Global cooperation to ensure food security is a critical topic that has gained significant traction in recent IELTS Writing Task 2 exams. Based on the analysis of past exam patterns and current global trends, this theme is likely to appear more frequently in future tests. Let’s explore a relevant question that has appeared in recent IELTS exams and provide sample essays to help you prepare effectively.
Analyzing the Question
Some people believe that countries should work together to ensure global food security, while others argue that each country should focus on its own food production. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
This question addresses the complex issue of global food security, presenting two contrasting viewpoints:
- Countries should collaborate globally to ensure food security for all.
- Each nation should prioritize its own food production.
The task requires you to discuss both perspectives and provide your personal opinion on the matter.
Sample Essays
Band 8-9 Essay
In an increasingly interconnected world, the issue of food security has become a global concern. While some advocate for international cooperation to address this challenge, others believe that individual countries should focus on their own food production. In my opinion, a balanced approach combining both global collaboration and national self-sufficiency is the most effective strategy to ensure food security for all.
Proponents of global cooperation argue that food security is a challenge that transcends national borders. They contend that by pooling resources, sharing knowledge, and coordinating efforts, countries can more effectively combat hunger and malnutrition on a global scale. For instance, international organizations like the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) facilitate the exchange of agricultural technologies and best practices, enabling developing nations to improve their food production capabilities. Moreover, global cooperation can help mitigate the impact of natural disasters or crop failures in one region by facilitating food aid and distribution from other areas.
On the other hand, those who advocate for national self-sufficiency in food production emphasize the importance of food sovereignty and reducing dependence on imports. They argue that by focusing on domestic agriculture, countries can better control their food supply, ensure food quality and safety, and protect local farming communities. This approach can also help nations build resilience against global food price fluctuations and potential disruptions in international supply chains. For example, Singapore’s “30 by 30” initiative aims to produce 30% of its nutritional needs locally by 2030, reducing its reliance on imports and enhancing food security.
In my view, the most effective approach to ensuring food security lies in striking a balance between global cooperation and national self-sufficiency. Countries should prioritize developing their domestic agricultural sectors while simultaneously engaging in international collaboration. This balanced strategy allows nations to benefit from shared knowledge and resources while maintaining a degree of food sovereignty. For instance, countries could participate in regional food security initiatives, such as ASEAN’s integrated food security framework, while also investing in sustainable local farming practices.
Furthermore, global cooperation is essential in addressing transnational challenges that affect food security, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. International efforts to combat these issues, like the Paris Agreement, are crucial for maintaining long-term global food production capacity. At the same time, nations should focus on developing resilient local food systems that can withstand environmental and economic shocks.
In conclusion, while both global cooperation and national self-sufficiency have their merits in addressing food security, a combined approach that leverages the strengths of both strategies is most likely to succeed. By fostering international collaboration while simultaneously building robust domestic food production capabilities, countries can work towards ensuring food security for all in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
(Word count: 420)
Band 6-7 Essay
The issue of global food security is a topic of great importance in today’s world. Some people think that countries should work together to solve this problem, while others believe each country should focus on its own food production. In my opinion, a combination of both approaches is necessary to ensure food security for everyone.
Those who support global cooperation argue that food security is a problem that affects all countries. They say that by working together, countries can share resources and knowledge to improve food production and distribution worldwide. For example, developed countries can help developing nations by providing them with advanced farming technologies and expertise. This cooperation can also help in times of crisis, such as when natural disasters destroy crops in one country, and other nations can provide food aid.
On the other hand, supporters of national food production argue that each country should be self-sufficient in food. They believe that relying too much on other countries for food can be risky, especially during global crises or conflicts. By focusing on their own food production, countries can ensure a stable food supply for their citizens and protect local farmers. For instance, some countries have implemented policies to increase domestic food production and reduce dependence on imports.
In my view, a combination of both global cooperation and national food production is the best approach to ensure food security. Countries should work together on global issues that affect food production, such as climate change and sustainable farming practices. At the same time, they should also invest in their own agricultural sectors to maintain a certain level of self-sufficiency.
For example, countries could participate in international research projects to develop drought-resistant crops, which would benefit farmers worldwide. They could also share information about efficient irrigation techniques and sustainable farming methods. However, each country should also have plans to produce enough food to meet its basic needs, in case of global supply chain disruptions.
In conclusion, while both global cooperation and national food production are important for food security, I believe that a balanced approach combining both strategies is the most effective way to address this critical issue. By working together on global challenges while also strengthening their own food production capabilities, countries can better ensure food security for their citizens and contribute to global food stability.
(Word count: 368)
Band 5-6 Essay
Food security is a big problem in the world today. Some people think countries should work together to solve this problem, while others think each country should focus on its own food production. I think both ideas are important.
Working together is good because countries can help each other. Rich countries can give money and technology to poor countries to help them grow more food. For example, when there is a natural disaster in one country, other countries can send food to help. This is good because it helps people who don’t have enough food.
But some people think each country should make its own food. They say this is safer because a country won’t have to depend on others for food. If a country can grow its own food, it won’t have problems if other countries stop selling food to them. This is a good idea because it helps countries be more independent.
