Food shortage 'the next global challenge'

18 Mar 2010, 10:09 am   -   Source: SBS - Chiara Pazzano
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In Australia, community organisations are calling for a national food policy, saying the country will face food shortages unless there's better planning to cope with the effects of climate change and population growth. (Getty Images)

In Australia, community organisations are calling for a national food policy, saying the country will face food shortages unless there's better planning to cope with the effects of climate change and population growth. (Getty Images)

Climate change, rising fuel costs, water shortage -- now experts are warning Australia's food producers have a new crisis to consider: Food Insecurity.

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Climate change, rising fuel costs, water shortages: now experts are warning Australia's food producers have a new crisis to consider: Food Insecurity.

When the FAO Cereal Price Index doubled in the year to April 2008, food security became a global crisis, sparking riots in 30 countries, including many tottering on the brink of severe shortages or widespread hunger.

The World Bank estimates that food inflation during that period pushed an additional 100 million people into deep poverty, on top of a billion that were already scraping by on less than a dollar a day.

The episode of ‘soaring food prices’ was followed by the most severe global financial crisis and deepest economic recession witnessed in the last 70 years.
 
Despite the global economy relatively stabilising, international food prices remain high by historical standards, the United Nations warns, and a growing global population and climate change are making the future of food look even more uncertain.
 
Population growth
 
The world's 6.5 billion population is expected to reach nine billion by 2050.
 
This, combined with growing consumption as poverty is alleviated, will put huge pressure on food supplies, experts warn.
 
Climate change
 
Climate change is expected to worsen the problem, reducing rainfall and affecting crop growth.
 
Added to this, efforts to tackle climate change - by using biofuels instead of fossil fuels - are taking more land away from food production.
 
Oil prices
 
And there’s more reasons why some people living in developed countries are worried food scarcity may one day affect them.
 
Oil prices remain at historical high levels, the UN warned in its “The State of Food and Agriculture 2009” report and as cities expand, new agricultural land is becoming less available.
 
Land shortage
 
The panic of 2008 saw national interests dominating the response to a crisis which required coordinated global action.
 
Many countries resorted to stockpiling food and blocking exports in order to keep down domestic prices.
 
As a result, some major food importers, such as the Gulf States and South Korea, have lost confidence in the market and are negotiating the purchase of extensive farmland in developing countries in order to secure food supplies.
 
This disconcerting trend has been condemned as “neo-colonialism”.
 
Loss of biodiversity
 
The great advances in crop yields since the 1970s, described as the “green revolution”, have to be weighed against their ecological consequences.
 
The FAO says that 75% of food biodiversity was lost in the 20th century whilst 80% of the world’s dietary energy is now supplied by just 12 industrial crops.
 
The green revolution has also been responsible for significant soil erosion, salinity and depletion of water resources.
 
Calls for a national food policy
 
In Australia, community organisations are calling for a national food policy, saying the country will face food shortages unless there's better planning to cope with the effects of climate change and population growth.
 
By 2050, Australia will be faced with feeding 36 million people. 
 
"If we increase our population and we don't protect our agricultural land and think of ways to grow food to feed our growing population, we will experience serious food shortages," the President of the Sydney Food Fairness Alliance Lynne Saville told SBS.
 
For the first time, Australia is now importing more fruit and vegetables than it exports.
 
Last year, $826 million worth of food came into the country while $749 million worth went out. 

Most comes from New Zealand, but increasingly garlic, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, beans and corn are being sourced from China.

Sustainable agricultural expert at the University of Sydney Bill Billotti has also been advocating for a food policy.

"We don't currently have a national food policy in Australia and so our approach is fragmented. We stick food in agriculture, we stick food in health, we deal with food in environment but we're not getting that across-discipline view, wholistic  view of food," he told SBS.  

Rising food prices in recent years have made it more difficult for Australians to access fresh food, which is often more expensive than fast food alternatives.

"There's absolutely no doubt that food, some food, is becoming more expensive, some food is going to become more rare and some almost extinct if we carry on the way we do," OzHarvest's Ronni Khan told SBS.

The Director of the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab Professor Chris Ryan says we need to look for alternative and innovative approaches to dealing with resource scarcity and environmental change.

"Over the next few decades the way people obtain their food, water and energy will undergo a major evolution," he said.

