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.
Tag Archives: food security
Rice: Some Good News
Posted in Climate Change, Food Security, Nutrition
Tagged climate change, food security, nutrition
Gardens of Change
Mark Bittman describes how urban gardens are breathing new life into Detroit. And a perspective on the potential of urban gardens in Africa. Earlier, I posted on vertical gardens in fancy flats in England, turns out, in Nairobi, enterprising women have been growing crops in stacks of maize bags to feed their families!
Food Friction
We are just now waking up to a new world, one in which conflicts will revolve around food: this is Lester Brown’s analysis in Foreign Policy magazine this month. The causes for this crisis are not just the old ones of rising population, lack of access, scarce resources, or vagaries of the weather which constrain supply and cause food inflation. To these, we now have to add, the diversion of grain from food to fuel, disappearing aquifers and desertification, leading to countries becoming unable to feed their people and of course, the elephant in the room, climate change. It is estimated that for a 1 degree Celsius rise in temperature, crop yields drop by 10 percent. In another article, Frederick Kaufman addresses the role of speculation in fueling the rise in food prices.
How is the world reacting to this? In the post World War II era, the world was rebuilt by coöperation, through the setting up of institutions (UN, FAO, World Bank, IMF) that were supposed to work in the interest of the common good. Today, however, countries are intent solely on pursuing their parochial interests. Some like China and Saudi Arabia are leasing or buying land in Africa for their own projects. (That this land is essential for the food security of the people living there is of obvious concern). South Korea is setting up a system of buying grain directly from US farmers so a part of the produce would be diverted before it ever enters the market.
This is not about the future, this war is here and now: we have to address the issue of climate change in a constructive way, we have to restructure our food world: from industrial size operations to mid and small size farms, from destructive techniques to nurturing agroecology practices, and personally to a healthier (smaller portions, less meat, more seasonal) diet.
Posted in Food Policy, Food Security, Green, Price Rise
Tagged food policy, food security, Green, Price Rise
The GM Debate
For those who might be interested in informing themselves on the GM debate, a scientific perspective that addresses concerns on biosafety, biodiversity, and intellectual property among other things.
Posted in Food Policy, Food Safety, Food Security, Nutrition
Tagged food policy, food safety, food security, nutrition
Food Impossible
It is forecast that by the year 2050 there will be 9 billion people on the planet. How will they all be fed? It depends on who is asked the question, but the fact remains that a crisis is growing. On the demand side, the increase in population means that there is an ever increasing demand for food. As countries make economic progress, consumers in those countries move into higher income brackets and demand a higher proportion of meat in their diet. This leads to the diversion of resources in the agricultural sector from food to feed production and raising animals for meat also leaves a bigger carbon imprint contributing to global warming. Even without this, we have to contend with the fact that drier, warmer weather are going to have an adverse impact on crops. So, where should we direct out efforts?
One of the positive effects of economic progress is that increased incomes and standards of living lead to smaller families and some experts feel that the population growth rate will not be as high as projected. Others argue that the problem is not one of production, we already produce enough food, but one of access. Increased incomes should provide increased access but if this leads to a demand for a meat based diet then that would be unsustainable for the planet.
So much for the factors behind the crisis. To get back to the original question: how do we feed so many people? There are those who would vote for a more widespread adoption of organic/sustainable methods which would also help heal the badly battered planet while others see a huge potential in biotechnology which can provide drought resistant crops, increased yield and also the possibility of better health outcomes (for example, golden rice).
Perhaps we could see our way to picking from these choices the best combination to solve our problems? Can we try to follow good farming practices while harnessing the benefits of new technology? We have been experimenting with cross-breeding, growing hybrids and other techniques for centuries; adopting some new strains developed through the use of genetic modification is another step down that road, it will not make us grow another ear or turn purple. There is no satisfaction in being “right” while people and the planet suffer.
Posted in Food Policy, Food Security, Price Rise
Tagged food policy, food security, Price Rise
Two Banana Stories
My day, like that of so many people across the world ,starts with the banana. I set out one each for the kids, they moan about how boring it is, I remind them how good it is for them, and then; ritual completed we munch together in the early morning calm. So when I heard about the banana crisis in Uganda, which is the world’s second largest producer of banana and where the banana is a staple food, I was concerned. It turns out that rather than give up and watch the banana plantations be laid to waste by disease, Ugandan scientists are testing a GM strain that would withstand the BXW bacteria. This new story though, has the same ending as many we have heard before: opposition to GM technology means there might be a very long wait before these developments can actually be brought to the fields. In the meantime, livelihoods are lost, and an entire way of living is in danger.
Closer to home, the introduction of individually plastic wrapped bananas by DelMonte brought howls of laughter as well as disbelief. Had no one noticed that the banana came in its own bio-degradable wrapper? Why did people try to interfere with Nature? So obvious, right? Consider this, as theAtlantic did: individual wrapping, intended to preserve freshness, will lower the number of perfectly good bananas thrown out each year. The article also makes the point that we should stop thinking of nature as sacred and man as a despoiler. We are part of the same world. Yes, we should be more thoughtful in the way we impact nature but let us not set some impossible Garden of Eden standard for this interaction.
Posted in Food Policy, Food Safety, Food Security, Nutrition
Tagged food policy, food safety, food security
Food Price Rise in Japan
For a long time, food prices have held steady (or even fallen in certain cases) in Japan. The agriculture sector is also protected by high tariff barriers so prices are less volatile. But the food sector is now going to feel the pressure of rising prices via the large volume of food imports. Since incomes have also been static, this rise will definitely make an impact on the consumers’ budget. What will it do to the long-awaited recovery? Insights from the Washington Post.
Reasons for Food Price Rise
Paul Krugman on droughts, floods, speculation and their impact on food prices. Its heartening to see a focus on climate change and agriculture (and thereby food prices), a point not made often enough. On speculation: I feel that it will have a significant impact on the determination of food prices precisely because physical stocks will be impacted negatively by climate change.
How Food Price Rise Fueled Unrest in Egypt
Thought+Food reported on the worrisome global rise in food prices. An insight into how food price inflation factored into the current unrest in Egypt.
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.
Posted in Food Policy, Food Safety, Food Security, Nutrition
Tagged food policy, food safety, food security, nutrition
Thought + Food 