I think both ideas are important. Countries should work together to solve big problems like climate change that affect food production. They can share ideas about how to grow more food and how to farm better. But at the same time, each country should try to grow enough food for its own people. This way, they won’t have to worry if they can’t buy food from other countries.
For example, countries could work together to make better seeds that can grow in different climates. But each country should also have its own farms and try to grow different types of food. This way, they can help each other but also take care of themselves.
In conclusion, I think countries should work together and also focus on their own food production. This is the best way to make sure everyone has enough food to eat.
(Word count: 295)
Essay Analysis and Scoring Explanation
Band 8-9 Essay Analysis
This essay demonstrates excellent writing skills and a sophisticated approach to the topic, warranting a Band 8-9 score. Here’s why:
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Task Response: The essay fully addresses all parts of the task, discussing both views and providing a clear opinion. It offers a nuanced perspective by advocating for a balanced approach.
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Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is well-organized with clear paragraphing. Ideas are logically sequenced, and cohesive devices are used effectively throughout (e.g., “On the other hand,” “Moreover,” “Furthermore”).
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Lexical Resource: The essay showcases a wide range of vocabulary used with precision. Complex phrases like “transcends national borders,” “mitigate the impact,” and “food sovereignty” demonstrate advanced language use.
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses a variety of complex sentence structures accurately. It demonstrates control over grammar and punctuation with minimal errors.
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Development and Support: Each main point is well-developed with relevant examples and explanations, such as the FAO’s role in sharing agricultural technologies and Singapore’s “30 by 30” initiative.
Band 6-7 Essay Analysis
This essay demonstrates good writing skills but lacks some of the sophistication of the Band 8-9 essay, placing it in the Band 6-7 range. Here’s why:
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Task Response: The essay addresses all parts of the task and provides a clear opinion. However, the discussion of each view is less detailed compared to the higher band essay.
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Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is generally well-organized, but the use of cohesive devices is less varied and sophisticated than in the Band 8-9 essay.
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Lexical Resource: The vocabulary is appropriate and varied, but it lacks the precision and sophistication of the higher band essay. There are fewer complex phrases and idiomatic expressions.
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with generally good control. However, it doesn’t demonstrate the same level of grammatical flexibility as the Band 8-9 essay.
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Development and Support: Main points are supported with examples, but they are less specific and detailed compared to the higher band essay.
Band 5-6 Essay Analysis
This essay demonstrates adequate writing skills but has several limitations that place it in the Band 5-6 range. Here’s why:
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Task Response: The essay addresses the task and provides an opinion, but the discussion of each view is basic and lacks depth.
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Coherence and Cohesion: The essay has a clear structure, but paragraphing is simple, and the use of cohesive devices is limited and repetitive (e.g., frequent use of “This is good because”).
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Lexical Resource: The vocabulary is simple and repetitive. There are few attempts at using less common vocabulary or idiomatic expressions.
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay primarily uses simple sentence structures with occasional attempts at complex sentences. There are some grammatical errors, but they don’t impede communication.
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Development and Support: Ideas are presented but not fully developed. Examples are general rather than specific.
Key Vocabulary to Remember
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Food security (noun) /fuːd sɪˈkjʊərəti/ – The state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.
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Global cooperation (noun phrase) /ˈɡləʊbəl kəʊˌɒpəˈreɪʃən/ – Collaboration between countries on a worldwide scale.
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Self-sufficiency (noun) /ˌself.səˈfɪʃ.ən.si/ – The ability to provide for oneself without outside aid.
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Resilience (noun) /rɪˈzɪliəns/ – The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.
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Sustainable (adjective) /səˈsteɪnəbəl/ – Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level.
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Mitigate (verb) /ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt/ – Make (something bad) less severe, serious, or painful.
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Sovereignty (noun) /ˈsɒvrənti/ – Supreme power or authority.
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Transnational (adjective) /trænzˈnæʃ.ən.əl/ – Extending or operating across national boundaries.
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Biodiversity (noun) /ˌbaɪəʊdaɪˈvɜːsəti/ – The variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat.
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Initiative (noun) /ɪˈnɪʃətɪv/ – An act or strategy intended to resolve a difficulty or improve a situation.
Conclusion
The topic of global cooperation to ensure food security is a complex and relevant issue that is likely to appear in future IELTS Writing Task 2 exams. By understanding the different perspectives on this topic and practicing with sample essays, you can improve your ability to write a well-structured, coherent response that addresses all aspects of the task.
To further enhance your skills, consider practicing with these related topics:
- The role of technology in improving global food production
- The impact of climate change on food security
- The ethical implications of genetically modified crops in addressing food shortages
- The balance between economic growth and sustainable agriculture
Remember to focus on developing a clear argument, using a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures, and providing relevant examples to support your points. Feel free to write your own essay on this topic and share it in the comments section for feedback and discussion. This active practice is an excellent way to improve your IELTS Writing skills and prepare for the exam.
For more insights on related global issues, you might find these articles helpful:
- Should Countries Work Together to Combat Climate Change?
- The Effects of Climate Change on Food Security
- The Role of Science in Addressing Global Challenges
Good luck with your IELTS preparation!