Environmental Alternatives

The Emerging Politics of Food Scarcity www.earthpolicy.org/index.php?/book_bytes/2010/pb4ch01_ss3 By Lester R. Brown			Earth Policy Release     Book Byte     July 14, 2010
A dangerous geopolitics of food scarcity is emerging in which individual countries, acting in their narrowly defined self-interest, reinforce the trends causing global food security to deteriorate. This began in late 2007 when wheat-exporting countries, like Russia and Argentina, attempted to counter domestic food price rises by limiting or banning exports. Viet Nam banned rice exports for several months, and several other minor exporters also restricted exports. While these moves reassured those living in the exporting countries, they created panic in the scores of countries that import grain. At that point, as world market prices for grain and soybeans were tripling, governments in food-importing countries suddenly realized that they could no longer rely on the market for supplies. In response, some countries tried to nail down long-term bilateral trade agreements that would lock up future grain supplies. The Philippines, a leading rice importer, negotiated a three-year deal with Viet Nam for a guaranteed 1.5 million tons of rice each year. A delegation from Yemen, which now imports most of its wheat, traveled to Australia with the hope of negotiating a long-term wheat import deal. Egypt has reached a long-term agreement with Russia for more than 3 million tons of wheat each year. Other importers sought similar arrangements. But in a seller’s market, few were successful. The inability to negotiate long-term trade agreements was accompanied by an entirely new genre of responses among the more affluent food-importing countries as they sought to buy or lease large blocks of land to farm in other countries. As food supplies tighten, we are witnessing an unprecedented scramble for land that crosses national boundaries. Libya, importing 90 percent of its grain and worried about access to supplies, was one of the first to look abroad for land. After more than a year of negotiations it reached an agreement to farm 100,000 hectares (250,000 acres) of land in the Ukraine to grow wheat for its own people. What is so surprising is the sheer number of land acquisition agreements that have been negotiated or are under consideration. In 2009 the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) compiled a list of nearly 50 agreements, based largely on a worldwide review of press reports. No one knows for sure how many such agreements there are or how many there will eventually be. This massive acquisition of land to grow food in other countries is one of the largest geopolitical experiments ever conducted. The role of government in land acquisition varies. In some cases, government-owned corporations are acquiring the land. In others, private entities are the buyers, with the government of the investing country using its diplomatic resources to achieve an agreement favorable to the investors. The land-buying countries are mostly those whose populations have outrun their own land and water resources. Among them are Saudi Arabia, South Korea, China, Kuwait, Libya, India, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Saudi Arabia is looking to buy or lease land in at least 11 countries, including Ethiopia, Turkey, Ukraine, Sudan, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Viet Nam, and Brazil. In contrast, countries selling or leasing their land are often low-income countries and, more often than not, those where chronic hunger and malnutrition are commonplace. Some depend on the World Food Programme (WFP) for part of their food supply. In March 2009 the Saudis celebrated the arrival of the first shipment of rice produced on land they had acquired in Ethiopia, a country where the WFP is working to feed some 5 million people. Another major acquisition site for the Saudis and several other grain importing countries is the Sudan—ironically the site of the WFP’s largest famine relief effort. For sheer size of investment, China stands out. The Chinese firm ZTE International has secured rights to 2.8 million hectares (6.9 million acres) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on which to produce palm oil, which can be used either for cooking or to produce biodiesel fuel—indicating that the competition between food and fuel is also showing up in land acquisitions. This compares with the 1.9 million hectares used by the Congo’s 66 million people to produce corn, their food staple. Like Ethiopia and Sudan, the Congo also depends on a WFP lifeline. Among the other countries in which China has acquired land or has plans to do so are Australia, Russia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and Myanmar. South Korea, a leading world corn importer, is a major investor in several countries. With deals signed for some 690,000 hectares (1.7 million acres) in the Sudan for growing wheat, South Korea is one of the leaders in this food security push. For perspective, this land acquisition is nearly three fourths the size of the area South Korea now uses at home to produce rice, its staple food. The Koreans are also looking at the Russian Far East, where they plan to grow corn and soybeans. One little noticed characteristic of these land acquisitions is that they are also water acquisitions. Whether the land is rain-fed or irrigated, it represents a claim on the water resources in the host country. Land acquisitions in the Sudan that tap water from the Nile, which is already fully utilized, may mean that Egypt will get less water from the river—making it even more dependent on imported grain. These bilateral land acquisitions raise many questions. To begin with, these negotiations and the agreements they lead to lack transparency. Typically only a few high-ranking officials are involved and the terms are confidential. Not only are many stakeholders such as farmers not at the table when the agreements are negotiated, they often do not even learn about the deals until after they have been signed. And since there is rarely idle productive land in these countries, many local farmers may simply be displaced. This helps explain the public hostility that often arises within host countries. China, for example, signed an agreement with the Philippine government to lease over a million hectares of land on which to produce crops that would be shipped home. Once word leaked out, the public outcry—much of it from Filipino farmers—forced the government to suspend the agreement. A similar situation developed in Madagascar, where South Korea’s Daewoo Logistics had pursued rights to more than 1 million hectares of land, an area half the size of Belgium. This helped stoke the political furor that led to a change in government and cancellation of the agreement. China is also running into on-the-ground opposition over its quest for 2 million hectares in Zambia. This new approach to achieving food security also raises questions about the effects on employment. At least two countries, China and South Korea, are planning in some cases to bring in their own farm workers. Is the introduction of large-scale commercial, heavily mechanized farming operations what is needed by the recipient countries, where unemployment is widespread? If food prices are rising in the host country, will the investing country have to hire security forces to ensure that the harvests can be brought home? Aware of this potential problem, the government of Pakistan, which is trying to sell or lease 400,000 hectares, is offering to provide a security force of 100,000 men to protect the land and assets of investors. Another disturbing dimension of many land investments is that they are taking place in countries like Indonesia, Brazil, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where expanding cropland typically means clearing tropical rainforests that sequester large quantities of carbon. This could measurably raise global carbon emissions, increasing the climate threat to world food security. The Japanese government, IFPRI, and others have suggested the need for an investment code that would govern these land acquisition agreements, a code that would respect the rights of those living in the countries of land acquisition as well as the rights of investors. The World Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, and the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development have drafted a set of recommended principles for responsible investment in agriculture. This will likely evolve as these agreements move forward. Growing world food insecurity is ushering in a new geopolitics of food scarcity, one where competition for land and water is crossing national boundaries. The risk is that this will increase hunger and political instability, which could lead to even more failing states. #   #   # Adapted from Chapter 1, “Selling Our Future,” in Lester R. Brown, Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2009), available on-line at www.earthpolicy.org/index.php?/books/pb4 Additional data and information sources at www.earthpolicy.org

