The true cost of US food identified in new report by Sustainable Food Trust | 17 Aug 2017 United States | food crisis | food sovereignty The Sustainable Food Trust today publishes summary proceedings of an international conference which brought together leading experts to establish the true cost of food in the United States (US). The US was one of the first countries to intensify food production and as a result was also one of the first to suffer from the negative impacts. The Sustainable Food Trust today publishes summary proceedings of an international conference which brought together leading experts to establish the true cost of food in the United States (US). The US was one of the first countries to intensify food production and as a result was also one of the first to suffer from the negative impacts.
Open letter: why WHO should address industrial animal farming by Scott Weathers and Sophie Hermanns | 25 May 2017 corporations | food crisis An open letter released this week and signed by over 200 scientists, policy experts and others, urges the new Director General of the World Health Organization to recognize and address factory farming as a public health challenge. An open letter released this week and signed by over 200 scientists, policy experts and others, urges the new Director General of the World Health Organization to recognize and address factory farming as a public health challenge.
In the battle against malnutrition, UN expert says junk food is the real culprit by Elizabeth Grossman, Civil Eats | 8 Dec 2016 United States | corporations | food crisis | laws & policies Hilal Elver, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, says Big Food’s impact on public health should alarm us. Elver is sounding an alarm for the world to hear. Earlier this fall, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food told the United Nations (UN) General Assembly that, despite all the high-profile work being done around the globe to fight hunger and malnutrition, “the world is not on track to reach globally agreed nutrition targets.” Hilal Elver, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, says Big Food’s impact on public health should alarm us. Elver is sounding an alarm for the world to hear. Earlier this fall, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food told the United Nations (UN) General Assembly that, despite all the high-profile work being done around the globe to fight hunger and malnutrition, “the world is not on track to reach globally agreed nutrition targets.”
Farming for a small planet: agroecology now by Frances Moore Lappé | 28 Apr 2016 technologies | food crisis | food sovereignty An excellent overview piece by Frances Moore Lappé about the myths of the industrial food system and the promises of agroecology. An excellent overview piece by Frances Moore Lappé about the myths of the industrial food system and the promises of agroecology.
Runaway maize: subsidised soil destruction by UK Soil Association | 22 Jul 2015 United Kingdom | food crisis | actions Our soils are coming under devastating pressure from an unlikely crop - maize. A new report by the Soil Association, exposing shocking evidence that this crop is threatening the future of farming and food security in the UK. Maize is responsible for environmental damage to soils and water, and a rapid change in land use away from food production across the UK – all of which is made possible through double subsidies paid for by the UK taxpayer. Our soils are coming under devastating pressure from an unlikely crop - maize. A new report by the Soil Association, exposing shocking evidence that this crop is threatening the future of farming and food security in the UK. Maize is responsible for environmental damage to soils and water, and a rapid change in land use away from food production across the UK – all of which is made possible through double subsidies paid for by the UK taxpayer.
Gates Foundation refutes report it fails African farmers by Karrie Kehoe, Thomson Reuters | 5 Nov 2014 corporations | technologies | food crisis | seeds & biodiversity The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has rejected accusations that too much of its funding goes to Western researchers, saying it is helping small farmers in African countries. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has rejected accusations that too much of its funding goes to Western researchers, saying it is helping small farmers in African countries.
Feeding the world by USC Canada | 20 Oct 2014 food crisis | food sovereignty Here's, on one poster, the central message about feeding the world. By USC Canada. Here's, on one poster, the central message about feeding the world. By USC Canada.
Malawi's Green Revolution by African Centre for Biosafety | 7 Oct 2014 Malawi | corporations | technologies | food crisis The Green Revolution in Malawi is being pushed as the success story that other countries in the continents should follow. The African Centre for Biosafety collaborated with local partners in the country to find out what's really going on, and produced an excellent report that recommends that the country stops following this path and starts supporting small farmers and their food systems instead. The Green Revolution in Malawi is being pushed as the success story that other countries in the continents should follow. The African Centre for Biosafety collaborated with local partners in the country to find out what's really going on, and produced an excellent report that recommends that the country stops following this path and starts supporting small farmers and their food systems instead.
