food and agriculture

A UN-World Bank study concluded that food production has to change if we are to cure world hunger and prevent ecological disaster. The study admits that the current industrialization of food production has resulted in great gains in productivity but it also pointed out that the benefits of these are spread around the globe very unevenly. So while the West got rich, and while India and China were able to grow furiously, there are still 800+ million people today who go to bed hungry every day.

There are several problems with food production and agriculture that could bring about future disasters. There is an astonishing loss of biodiversity, making the food crop very vulnerable to pests and increasing demand for pesticides. On the other hand, the biotech industry is trying to make up for this by reintroducing certain pest-fighting genes and thereby reduce the need for pesticides. It is like much else in our society: first you create a problem and then you try to solve it in some roundabout way. But like so many engineered battles, in the long run we are much more likely to lose out.

Agriculture has not just focused on monoculture. It has also concentrated on large scale. Because large fields of identical items are easiest to harvest and process and have the best return on investment. Such fields are also the most vulnerable and once a pest or disaster finds a "hole in the armor," total devastation is inevitable. It seems likely that over time, organisms will become resistant to nearly all pesticides. Since pesticides target multi-cellular organisms, resistance is slower to develop than antibiotic resistance, but develop it will. And much like we are moving back to pre-antibiotic times in medicine, we will go back to pre-pesticide days in agriculture too. Unfortunately, by then we will have destroyed a ton of biological variability that is ultimately the only long-term defense against pests.

The UN-World bank study recommends going back to the "family farm," a small local enterprise that produces food for the owners and the local neighborhood. It is unlikely to get a seal of approval from the world's leading food producers. Agriculture is big business and too many people stand to lose if this were to happen. Not just food producers, but also fertilizer, pesticide and seed producers, biotechs, farm equipment manufacturers and the like.

Unfortunately, our current agriculture system is not sustainable. It is far too dependent on oil, massive irrigation projects, and monoculture to survive for very long. No doubt technologists will patch it up for many decades to come, while those who are getting rich of it will continue to sing its praises. But sooner or later it will all come crashing down. The longer we wait the more painful and the more disastrous that fall will be.

Fortunately, there is something we can do now. As citizens of a rich country we can have a disproportionate effect too, so every little bit will help a lot. First, buy local food. Join the locavores. That is the most important thing you can do. Don't buy anything that had to travel more than 100 miles to get to your table. And the heavier it is, the more eagerly you should avoid it. So never, ever buy bottled water.

Secondly, grow your own food. Everyone can grow some food, especially fruit. The more food you grow the better. The benefits go far beyond feeding yourself or your family. You are also helping maintain biodiversity. Especially if you grow items like heirloom tomatoes or less popular varieties of fruit.

Thirdly, buy organic. Always buy organic milk if you buy milk. But also look for organic fruit and cotton. While cotton is not a food item, growing cotton is one of the most polluting endeavors on the planet. Every cotton item you buy that is made from organic cotton will make a huge difference in the overall scheme of things.

Don't ever think these problems are too difficult to tackle. The truth is they are not. And we can all make a huge difference to our environment and the long term survival of our species. And feel better in the process too.