From Soil to Sea: Why Food Safety, Security and Ocean Health must converge

As we mark World Food Safety Day (June 7) and World Oceans Day (June 8), it’s time to see the bigger picture: the land that grows our food and the oceans that feed billions are both under threat. And that threat affects every bite we take

By Chada Rekha Rao

In a world obsessed with artificial intelligence, space tech and digital disruption, the basics are still failing us. At the heart of it all is — food. The simple act of eating is turning into a complex gamble with safety, access and sustainability.

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As we mark World Food Safety Day (June 7) and World Oceans Day (June 8), it’s time to zoom out and see the bigger picture: the land that grows our food and the oceans that feed billions are both under threat. And that threat affects every bite we take.

Unsafe Food: The Hidden Killer

You won’t hear about it every day, but unsafe food is killing people — slowly and silently. The WHO says 600 million people fall sick each year from contaminated food. Around 4,20,000 die — many of them kids.

From pesticide-loaded vegetables to plastic-ridden seafood, our food is far from safe. Think of that street-side pani puri with untreated water, or imported frozen meat with questionable handling. The threats are everywhere — bacteria, chemicals, toxins, heavy metals.

Even packaged food isn’t always safe. Loose regulation, weak cold chains, and a lack of awareness make it worse in countries like India.

When Food Is There, But Not Really

We grow enough food. But millions still go to bed hungry. That’s food insecurity. Over 735 million people face it. Not because food doesn’t exist — but because it doesn’t reach them. Wars, inflation, poor logistics and climate disasters are all to blame.

India is one of the biggest producers of food globally, but rising prices have made dal, milk and meat unaffordable for many. The result? Malnourished children, anaemic women and stunted growth — right in our backyard.

Our Oceans Feed Us—And They’re in Trouble

More than 3 billion people depend on seafood. The oceans don’t just offer food — they offer livelihoods to over 600 million people, especially in coastal economies.

But today, oceans are under siege. Overfishing, coral bleaching, oil spills and climate change are stripping the sea of life. If that’s not enough, 8 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean each year. Fish now carry microplastics, mercury and toxins. That’s what’s ending up on your plate.

If oceans die, seafood vanishes. And so do jobs, diets, and a key buffer against hunger.

Can Tech Save Our Food?

To an extent yes. AI is tracking crop failures. Blockchain is tracing food origins. Drones and sensors are helping farmers water smarter and spray less.

But here’s the catch — these tools often don’t reach the people who need them most: the small farmer, the coastal fisherman, the street vendor.

Real impact comes from low-tech, high-reach strategies:

• Strengthening local supply chains
• Safe storage and transport
• Community-level food testing
• Eco-friendly farming and fishing
• Simple hygiene education

What Happens on Land, Doesn’t Stay There

What we dump on land, eventually flows to the sea. Fertilizers and pesticides enter rivers, creating oxygen-starved “dead zones” in oceans. Plastic waste from cities finds its way into marine life. The contaminated fish we eat impacts our own health. The cycle is complete — and vicious.

Clean land equals clean sea. Clean sea equals clean food.

Time for a 360-degree Rethink

The point of marking World Food Safety Day or World Oceans Day isn’t to trend on social media. It’s to take action.

• Governments must tighten food laws, check for toxins, and protect marine life.
• Businesses need to stop hiding behind greenwashing and actually cut waste and pollution.
• Consumers — you and I — must support local farmers, avoid plastic, and demand cleaner food systems. Even a simple act like buying seasonal produce or refusing plastic-wrapped fish makes a difference.

This Isn’t Just About Food. It’s About the Future

In the end, no amount of AI or innovation will matter if we don’t have clean water to drink or safe food to eat. Because what keeps us alive isn’t 5G. It’s rice. It’s fish. It’s clean water.

And it’s the invisible ocean currents that still keep Earth breathing.

Let’s respect the plate. And the planet.

 

(The author is an Educationist)