Brahm Ahmadi and Malaika Edwards have found a unique way to get organic produce into the hands of West Oakland residents -- the mobile market they are calling "The People's Grocery." With a biodiesel truck covered in artistic graffiti, a bumping soundtrack, and bins full of colorful produce, their mission is to bring fresh and healthy foods at an affordable price to a community where fast-food used to be the only alternative. With 70% of residents living below the poverty line, West Oakland has more than a dozen liquor stores, and only one supermarket. Now, residents have alternatives that are better for their wallets, better for their health, and better for the environment.
- The People's Grocery

HOME DELIVERY OF ORGANIC FOODS
Across the U.S. a relatively new food delivery phenomenon is occurring. Increased working hours and busy schedules are requiring that some families find new ways of getting fresh locally grown organic produce to their homes. From San Francisco to Philadelphia to New York City, organic delivery services are successfully filling a new market niche in the food industry. Find one (or start one) near you:http://www.organicconsumers.org/organic/doortodoor071904.cfm

MORE WATER/ LESS MEAT
In its ongoing investigation into options for feeding the world, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) has released a report that lists fresh water scarcity as the leading issue limiting global food production, stating that "groundwater levels are plummeting and our rivers are already overstressed, yet there is a lot of complacency about the future." IWMI's report suggests a dietary shift, wherein meat consumption is reduced, would greatly alleviate these problems. Meat consumption in the world's wealthiest nations continues to be on the rise, yet it takes up to ten times as much water to produce a pound of beef, for example, as it does to produce an equivalent amount of nutrients and calories via fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains. The report does not state the human population of the world needs to become vegetarian, but does recommend a basic reduction in meat intake.
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Research increasingly points to inflammation as being at the root of devastating illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Normally, inflammation is the immune system's healing response to injury. It's a short-term answer to a particular situation and disappears once the problem is resolved. But in chronic inflammation, the immune system runs amok, misfiring cells at normal tissue and encouraging disease rather than healing.

The good news is that eating more healthful foods (and fewer unhealthful ones) can go a long way toward preventing or reducing inflammation and its consequences. According to Nancy Appleton, PhD, nutritional consultant and author of Stopping Inflammation: Relieving the Cause of Degenerative Diseases (Square One), the best anti-inflammatory diet is one that embraces a variety of nutrient-packed whole foods and avoids detrimental choices such as refined white flour and sugar, red meat and highly processed foods. Her recommendations for an anti-inflammatory diet include...

EAT NINE (OR MORE) A DAY

Nine or more servings of fruits and vegetables, that is. The old five-a-day recommendation was scrapped in January 2005, when, in recognition of the crucial role that nutrient-dense fruits and veggies play in good health, the US Dietary Guidelines upped the ante to nine. Fresh produce such as green leafy vegetables and brightly colored fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants, which prevent the free radical oxidation of free radicals that leads to inflammation. Dr. Appleton especially recommends berries, which contain inflammation-dampening polyphenols, and flavonoids called anthocyanins that discourage oxidative damage.

Inflammation-fighting tip: While nine a day may seem like a lot, it's easier than you think to squeeze them in. For example, sprinkle one half cup of blueberries, blackberries or strawberries on your whole-grain breakfast cereal... munch on an apple (rich in naturally anti-inflammatory quercetin)... a handful of baby carrots or red pepper strips for a mid-morning snack... enjoy an avocado salad topped with a few shrimp and a squeeze of lemon for lunch... make a strawberry-banana smoothie for a late afternoon pick-me-up... and put together a quick stir-fry for dinner, heavy on the greens and easy on the protein. When eating your fruits and veggies, "raw is best" since some of their enzymes and antioxidants are destroyed by heating. When you do cook your vegetables, less is best.

