GLOBAL HUNGER:GLOBAL HUNGER:Food Insecurity In An Age of AffluenceFood Insecurity In An Age of Affluence

A CounterPublics Digital ReportA CounterPublics Digital Report

By Daniel Drache By Daniel Drache

and Paul Longhurstand Paul Longhurst

York University, May 2012York University, May 2012

http://www.yorku.ca/drachehttp://www.yorku.ca/drache

The Key Question:The Key Question:

Why today are there Why today are there more people than more people than ever who are food ever who are food insecure while crops insecure while crops produce the highest produce the highest yields in history and yields in history and food distribution food distribution systems are global?systems are global?

The consensus is that it’s a world of feast and The consensus is that it’s a world of feast and famine. famine.

This tragic story This tragic story is best told in facts and numbers.is best told in facts and numbers.

As the Food and Agriculture Organization's recent As the Food and Agriculture Organization's recent Food Price Index shows, since 2007, commodity Food Price Index shows, since 2007, commodity

prices have shot to unprecedented highs.prices have shot to unprecedented highs.

The High Cost of Basic FoodsThe High Cost of Basic Foods

Tragically, Tragically, many people many people today are today are forced to forced to choose between choose between paying for food paying for food or for shelter. or for shelter.

The recent doubling of the cost of staple foods has The recent doubling of the cost of staple foods has had the greatest impact upon the most vulnerable.had the greatest impact upon the most vulnerable.

On average, On average, people of the people of the Global North Global North spend less than spend less than 10% of their 10% of their household household income on food.income on food.

In contrast, families from the Global South In contrast, families from the Global South spend nearly 50% of their income on food.spend nearly 50% of their income on food.

Where food insecurity exists, Where food insecurity exists, malnourishment is sure to follow.malnourishment is sure to follow.

Undernourishment Undernourishment continues to be the #1 continues to be the #1

problem facing the problem facing the South.South.

Meanwhile, obesity Meanwhile, obesity has become an out of has become an out of control health crisis control health crisis

for the North.for the North.

Global Hunger will cease only when Global Hunger will cease only when Food Security is achieved.Food Security is achieved.

Food Security has a Food Security has a specific meaning:specific meaning:

““when all people at all when all people at all times have access to times have access to sufficient, safe, sufficient, safe, nutritious food to nutritious food to maintain a healthy and maintain a healthy and active life.”active life.”

-1996 U.N. World -1996 U.N. World Food SummitFood Summit

Billions are spent Billions are spent every year to every year to address food address food insecurity, yet insecurity, yet widespread hunger widespread hunger persists.persists.

Since these efforts Since these efforts are not meeting the are not meeting the needs of the hungry, needs of the hungry, alternatives need to alternatives need to be implemented. be implemented.

Agriculture today produces 17% more calories per Agriculture today produces 17% more calories per person than 30 years ago. person than 30 years ago.

In the Global South, 80% of malnourished children In the Global South, 80% of malnourished children live in countries that produce a food surplus.live in countries that produce a food surplus.

Experts agree that the Experts agree that the world has enough world has enough food to feed its food to feed its population.population.

Since there is enough food to feed the planet, Since there is enough food to feed the planet, the food crisis must be a result of the systems of the food crisis must be a result of the systems of

food production, distribution and access.food production, distribution and access.

5 key factors have been identified as 5 key factors have been identified as being at the heart of the food crisis.being at the heart of the food crisis.

The Surging Price of OilThe Surging Price of Oil

For every calorie that we For every calorie that we eat, 1 calorie of fossil fuel eat, 1 calorie of fossil fuel is required to get that food is required to get that food to usto us..

As the price of oil has As the price of oil has climbed to +$100/barrel, climbed to +$100/barrel, the cost of feeding a the cost of feeding a family has risen family has risen accordingly.accordingly.

A Carnivore’s WorldA Carnivore’s WorldFood does more than simply Food does more than simply sustain us: What we eat sustain us: What we eat reflects our social status.reflects our social status.

The growing middle class in The growing middle class in India and China have begun India and China have begun to eat more meat. The result to eat more meat. The result is that the grain that once is that the grain that once fed the poor ends up sizzling fed the poor ends up sizzling on a King-sized grill.on a King-sized grill.

Climate Change & Crop FailuresClimate Change & Crop FailuresExperts have linked recent Experts have linked recent unprecedented global crop unprecedented global crop failures to the volatile weather failures to the volatile weather patterns that accompany climate patterns that accompany climate change.change.

For example, in 2006 and 2011 For example, in 2006 and 2011 drought decimated wheat drought decimated wheat harvests Australia and Argentina, harvests Australia and Argentina, while flooding in Southeast Asia while flooding in Southeast Asia destroyed rice crops.destroyed rice crops.

The Western Thirst for BiofuelThe Western Thirst for Biofuel

The boom in Ethanol has The boom in Ethanol has caused 300% increase in caused 300% increase in the price of corn in recent the price of corn in recent years.years.

