Access to food has never been so easy. The global food system has been resilient and able to adapt during the 20th century to many shocks and stressors, such as an unprecedented population growth. The huge increase in production has exceeded the demographic growth. Yet, a profound transformation is needed for the following reasons: food is today the major problem in public health; the economics of food chains fuel inequalities; and food systems are responsible for major environmental and climatic damage. However, no great transformation is taking place, for different reasons, including conflicts of interest.
DEEPER CHANGE NEEDED
Food systems’ resilience depends on the ability to change the very drivers that made them resilient in the 20th century. These systems have been able to evolve in the past under huge and numerous constraints.
Incredible changes have taken place since World War II that have successfully prevented a massive global food shortage. The percentage of population living in countries with sufficient food supply (>2 500kcal per capita/day) has almost doubled from 33% in 1965 to 61% in 2005; the population living with critically low food supply (<2000kcal per capita/day) has dropped from 52% to just 3%.
Similarly, a long-run downward trend of international food prices has been observed up to the mid-2000s. Now, the 155 million acutely food-insecure people in need of urgent assistance are suffering more from persistent conflict or insecurity, economic shocks and weather extremes than from a lack of global food supply.
Denne historien er fra September 01, 2023-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra September 01, 2023-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
