Category Archives: Food Security

When is a Centrist a Radical?

 

The answer, according to James E. Mcwilliams, is the moment when you enter the domain of food and take up position in the middle. In his book, “Just Food” he notes how polarizing the food wars can be: either you are a diehard supporter of organic farming or you are a “frankenfood” fan. “The dull but respectable place called the center” he finds, is a lonely place.

The subtitle of the book is “Where Locavores get it wrong and how we can truly eat responsibly” and this goes against the current push towards buying and eating locally. I started out with some scepticism but his essential arguement is convincing : eating locally may be a good plan on a personal level but we are not going to be able to solve the problems of the food system at the global level by eating and growing  only local, organic food. The book is an easy read, the evidence is presented in an accessible way. So, pick it  up if you can and see if you agree that “To be a centrist when it comes to food is, unfortunately, to be a radical.

Global Food Price Rise

The rise in global food prices is  has been noted by the U.N. and is now likely to be a topic for discussion at the G20 meeting in France. 

While arguments are being  made in favor of trade liberalisation or a ban on speculation in commodity prices, the contentious subject of subsidies is also going to come up.That agricultural subsidies distort prices is known but dealing with lowering or abolishing subsidies has proven difficult in the past. Everybody likes to point the finger elsewhere: China pays out $15 bn in agricultural subsidies, Brazil and India also make large subsidy payments to support their farmers but most of the pressure will be mounted on the EU and the US as developed countries who need to do their share. At this moment the US is also going to consider the new Farm Bill 2012 and subsidies are likely to feature in that discussion as well. It will be interesting to watch how domestic interests and the global agenda are balanced as the discussions start on the Farm Bill.

When Onion Prices make Headlines!

A fun title followed by a great analysis on the big fuss over runaway onion prices in India. Very interesting amid the reports of global commodity price rise, more on that to follow in later posts.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange/2011/01/indian_inflation&fsrc=nwl.

All You Ever Wanted to Know About Fish…

The joys and perils of “sustainable” seafood labeling.

Food Price Crisis

My journey here at Thought_Food was  prompted in part by the food price spike of 2008. Back then, we were assured that this was only temporary and the situation would improve. But recently in December 2010, the FAO  noted a sharp rise in commodity price spikes and there is no ignoring the fact that a crisis is , indeed, brewing. The factors  at work are explained in detail in Lester R. Brown’s article at Foreign Policy. One of the major constraint on growth in agricultural productivity that he identifies’ is the shrinking backlog of untapped technologies. So, if constraints on natural resources prove insurmountable, perhaps we have a case here to take a more reasonable look at the role of biotechnology in raising agricultural productivity? More on the possible benefits here.

No More Overfishing

 

It is being reported that for the first time in a century U.S. fishermen will not be fishing above the optimal levels, giving the oceans a chance to replenish and retain equilibrium. Something to celebrate amidst the usual barrage of gloom and doom!

Child Nutrition Bill becomes Law

No More Lunch Lines for Child Nutrition–It Just Became Law – John Hendel – Food – The Atlantic.

More on Biofortification

Two articles at  Sci-dev.net present various aspects of the biofortification issue. The first raises questions on the viability of the biofortified crops that have already been developed, while the other tries to set these doubts at rest. A lot of reporting on this topic is clouded by concerns of genetic modification (which is not synonymous with biofortification) or the probability of the benefits of this technology actually reaching those suffering from malnutrition. We need to separate the facts from the noise as we appraoch this issue. This technology represents a great opportunity to improve the health and well-being of many people and  should be evaluated very seriously.

Child Nutrition Bill Passes!


Extra Lunch Money Hidden in Child Nutrition Bill – Jane Black – Food – The Atlantic.

Free Rice

Congratulations to the Freerice “Class of the Week!”. Nice piece on elementary school students who teamed up to play the game and tackle hunger in their own way.