Most Indians have always bought their fruits and vegetables at the stall at the corner of the road, or the nice store that would deliver even a bunch of cilantro or a bunch of carrots to your home if you were in a fix. The supply chain that brought this produce to the market was haphazard at best. Now, all that is set to change, with the Indian government deciding to allow foreign investment in the retail sector, upto 51% for multi-brand retailers like Walmart and Carrefour. There will be various conditions that they will have to satisfy, such as a minimum amount invested in 5 years, support for rural infrastructure and jobs etc. How all these plans work out remains to be seen but the retail scene for food will change drastically. The new policy is expected to dampen inflation, bring in more efficiency and productivity and reduce wastage. Matthew Yglesias pointed out that it will probably result in the top 1% getting extremely rich but so along as the families around the median and the extremely vulnerable are not squeezed, the policy should be a positive one. I am not so sure ,mostly for the food sector. All the people involved in growing, transporting and bringing this food to the family table ( and they number in the millions)will be affected as this policy is put in place. In time, they may benefit but the initial impact will be hard. At a time when there is mounting hunger , malnutrition and concerns about the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity ( specially in South Asia), this new policy will add another variable to an already volatile situation. Caution and a long term perspective should be the way to go in this regard.
Tag Archives: climate change
Change Comes to Retail Food Industry in India
Posted in Climate Change, Food Justice, Food Policy, Food Security, Price Rise
Tagged climate change, Food Justice, food policy, food security, Hunger, Price Rise
Food Waste and Climate Change
When food is wasted, the impact is two-fold: not only has the process contributed to continuing global hunger but it also impacts climate change. Food products that go bad and are thrown out emit greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Some products have a larger impact than others, meat is a bigger concern than vegetables. So, what can we do to tackle the issue?
Common sense answer: plan the grocery list so we buy what we need and avoid impulse buying; clean, pack and store leftovers or extras in a way that preserves freshness; consider making meat products a smaller portion of our meals and opt for better options like beans or whole grains.
This article has interesting links and the numbers to convince us of the need to watch what we waste as much as we watch what we eat.
Adapting to Climate Change
A new study ,which analyses data on changes in weather and agricultural production in different countries estimates, that the effects of warmer temperatures has lead to a 20% increase in global prices for maize and wheat. The debate on the factors responsible for these changes may continue but the impact of changing climate patterns is already evident to farmers. In the Midwest, farmers are already investing in machinery, seeds and farm practices that will help them deal with the short term variations in weather. More efforts are required to develop crops that can with stand the long term trend of global warming. It is estimated that a 1 degree Celsius rise in temperature causes a 10 percent fall in crop yield. How will the 2012 Farm Bill provide for these challenges? Funds are required for research into creating strains of crops that will be able to withstand excess heat and flooding, for conservation of existing resources and also for providing counter cyclical insurance to farmers as they grapple with uncertain weather conditions. There needs to be a recognition of the problem and also an openness to scientific methods which can help us face this challenge. In the current economic conditions, obstacles are to be expected.
Posted in Climate Change, Food Policy, Food Security, Price Rise
Tagged climate change, food policy, food security, Price Rise
The Debate on GM Potatoes
Prof. Jonathon Jones of the John Innes Centre in England writes in the Guardian to defend the his group’s work on introducing blight resistant traits in potatoes.Blight causes huge losses for commercial potato growers every year and the work in question consists of experiments to introduce blight resistant traits found in wild potatoes into commercial potatoes without losing the desirable properties already present in them. What was intriguing about the article was not just the description of the work or the case made for biotechnology but the plea that Prof. Jones makes for better communication between the supporters and opponents of biotechnology. Like any other technology, genetic modification comes with advantages and concerns. All too often, opponents of GM seek to demonize it and following this path would mean we also lose out on the potential of this option to address issues like climate change, global hunger and public health. We need a sane dialogue on this issue , the time for fear mongering should be over now.
Posted in Climate Change, Food Policy, Food Security, Hunger, Living
Tagged climate change, food policy, food safety, food security, Hunger, Living
Wholesome or not?