“One pathway we can see is people no longer relying on industrial production units hundreds or thousands of kilometres, or even continents, away. Instead they will source a greater proportion of essential resources, goods and services from within their ‘neighbourhood’,” Professor Chris Ryan said.  

“This evolution means a significant switch in people’s role within the economy and in their identity as citizens, moving from one of passive consumption to a more active engagement in production and exchange of economic and social capital,” he added.

 

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Food crisis? Population Crisis I reckon

blue thunder - from Tasmania, 8 months ago

What we all skirt around in any discussion such as this is that there are simply too many people on this planet for it to support. Governments (and individuals) need to start taking a long hard look at how all these shortages came about? Does it not occur to us that it is just that when there are ten people taking a slice each of a ten slice cake, that is OK. When its 100 of them, some will eat, some won't and others will fight for their slice. work it out.

public citizen

george benini - from sydney, 1 year

Shutting down the Murray -Darling is not the answer. We have a vast country Nth Aust is awash with water. Proper plannining get people out of cities, develope the bush let farmers grow food. May suggest we could use some of the useless polies for fertilizer, that can be their contribution to the food shortage. build dams , irrigate, store water and stop using farming land for housing developments. act now or some other country will !!!!!

everyone has to do more

susy cowlishaw - from Karratha, 2 years ago

The thing that really shits me that here in Australia we are not doing enough.I live here in a mining town where there is lots of money but the care factor is zero as far as our enviroment and the way we do things. Thousnads of goods are thrown out in a hug open tips we don't save our water we don't even grow trees up here. We as a town should be going trees to keep the place cooler we should recycle all our house goods all home should have small veggie gardens.It is unbelievable the waste.

they won't act until it's a crisis.

freefoodau - from brisbane, 2 years ago

The people who see this comming are acting now; growing free natural food in suburban groups. The rest will rely on factory food untill it's too late and they'll blame someone else. Take more control of your wellbeing. You can try suing the company that made you ill but you have to live with the illness. Health IS within your power. It is up to you. I don't want industrial chemists to fill my larder. Their concern is cash, not your health. Grow your own.

good habits

tae - from dc, 2 years ago

if the people from all over can stop eating junk and eat healthy and right then cut down on meat. the n theres a possibility that theres a change to survuve

Re: Dr. Paul Costantino 18/3/10

Bob Oort - from Georgica NSW, 2 years ago

Your post says it all perfectly. From my experience of 3 years of 12-18hr days devoted organic farming mid 1980's I couldn't sell my produce as any different from chemically generated produce. As well, my beans were either too large, too small, too bent or too straight. After 3 years I cut my losses, while the dealers were counting their profits. At least my family had beautiful healthy and great tasting food on the table. Nowadays, McD gets the Heart Foundation tick for hospital lobby service.

Mr

Albert Einstein - from Universe, 2 years ago

"Vegetarian food leaves a deep impression on our nature. If the whole world adopts vegetarianism, it can change the destiny of humankind."

Mr

Save the planet - from Sydneeey!, 2 years ago

If anyone has any doubts they should at least check these docos out, you' ll see here what you will not see on TV, sorry SBS.... http://forksoverknives.com/ http://adelicatebalance.com.au/ http://www.earthlings.com/ peace and love to all,

Long term environmentally sound economics

Bob Oort - from Georgica NSW, 2 years ago

Just a short note to those compulsive disagreeers: If (by some miracle twist of fate) there's any hope for a better world, your being a smart... remains the great hurdle. But, you can always change your perspective, be good if you do it sooner rather than later, even if it's for your own benefit. Please note: Children under 5 are excused from this comment, but parental guidance from the day they pop out is highly recommended.

Matty's Wasteland

Bob Oort - from Georgica NSW, 2 years ago

OK Matty, I don't normally argue with a co-blogger, rather direct my opinions at the pollies & bureaucrats. But yes, I've lived on 42 acres for 28 years, on ex-logged, ex-grazed bushland, data? from local farmers now gone because the creeks were drank dry and fouled up, the undulated land cattle tread to bits. I have spent 28 years replenishing the land, restoring forest & vegetation and I can tell you first hand, mother nature has lent me an thankful helping hand. City people, grow your own.

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