Food Security Area and Environmental Initiatives
Food security is widely understood to rest on four essential pillars: (1) availability, meaning sufficient food is produced or imported to meet people's needs; (2) access, meaning people have the financial resources to obtain enough food for their households; (3) utilization, meaning food is nutritious and people know how to prepare it to support good health; and (4) stability, meaning access to food remains reliable during economic crises, wars, or natural disasters. The first pillar—food availability—depends heavily on each country's ability to produce food. National food production is influenced by several factors, including cultivated land area, farming techniques, crop varieties, fertilizer use, crop diseases, insect infestations, and other conditions. The quantities of food produced by the United States are high compared to many other developed countries, but invasive species are among the major constraints and threats facing the food production. In this article, we focus on the extent of invasive plants in the state of Texas.
In 2014, the Texas Invasive Species Institute indicated "that more than 800 aquatic and terrestrial species have invaded Texas, and experts predict the trend will continue to increase."⁴ The top ten invasive species in Texas as listed by Skorobogatov (2012) reveals that aquatic invasive species are the most predominant with Zebra mussels which comes at the head of these ten species and Salvinia molesta which occupies the fifth position. In effect, Texas parks and wildlife department (TPWD) states that "aquatic invasive species negatively impact Texas' economy, ecosystems, and quality of life. The most problematic aquatic invasive species in Texas include plants such as giant salvinia or Salvinia molesta and water hyacinth which form dense floating mats that impede boater access, consume high amounts of water, interfere with water conveyance for agricultural and municipal water supply, reduce property values, and negatively impact native fish and wildlife."⁵
Figure 1. Pictures of the Salvinia molesta. Source: University of Florida/ Center for Aquatic & Invasive Plants
Texas invasives describes "Salvinia molesta (also known as Giant Salvinia) as belonging to the Family of Salviniaceae (Water Fern Family), is a rootless, emergent groups of leaves (fronds), grow in chains and float on the water surface forming dense mats. Originally from Brazil, it was first detected outside of aquarium and landscape cultivation in South Carolina in 1995, was found in Texas in 1997, and rapidly spread within Texas as well as to other southern states over the following years. Within Texas, Giant Salvinia is found in numerous lakes across the eastern region of the state and is frequently introduced into new lakes. Giant Salvinia constitutes great threats because agricultural water use is impacted as salvinia obstructs intake pipes for irrigation. Dense mats of salvinia shade out native aquatic species and decaying leaves can reduce dissolved oxygen levels in the water. Recreational fishing, boating, and duck hunting are often significantly hindered by dense mats."²
TPWD pointed out that "prevention is internationally recognized as one of the most effective strategies for management of aquatic invasive species. Since state fiscal year 2016, the Texas Legislature has allocated approximately $3.2 million annually to TPWD for statewide management of aquatic invasive species. For Texas to keep pace with the constant and growing problems associated with aquatic invasive species, it will be critically important that the state's investment of technical and financial resources be supported at adequate levels for the long-term."⁵ To unify the efforts of state agencies, the "Texas Invasive Species Coordinating Committee (TISCC) was established by House Bill 865 in the 81st Legislature, and has as members: the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, the Texas Department of Agriculture, the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas Forest Service, Texas Water Development Board, and the Texas Animal Health Commission."³
As is evident, the State of Texas is already making tremendous efforts to both prevent and combat invasive species. As previously noted, these efforts must be sustained over the long term through the involvement of numerous stakeholders; it is in this context that our non-profit organization, HSCID (Humanitarian and Social Contribution for the Integral Development), positions itself to also contribute to these efforts against the invasive species aimed at improving food security in both Texas and the United States.
Reference
Skorobogatov, Yana. April 13, 2012. The Top Ten Invasive Species in Texas. State Impact Texas. Available at: https://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2012/04/13/the-top-ten-invasive-species-in-texas/
Texas Invasives. N.D. Invasives database. Available at: https://www.texasinvasives.org/plant_database/detail.php?symbol=SAMO5
Texas Invasive Species Coordinating Committee (TISCC). N.D. Available at: https://www.tiscc.texas.gov/?page_id=70
Texas Invasive Species Institute. 2014. What are invasive species? Available at: http://www.tsusinvasives.org/home/invasives-101/
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. N.D. Fighting Aquatic Invaders. Available at: https://tpwd.texas.gov/landwater/water/aquatic-invasives/
University of Florida/ Center for Aquatic & Invasive Plants. August 18, 2026. Salvinia molesta. Available at: https://plant-directory.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/salvinia-molesta/
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