Blog 4 - - - Section 28

Food Scarcity

Linking the effect from global warming and over population with the irresponsibility of land use and the effects is has on our food supply. Over using current supplies, such as timber and farmland, is creating less diversification and more desertification. Eventually these factors are going to lead to a econmoic crash, felt most by food producers and third world countries.
The termination of fertile land from mismanagement will cause food prices to rise. These price fluctuations will affect the third world nations much more than the first world. Increasing food prices become extremely vital for increasing world famine overnight, very dangerous for the poor.
The constant increase in population throughout the world is putting strain on land and irrigation systems. Extreme measures are taken to reclaim land and manage water supplies, but as population grows, the amount of land and water per person continues to shrink, making more competition for supplies.
Water shortages are creating competition between urban and irrigation use, both are leading to the drying up of rivers. Crop production relies heavily on irrigation. Water shortages cause countries to import grains, instead of producing the product themselves, reducing work available for their population. Aquifer depletion is a major problem in the world’s three major producers; economic collapse is creeping closer and closer.
Rising food prices might be there wake up call the world has been trying to ignore. Food scarcity is happening already in small scales around the world. It causes the governments to make choice on what is the most vital supplies, most of the time causing riots when favourites are no longer available. Leaving the question of what’s going to happen when it becomes large scale. Low harvest numbers, from poor growing seasons and high food prices are affecting the food reserves and consistent supply of food required. These affects are slowing of stunting economic growth.
Two determinates necessary to control our future food supplies are population control and climate solutions. Populations have to be controlled and cut down to replacement values and climate change has to be less impacting from fossil fuel consumption, especially in power generation and transportation.
Both land and water use needs to become more efficient than present standards, for the amount of resources that are available. The amount of waste produced from current processes of both vital resources is much too wasteful. If it becomes a major problem, ideas of tax to limit or wean people off of grain feed products, will help cut down on water and land use, keeping food prices relatively lower. It’s up to the current politics to move our current path of deterioration and disruption, to a more sustainable way of life, in both economic and demographic.

The article brings good points to the table. Both population and land use are out of control, exceeding the amount of activity that is sustainable. Action has to be taken now, to prevent the circumstance of finding ourselves in a position with no reverse option. Population control isn’t as bad as people think it might be. People will be able to enjoy life more, with more resources and a better quality of life as a greater population. Land management needs to be viewed as land for the people and not large gains for the few. The monopolies of land currently cause people to become greedy and controlling. The countries need to produce vital products first over profitable ones. Harmony is possible, but restructuring is required before.