The future control of food by Geoff Tansey | 8 Sep 2014 food crisis | laws & policies A wide-ranging guide to the key issues of intellectual property and ownership, genetics, biodiversity, and food security. It also discusses civil society responses to relevant changes and developments in these issues, how they affect the direction of research and development, the nature of global negotiation processes and various alternative futures. A wide-ranging guide to the key issues of intellectual property and ownership, genetics, biodiversity, and food security. It also discusses civil society responses to relevant changes and developments in these issues, how they affect the direction of research and development, the nature of global negotiation processes and various alternative futures.
How 'the new DDT' wreaks havoc on the bottom of the food chain by Stephen Leahy | 26 Jun 2014 food crisis | seeds & biodiversity “It’s the new DDT but different,” said Ole Hendrickson, a former scientist at Environment Canada. “Instead of wiping out the top of the food chain, killing hawks and eagles as DDT did, neonics are wiping out the bottom of the food chain,” “It’s the new DDT but different,” said Ole Hendrickson, a former scientist at Environment Canada. “Instead of wiping out the top of the food chain, killing hawks and eagles as DDT did, neonics are wiping out the bottom of the food chain,”
Feeding nine billion: Five steps to the wrong solution by Eric Holt-Giménez | 28 Apr 2014 technologies | food crisis | food sovereignty An excellent rebuttal of those that argue that we need more technology to feed the world. By Eric Holt-Giménez of Food First. An excellent rebuttal of those that argue that we need more technology to feed the world. By Eric Holt-Giménez of Food First.
Dust to dust: a man-made Malthusian crisis by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard | 2 Dec 2013 United States | food crisis | seeds & biodiversity We must wake up to the global land crisis or face a very real threat of famine We must wake up to the global land crisis or face a very real threat of famine
Global threat to food supply as water wells dry up, warns top environment expert by John Vidal | 8 Jul 2013 food crisis | China | Saudi Arabia | United States Grain harvests are already shrinking as US, India and China come close to 'peak water', says the Global Policy Institute's Lester Brown Grain harvests are already shrinking as US, India and China come close to 'peak water', says the Global Policy Institute's Lester Brown
Watergrabbing..... and waste! by GRAIN | 15 Jan 2013 United Kingdom | corporations | food crisis A new report calculates that up to half of the food produced in the world never makes it to any dinner table, and finds that enormous amounts of water are being squandered in the process. Another report tried to calculate the amount of water to be used by those now grabbing land in poor countries to produce food and fuel for the export market. A new report calculates that up to half of the food produced in the world never makes it to any dinner table, and finds that enormous amounts of water are being squandered in the process. Another report tried to calculate the amount of water to be used by those now grabbing land in poor countries to produce food and fuel for the export market.
Nyéléni newsletter # 11 - Food and Cities by Organisations of the Food Sovereignty Movement | 9 Oct 2012 land grabbing | food crisis | food sovereignty | food safety Nearly a quarter of the world’s fresh food is supplied by approximately one billion people who produce fruits and vegetables on urban and peri-urban farms and gardens. While most of this food is consumed by the producers themselves, a substantial part goes directly into urban markets at affordable prices. Given that over half of the world’s economically poor population now live in cities, and given the dangerous volatility of global food markets, this locally-produced food is becoming increasingly important to urban food security. Nearly a quarter of the world’s fresh food is supplied by approximately one billion people who produce fruits and vegetables on urban and peri-urban farms and gardens. While most of this food is consumed by the producers themselves, a substantial part goes directly into urban markets at affordable prices. Given that over half of the world’s economically poor population now live in cities, and given the dangerous volatility of global food markets, this locally-produced food is becoming increasingly important to urban food security.