howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#1
some rather depressing news about the expected rises, they recckon prices will double by 2020.
maize could rise by 180% in that time.
the world's population continues to rise and agricultural production continues to fall, which means bad news for the very poorest people who spend 80% of their income on food.
in india where there are great masses of people still existing on a dollar a day despite the great economic leap forward, prices are jumping meaning even more people are going hungry.
if that is not bad enough news there is always the spectre of geldoff, sting and bono reaching for their hairshirts, doing a lot of breast beating and trying to make us all feel guilty so that they can pass the hat round.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#2
This is why many believe that genetically engineered crops could be the answer with higher yields and resistant to disease. I am not totally convinced by this because it may cause as many problems as it solves, but certainly we should not turn our backs on this option whatever scare stories we see in the media.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#3
Kent could become a world exporter of fruit and vegetables: to London, Hong Kong, New Dehli, and beyond.
We'd be reaping a handsome revenue in return for the products.
We should preserve the Garden for agriculture, and encourage local people to work in it!
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#4
Yes its a great problem..rising food prices will affect us all in time. There are also rising energy prices to come in the years ahead too. All very alarming.
We now also have many more people across the new economic worlds of India and China who have more money in their pockets, they now also demand their share of better quality foods which they didnt have access to previously. This is putting the prices up as are the dealings of commodity brokers on the international markets. Guys making a fast buck. Yes genetically engineered crops will have to be a feature in the years to come even though the 'greens' dont like it.
We have a lot of people who expound the values of organics and very against genetics but then they are usually very well fed types.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
#5
British firms have acquired more land in Africa for controversial biofuel plantations than companies from any other country, a Guardian investigation has revealed.
Half of the 3.2m hectares of biofuel land identified - in countries from Mozambique to Senegal - is linked to 11 British companies, more than any other country.
Liquid fuels made from plants - such as bioethanol - are hailed by some as environmentally-friendly replacements for fossil fuels. Because they compete for land with crop plants, biofuels have also been linked to record food prices and rising hunger. There are also fears they can increase greenhouse gas emissions.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#6
i think the way forward for developing countries has to be genetically modified crops.
the way things are going starvation is the only alternative for the poor in the third world.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#7
Many countries in Africa could grow good crops, but because of incompetance or corruption (or both), food is not grown in the amounts it could/should be done.
Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) used to be the bread-basket of Africa, now after 30 years of Mugabe (it didn't take 30 years though), it is a basket-case.
Roger
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
#8
We throw away about one third of our food; perhaps we should look at how we could be more responsible before we leap to GM foods. I have no real problem with GM - we have benefited from it over many centuries - but I worry about the power it puts into the hands of corporations like Monsanto.