OPT FOR FISH TWICE A WEEK

Some of the most powerful inflammation fighters come from the sea, and Dr. Appleton highly recommends cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna, halibut, trout, sardines and mackerel. These are excellent sources of omega-3 essential fatty acids, which have potent anti-inflammatory properties. Try to eat fish at least twice a week. (Note: Pregnant or nursing women and young children through adolescents should not eat high-mercury fish such as shark, swordfish and tilefish more than twice a week. Read about mercury dangers in Daily Health News, September 6, 2005.)

Inflammation-fighting tip: If you're not a big fish eater, consider taking a 2,000-mg fish oil supplement daily. While it is best taken as a liquid, capsules are okay, too. Vegetarian sources of omega-3 fatty acids include flaxseed oil and walnuts but do not contain nearly the same level of omega-3s as the fish sources.

EMBRACE HEALTHY FATS

Other rich sources of essential fatty acids are nuts and seeds (almonds, macadamia nuts, flaxseed, etc.). Choose these anti-inflammatory healthful fats instead of the artery-clogging saturated and trans fats that abound in processed and fast foods like baked goods, chicken nuggets, hamburgers and french fries. As for oils, olive is a good anti-inflammatory choice. Steer clear of cottonseed, corn, peanut and soy oils, which contain omega-6 fatty acids. Too much omega-6 fatty acid can actually become pro-inflammatory when out of balance with omega-3s. Keep in mind, too, that minimally processed oils are always a more healthful choice than highly refined ones.

Inflammation-fighting tip: Sprinkle a tablespoon or two of flaxseed or wheat germ on your breakfast cereal, and add taste and texture to your salad with nuts and seeds instead of croutons. As for that bowl of candy or pretzels on your desk, replace it with one filled with pumpkin seeds, almonds, pecans or walnuts.

CHOOSE PROTEINS WISELY

Protein is a key part of the diet, vital to maintaining cell, muscle and tissue health. Good anti-inflammatory proteins include cold-water fish, free-range poultry with the skin removed, eggs enriched with omega-3s, beans, nuts and grains (Dr. Appleton's favorite is millet). Meat should be consumed in moderation, since it contains potentially pro-inflammatory arachidonic acid. When you do opt for meat, it's best to choose organic cuts, because chemicals from commercially fed livestock mean more work for the liver, which can result in inflammation. Preparation counts too, as frying, barbecuing and smoking cause the formation of cancer-causing chemicals called acrylamides and flare-ups of inflammation. More healthful choices are poaching or stewing.

Inflammation-fighting tip: Instead of chips and dip (packed with the saturated and trans fats that encourage inflammation), snack on apple slices or celery smeared with protein-rich hummus or peanut butter.

CUT BACK ON PRO-INFLAMMATORY FOODS

In the long run, what you don't put in your mouth can be even more important than what you do, reminds Dr. Appleton. Eating healthful foods doesn't give you a free pass to down colas or french fries covered with melted processed cheese (a disgusting combination I recently encountered at the ballpark). Avoid foods that stimulate inflammation, including simple sugars, refined white flour, red meat, fast or fried foods, food additives and partially hydrogenated oils. For many people, other hard-to-digest foods that encourage inflammation include dairy and wheat.

Inflammation-fighting tip: Steer clear of sugary soft drinks, and instead sip antioxidant-rich tea. Choose whole grains instead of refined ones, and keep dairy to a minimum. If you must have it, try goat or sheep milk products, which are less inflammatory.

CHANGING YOUR DIET

Not only will an anti-inflammatory diet help prevent a wide range of diseases, over time you'll also find that it gives you more energy and makes you feel better all around. However, don't feel obligated to do it all at once or you may get overwhelmed and quit, cautions Dr. Appleton. Make small changes. For example, start by eating fish just once a week, or replacing your breakfast bagel with whole-grain cereal and fruit. Over time, small changes add up and make a big difference.

Kraft Foods bought small natural cereals producer Back to Nature in 2004. The company is a subsidiary of Altria Group, which also owns Phillip Morris Companies Inc., one of the largest cigarette makers in the world. Kraft also owns Boca Burger Inc.
Odwalla Inc., which produces natural and organic fruit juices, was purchased by Coca-Cola in 2001.
Dean Foods Co., the largest dairy company in the U.S., bought out Horizon Organic in 2003, in addition to Silk soymilk and White Wave tofu.
Kellogg's has acquired several natural and organic brands: Kashi Cereal and Morningstar Farms.
General Mills purchased Cascadian Farm, in 2000. The brand consists of items such as frozen fruit, vegetables, granola bars and fruit spreads. General Mills also bought out Muir Glen, which produces ketchup, tomato sauce, and salsa.
Unilever bought out Ben & Jerry's for $326 million.
Colgate-Palmolive Co. is purchasing Tom's of Maine, which specializes in natural oral and personal care products.

10 Reasons to Eat Organically—and Locally

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