This thirst for “greener This thirst for “greener fuels” has caused the fuels” has caused the diversion of prime diversion of prime agricultural land from food agricultural land from food to biofuel production.to biofuel production.

Wall St. and Food MarketsWall St. and Food Markets Today, commodity speculation Today, commodity speculation

and agricultural hedge funds and agricultural hedge funds are viewed as a AAA are viewed as a AAA investment opportunities.investment opportunities.

In 5 years, investment in this In 5 years, investment in this sector increased by 1900%. sector increased by 1900%.

From April 2007 to April From April 2007 to April 2008, global food commodity 2008, global food commodity prices rose by 85%. This is the prices rose by 85%. This is the largest annual rise in food largest annual rise in food prices ever.prices ever.

Wall St. & Food Markets part IIWall St. & Food Markets part II

Commodity futures are Commodity futures are agreements to buy or sell a agreements to buy or sell a set amount of a commodity set amount of a commodity on a set date for a set price.on a set date for a set price.

They provide a secure way to They provide a secure way to hedge risk in commodity hedge risk in commodity markets. A futures contract markets. A futures contract lets the buyer and seller know lets the buyer and seller know the price of their future the price of their future transaction, regardless of any transaction, regardless of any changes in the market.changes in the market.

As there are many factors that have As there are many factors that have contributed to the food crisis, there will be contributed to the food crisis, there will be

no single remedy.no single remedy.

On a positive note, the food crisis has been a On a positive note, the food crisis has been a catalyst for long overdue change.catalyst for long overdue change.

Government, business, and civil society have agreed Government, business, and civil society have agreed that the status quo isn’t working and have begun to that the status quo isn’t working and have begun to

take steps to improve the global food system.take steps to improve the global food system.

This Crisis Must Be Addressed On Multiple Fronts:This Crisis Must Be Addressed On Multiple Fronts:

1.1. Through Humanitarian AidThrough Humanitarian Aid

2.2. Through Policy ReformThrough Policy Reform

3.3. Through Grassroots Movements Through Grassroots Movements

None of these approaches can succeed alone.None of these approaches can succeed alone.

Humanitarian Aid & the Food CrisisHumanitarian Aid & the Food Crisis

The world food program needs a full range of resources The world food program needs a full range of resources to enable it to respond to acute malnutrition. to enable it to respond to acute malnutrition.

The affluent nations The affluent nations of the world must be of the world must be prepared to quickly prepared to quickly

assist where lives are assist where lives are at immediate risk.at immediate risk.

Improving Humanitarian AidImproving Humanitarian Aid

Emergency Aid must Emergency Aid must not only be delivered not only be delivered quickly, it must also be quickly, it must also be delivered ethically. delivered ethically.

Aid programs often Aid programs often flood an already flood an already precarious local market precarious local market with food purchased with food purchased from North America from North America and Europe. and Europe.

Aid is an essential Aid is an essential stopgap measure, but it stopgap measure, but it is only the first step.is only the first step.

Policy ReformPolicy ReformNations have slowly begun to adopt Nations have slowly begun to adopt the UN’s position that access to food the UN’s position that access to food is a human right.is a human right.

Brazil has been a leader in this regard Brazil has been a leader in this regard with their “National Food and with their “National Food and Nutritional Security System” policy.Nutritional Security System” policy.

For too long, politicians have allowed For too long, politicians have allowed the rights of the market to eclipse the the rights of the market to eclipse the rights of people. rights of people.

Existing food policy has enabled transnational Existing food policy has enabled transnational agri-business to enter new markets easily.agri-business to enter new markets easily.

““Lands Grabs” are the most recent crisis facing the Lands Grabs” are the most recent crisis facing the small-scale farmers of poor nations. small-scale farmers of poor nations.

Land GrabsLand GrabsSince 2000:

- there has been over 1000 major lands grabs documented- they account for over 70,000,000 ha - 10% of investors account for 80% of all transactions- just under 50% took place in Africa

Land grabs occur when prime agricultural land in a poor Land grabs occur when prime agricultural land in a poor nation is purchased by foreign entities as a way to secure nation is purchased by foreign entities as a way to secure

their privileged positions within the commodity cycle.their privileged positions within the commodity cycle.

Who is Responsible for Land Grabs? Who is Responsible for Land Grabs?

1. Nations that rely on 1. Nations that rely on imported food are buying up imported food are buying up huge amounts of cheap huge amounts of cheap farmland for offshore farmland for offshore

farming.farming.

2. The food industry and 2. The food industry and private investors see private investors see foreign farmland as an foreign farmland as an important source of revenue. important source of revenue.

As a result, poor nations become more food As a result, poor nations become more food insecure, rural livelihoods become more threatenedinsecure, rural livelihoods become more threatened ..

