Suzie Marsden, Head of Sustainability, takes a look at the worrying trend towards a global food shortage and the quick fixes that could buy us some time…
A couple of months ago I read an article by Gwynne Dyer in the NZ Herald about food riots in Algeria. Gwynne used the food riots to highlight the worrying trend towards a global food shortage.
Historically we’ve had food shortages but they have mainly been about food distribution. In some places there was plenty while in others there was none. Now we are, according to Abolreza Abbassian, Chief Economist at the Food and Agriculture Organisation, “entering a danger territory.”
The price of food has risen steadily over the last six months and it is due to continue rising. As large countries like India and China get progressively wealthier, they are eating increasing amounts of protein which is putting even more pressure on grain supplies. Add to that the increasing world population (we’re heading for 9 billion by 2050), and the modest warming we have experienced to date causing droughts or floods which have seriously impacted food production, and it is looking pretty serious. So folks, it’s time to buy up all baked bean supplies and head for the hills! Or may be not…
There are some short term fixes that could buy us some time. If the US Government ended subsidies for growing maize for bio-fuels it would return about a quarter of the USA’s crop land for food production. “But is there anything we can do?”, I hear you ask? YES! According to Gwynne, if we, in the developed world, eat a little less meat and throw less of our food away we could buy ourselves another 15-20 years before demand outstrips supply. Amazing to think that such a little thing we can all do would have such a big impact on global food supply.
So here’s my recommendation – buy what you need, eat everything you buy (yes even brussels sprouts!) and have a meat free day once a week.
