We've all heard of the term "peak oil," which refers to the zenith of petroleum production. But, my fellow Kossaks and non-Kossaks, have you heard of Peak Food? Some may, but most haven't heard of this development in food production. Practically ignored by the media, one CEO has come out today shedding light to the situation. The question is, will the rest of us do something about it?
Bloomberg today has a news piece worth reading. The CEO of Potash Corp, a Canadian business concern that produces fertalizer, phosphate, nitrogen and well...potash, was interviewed on Bloomberg and went on how agricultural development is not keeping up with demand. Indeed, perhaps many of times those of a more progressive perspective have been ringing the alarms, it seems the rest of us haven't been listening. Now as we see a jump in food prices, consumers will start to pay attention.
Famines May Occur Without Record Crops This Year, Potash Says
By Christopher Donville
Enlarge Image/Details
Feb. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Grain farmers will need to harvest record crops every year to meet increasing global food demand and avoid famine, Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. Chief Executive Officer William Doyle said.
People and livestock are consuming more grain than ever, draining world inventories and increasing the likelihood of shortages, Doyle said yesterday in an interview on Bloomberg Television. Global grain stockpiles fell to about 53 days of supply last year, the lowest level since record-keeping began in 1960, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
``If you had any major upset where you didn't have a crop in a major growing agricultural region this year, I believe you'd see famine,'' Doyle, 57, said in New York.
We have been in a commodity bull market for some time now. The talk of alternative grain-based fuels has caused corn, among many others, to skyrocket. Indeed, I remember when I used to trade corn the marginsat the CBOT was around $600, now though it has jumped to $1350 (new crop). The price of corn itself has ascended to heights not seen since the last major Midwest drought.
The focus on alternative energy has been necessary, but what is also now needed in conjunction to this search is one for alternative methods of food production. As a 2006 IPS articlehinted at, agriculture production is designed for profit versus the overall needs of the population. Now I'm not calling for collectivization or the removal of agricorps, but there are certain foodstuffs that are needed that should be harvested above all costs to serve as a bulwark against a famine. Perhaps a public grain board whose purpose is to have a "strategic grain reserve". There will come a day when, given the short-sightedness of many grain company managers, will focus only on fuel versus food. We could wake up and find out our shelves are bare but our fuel pumps an embarrassment of riches. Ok, perhaps not, but you get the idea.
Inflation fears were stoked after the January consumer price index rose 0.4 per cent, spurred by a jump in food prices, compared with a consensus forecast of a 0.3 per cent increase.
- Inflation fears set to sink US stocks
By Chris Bryant
Published: February 20 2008, Financial Times.com
The fact remains, we are rapidly getting close to crossing the Rubicon in which we as a nation will start to face these issues head on. Right now, Americans, if not the entire West, is fat and happy. We go into a Dominick's (local Safeway chain in the Chicago area) or even ma and pa store and can find everything from apples to processed grain foods. Our obesity levels show are collective mindset of taking our food situation for granted. But, as food prices rise, and the call to convert that corn or soybean into gas matches that rise, we may get a rude awakening.
"The key is going to be agriculture. China is terrified of the current situation. It has real physical shortages," he said, referencing China still having memories of starvation in the 1960s seared in its collective mind.
- Why the price of 'peak oil' is famine
By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard International Business Editor
London Telegraph
Sad, no sickening actually, is the fact that the planet's poor is really the proverbial canary in the coalmine. The London Telegraph had an articlethat hinted on this, which is a good read. China knows this, it has a history of such disasters and is desperately trying to find sources. This raises a horrifying prospect, could we see new grain wars next?
I have no real answer to what needs to be done, I'm just like you all stuck in this mess. Though one thing is certain, there are solutions to this, and no doubt the wonderful and smart folks on DailyKos will have them! C'mon gang, we're all in this together, lets not screw up the food situation like past generations have done with the energy one. This is a challenge to be picked up. We need to demand to know from the candidates running for the presidency what they plan to do. We need to demand from our government to push for policy to prevent the wasting of food. We need to demand the promotion of local farming production. So much to do, so little time. A revolution in food production and against famine starts now!