Seeds of Change: Seeds of Change: Grassroots Solutions to the Food CrisisGrassroots Solutions to the Food Crisis

Civil Society has been a leader in thinking outside of Civil Society has been a leader in thinking outside of the box when it comes to addressing the food crisis.the box when it comes to addressing the food crisis.

Food Sovereignty: Food Sovereignty: an alternative food policy framework created by the global grassroots an alternative food policy framework created by the global grassroots peasants movement La Via Campesina (the peasant’s way) in 1996.peasants movement La Via Campesina (the peasant’s way) in 1996.Food Sovereignty addresses the failures of the Food Sovereignty addresses the failures of the

Food Security policy: it promotes food as a Food Security policy: it promotes food as a human right, agrarian reform, environmental human right, agrarian reform, environmental stewardship, global/local food trade and social stewardship, global/local food trade and social stability.stability.

““Food sovereignty is the right of peoples to healthy and culturally Food sovereignty is the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and

sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture system.”agriculture system.”

A Shared Struggle: North/South SolidarityA Shared Struggle: North/South SolidarityWhile citizens of the South struggle to retain access to their land and establish While citizens of the South struggle to retain access to their land and establish

sovereign food systems, many citizens of the North have begun to also distance sovereign food systems, many citizens of the North have begun to also distance themselves from unsustainable food systems. themselves from unsustainable food systems.

Many community-based Many community-based sustainable food projects, sustainable food projects, like The Stop Community like The Stop Community Food Centre in Toronto, Food Centre in Toronto,

bring diverse citizens bring diverse citizens together to grow, cook, eat together to grow, cook, eat and learn about food justice and learn about food justice

and mutual aid.and mutual aid.

Democracy may be coming through a crack in the wallDemocracy may be coming through a crack in the wall

There are reasons for There are reasons for hope, but today we hope, but today we

continue to live in a world continue to live in a world of the stuffed and the of the stuffed and the

starved.starved.

……however, in Leonard Cohen's however, in Leonard Cohen's words, we don’t have to look far words, we don’t have to look far to see the continued “homicidal to see the continued “homicidal bitchin’ that goes down in every bitchin’ that goes down in every kitchen to determine who will kitchen to determine who will

serve and who will eat.” serve and who will eat.”

Image CreditsImage Credits1 http://www.flickr.com/photos/ciat/5366712179/sizes/l/in/photostream/2 http://www.flickr.com/photos/moran/359702003/3 http://www.flickr.com/photos/un_photo/6350299439/4 http://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/wfs-home/foodpricesindex/en/5 http://www.fotopedia.com/items/flickr-45432513966 http://www.flickr.com/photos/ciat/5366712179/sizes/l/in/photostream/7 http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifrc/3099606131/8 obesity- http://www.flickr.com/photos/78428166@N00/3829063385/ by tobyotter starvation-

http://wwwhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/un_photo/6069724572/sizes/l/in/photostream/9 http://www.flickr.com/photos/carol_moshier/3257912877/10 all corporate logos used under academic fair use policy and are the copyright of the respective owners11 http://www.flickr.com/photos/57402879@N00/261930788/sizes/z/in/photostream/ - bugman5012 www.xkcd.com13 http://crazyicecube.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/thinking-about-problem-vs-thinking-about-solution15 www.flickr-3182238046-hd.jpg16 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/243590917 http://www.freefoto.com/preview/07-01-3/Oilseed-Rape18 http://www.flickr.com/photos/carlossg/2585690638/19 www.flickr.com/photos/68751915@NO%/6820 http://www.flickr.com/photos/cammyclaudia/3796601302/

http://freeaussiestock.com/free/Northern_Territory/slides/dusty_riverbed.htm21 21 http://aetos-grevena.blogspot.ca/2012/05/blog-post_3189.html http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/86059922 http://photozou.jp/photo/show/1274031/6305598323 http://www.tesionline.com/intl/focus.jsp?id=175924 http://feedthehungryuk.blogspot.ca/2011/09/report-from-northern-kenya.html25 http://www.flickr.com/photos/h_de_c/3292792218/26 http://www.flickr.com/photos/10159247@N04/4249889278/27 http://prairiedust.net/Postcards_from_Kansas/index.php/archive/access-road/28 http://ian.umces.edu/imagelibrary/displayimage-1093.html29 http://intercontinentalcry.org/wp-content/uploads/mst-2007.jpg30 http://www.foodfirst.org/fr/node/4731 http://www.flickr.com/photos/tobanblack/3819186125/sizes/o/in/photostream/32 www.flickr.com photographer: bdinterface & 3534729769_329a6ab868_z.jpg

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GLOBAL HUNGER:GLOBAL HUNGER:Food Insecurity In An Age of AffluenceFood Insecurity In An Age of Affluence

For questions or comments, please contact:For questions or comments, please contact:

Daniel Drache: drache@yorku.ca Daniel Drache: drache@yorku.ca

or Paul Longhurst: paullonghurst@riseup.netor Paul Longhurst: paullonghurst@riseup.net