Whole Foods has a wholesome aura. When we walk in, we tend to suspend our skepticism and give in to the idea that we are surrounded by sustainable, local produce from a family farm. The reality is that Whole Foods carries conventional produce as well as organic and some of it may even have arrived on it’s shelves from a different continent altogether. This article brings out some of the questions that we all struggle with as we try to eat healthy, respect the environment and balance our budget! One important consideration that will help make these decisions is to eat seasonal produce. It is summer, blueberries are growing all around us so they are local, and we can even pick our own organic ones at a nearby farm. If it is winter and you are looking at blueberries, they have traveled a long way, will cost more and not taste as good; so vote with your feet and your wallet, do not buy any and the store will not be motivated to stock them. Small actions can have a big impact.
Posted in Climate Change, Green, Living, Nutrition
Tagged climate change, Green, Living, nutrition
What is Local?
There is a general feeling that eating local is more “green”. Farmer’s markets are getting more business and more people are experimenting with vegetable gardens. But here is what a new study shows: the biggest impact on the global climate comes from growing food, not transporting it. If you want to make a good environmental choice, it would be more effective to focus on going meatless for some meals as meat production is a huge contributor to global warming.
So, does this mean we should stop reading the produce labels? Not really. The answer lies in analyzing the intent behind eating locally. One, it provides an outlet for local produce and contributes to local farmer’s incomes. Second, it is fresh and has not been treated in any way to last out the journey to your plate. Third, eating local, means also eating in the season. Instead of eating the same group of fruits and vegetables throughout the year (as they are readily available at the supermarket), we start eating a more varied diet as we are pushed to try different options from the local produce basket. This is a healthier way to eat and more importantly, it helps to conserve biodiversity by ensuring that a variety of produce is grown. If I only buy bananas, apples, broccoli and carrots throughout the year then that is what farmers will grow. By eating locally, I might try something new like a different type of squash or berry and these varieties will not be ignored and lost.
Now, about the meat question: both grass-fed and conventional beef fail badly on the green meter. Also, we know that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grain is better than one based on meat. So making a change towards a less meat-centric diet is beneficial to people and the planet. We can always start with baby steps: incorporate some beans that, like meat, are high in protein and also have big flavors, or start a new-veggie-a-week plan and discover some great flavors at your farmer’s market!
Eating locally= healthier diet+healthier planet so continue to read those labels and make good choices!
The Economics of Climate Change
So, by now, we have all heard or read about climate change and what we need to do to combat it. Assuming that most of us do not doubt the process of climate change, there is the debate on how to take care of it and most important how to pay for this efforts. The “how to take care” part depends on our evaluation of what the impact of climate change is going to be. On this, there are several schools of thought ( surprise!!), there are climate change models and also economic models which analyse this question. We need to inform ourselves about this debate if we are to contribute meaningfully. If , like many of us, you have been otherwise occupied recently, fear not, here is a piece from Grist.com that will introduce you to all of this in an easy way.
Posted in Climate Change, Food Policy, Uncategorized
Tagged climate change, food policy
Facing the Food Challenge with Consensus
Food prices and shortages are rising around the world and this trend is expected to continue. A broken and defective food system that is wasteful and out of reach for many, will be further stressed by the impact of climate change and rising population. How can we deal with this crisis? As an earlier post pointed out, the world can choose between consensus or conflict to resolve this issue.
It would seem that some countries have already made their choice: China and Saudi Arabia among others are investing in farmland in Africa and now Brazil in order to secure food security for their citizens. This will only serve to enhance conflict. Starving people cannot be expected to respect borders, wherever there is plenty , conflict will follow. It would be in the interest of all to approach this in a way that is thoughtful and just. This problem can be interpreted as an opportunity to fix the broken food system at home and also at the global level. The 2012 farm Bill needs to ensure that citizens at home are not deprived of access to food produces in their own country by others who seek to bypass the market system here. Lester Brown’s article explains how South Korean buyers are establishing direct contacts with farmers and buying up grain before it even reaches the market. Globally, countries and their governments must come together to respond to this challenge in a timely and effective way. The political will to make big changes and go in a different direction is always. We can support positive measures by keeping ourselves informed, making our voice heard by approaching our representatives and making good choices in our daily lives.
Posted in Climate Change, Food Policy, Food Security, Price Rise
Tagged climate change, food policy, food security, Price Rise
Rice: Some Good News
An interesting infographic on improved varieties of rice which offers some potential to make a dent in world hunger and also prepare for the impact of climate change on agriculture.
Posted in Climate Change, Food Security, Nutrition
Tagged climate change, food security, nutrition
Thought + Food 