This article highlights the importance of Famines’ Political Roots.
