Food Crisis
Food is the foundation of human live and people cannot survive without it. Food security is a vital issue facing the governments around the world. However, food shortage is becoming increasingly severe in this day and age. There are several reasons which led to the universal food shortage and they are interconnected to each other. Increasing world population, extreme weather and the wide spread use of biofuels are the main causes of worldwide shortage of food. These factors lead to food price rises rapidly. This essay will firstly discuss three major factors which have caused the world food crisis. Then it will examine how these factors affect the food price. Finally, it will suggest some solutions to tackle the food crisis.
Global food crisis is being compounded by several causes such as growing population, extreme weather and famers switching out of cereals to grow agro-fuels crops. According to Vidal (2007), “There is no one cause but a lot of things are coming together to lead to this. It’s hard to separate out the factors.” Global population is continuing growing nowadays; Eating habits are changed in many regions all over the world, especially in China and India; Extreme weather is caused by global climate anomaly which is related droughts and floods in many key production regions, such as a years-long drought in Australia; The wider use of agro-fuel led to divert food crops to grow biofuels crops; Agriculture costs are much higher, which are caused by soaring oil price, limited farmland and water.
Global population growth is one of the most important causes of food shortage. According to Gritzner and Charles (2010, 60), “By mid-century there will be some 9 billion people—an increase of 2 billion more people than today—eating at the global dining table.” This means that demand for food will continue to increase over the coming decades. As rapid economic development and income growth among the middle class in developing countries, especially in densely
Global food crisis is being compounded by several causes such as growing population, extreme weather and famers switching out of cereals to grow agro-fuels crops. According to Vidal (2007), “There is no one cause but a lot of things are coming together to lead to this. It’s hard to separate out the factors.” Global population is continuing growing nowadays; Eating habits are changed in many regions all over the world, especially in China and India; Extreme weather is caused by global climate anomaly which is related droughts and floods in many key production regions, such as a years-long drought in Australia; The wider use of agro-fuel led to divert food crops to grow biofuels crops; Agriculture costs are much higher, which are caused by soaring oil price, limited farmland and water.
Global population growth is one of the most important causes of food shortage. According to Gritzner and Charles (2010, 60), “By mid-century there will be some 9 billion people—an increase of 2 billion more people than today—eating at the global dining table.” This means that demand for food will continue to increase over the coming decades. As rapid economic development and income growth among the middle class in developing countries, especially in densely
References: Gritzner and F, Charles. 2010. Global Connections: Feeding a Hungary World. New York: Chealsea House Publishing. Hojjat, T. A. 2009. Global food crisis – Food versus Fuels. Competition Forum. 7(2):419- 426. Lavelle, M and K, Garber. 2008. 8 Ways to Fix the Global Food Crisis. U.S.News &World Report. May 9. http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/2008/05/09/8 -ways-to-fix-the-global-food-crisis.html?PageNr=6 (accessed April 20, 2010) McPherson, M. 2008. The Global Food Crisis: Causes and Solutions. Monthly Review (May 14) http://gowingo.com/cgi-bin/nph-get.cgi/000000A/http/ www.alliancetoendhunger.org/resources/documents/PeterMcPhersonTestimonyonFoodCrisis05.14.08.pdf (accessed April 20. 2010) Pereira, M. 2008. Biofuels that cause hunger. http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/campaigns/ge/latest-developments/say-no-to-bill-c-33(assessed April 4,2010) Singh, S. 2009. Global food crisis: Magnitude, Causes and Policy Measures. International Journal of Social Economics. 36(1/2):23-36. Vidal, J.2008.Global food crisis looms as climate change and fuel shortages bite.http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/nov/03/food.climatechange/print (assessed April 12, 2010)