Interview by Prof. Ruth Haug on radio (NRK) and TV on 28 May
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In relation to the recent anniversary conference on food (28 May) Ruth Haug was interviewed on national radio and TV about how to contribute towards a green, healthy and fair global food system. The focus was on what kind of global food system we want.
Photo: Evy Jørgensen
Most people would probably say:
• Food should be available • Nobody should go hungry • Food should be healthy and of high quality • The production of food should be environmental friendly • The food should be affordable • Cultural aspects should be taken care of So, how do we achieve these goals?
• First challenge, production of food will have to almost double by year 2050 to meet the demand of an increasing population. The good news is that FAO’s latest estimates show that a new record high level of global cereal production was achieved in 2008. Will we continue to have production increase? Will science and technology be able to provide new and better ways of producing enough food for future generations? The 2008 production increase basically took place in the north – what about developing countries? Will we ever have food shortage in Norway? Will rich countries always be able to buy the food they need on the world market?
• Second challenge, although international cereal prices have fallen sharply food prices are still high in many developing countries and continue to increase - despite measures taken by governments to limit the impact of high international prices on domestic markets. An extra 150 million people have become chronically hungry in the last year as a consequence of high food prices, making the world total near to one billion hungry people. The poorest, the landless and the female headed households are hardest hit. Among the poorest families, women are most affected: they are eating last and least, preparing poorer-quality foods and fewer meals. Why is the world not able to do better when it comes to get rid of hunger? What does it take? People are hungry because they are poor and cannot afford to buy food – How can we find better ways of eradicating poverty?
• Third challenge, how to ensure environmental sound production and adapt food production to climate change and how will oil price, renewable energy and fertilizer prices effect food production. Climate change is expected to have massive impacts on agriculture especially in the poorest countries. (Reduced yields from rain fed crops in Africa and other parts of the world are likely to place an additional 170 million more people at risk of hunger). Will science and technology be able to develop more environmental friendly production systems adapted to climate change? Will we be able to reduce the emission of GHG from agriculture?
• Fourth challenge, the food crisis has led to more protectionism in relation to agricultural policy and trade. Countries are rethinking their agricultural policies, food sovereignty and self-reliance strategies are gaining renewed support. What will happen with WTO? There is a call to reduce food miles and instead encourage locally produced food. How will consumer power impact on the global food system in the coming years in relation to ecological agriculture, locally produced food, food as culture, food miles, fair miles? What will consumers be willing to pay for?
• Fifth challenge, the relationship between food and health is increasing in importance. Healthy food, organically grown food, weight loss food etc is a whole new industry. Food safety is high on the agenda as E.coli bacteria is frightening people in Norway and 1,253 Chinese babies fall sick after they were fed milk powder contaminated with a chemical used to make plastic cups. How to be able to secure food safety will be a demanding task for all actors in the global food system.
