Why Aren’t Western Countries Worried About Food Security?

Every week International Perspectives receives Google Alerts on a variety of topics, from Russia to Food Security and many things in between. Not once have these alerts brought in notice of an article on Food Security in the Western world.

This is not to suggest that the alert itself isn’t comprehensive. Indeed, every week on any given subject there are at least 10 major news stories, and several blog postings. Notwithstanding the limitations of using English-only search terms, each story contained in the Food Security alert talks only of the problems facing developing countries, suggesting only those countries that have truly known recent hardship seem concerned with food security.

This is very alarming in the context of increasing acceptance for the concept of global warming. If, in fact, Western nations feel that global changes to the environment are not just inevitable but are already occurring, it stands to reason that topics such as food and water security might be of more interest to the media as well as leaders. Indeed, arguments over to what degree emissions should be reduced seem ludicrous in comparison to the potential impact of climate change on the food supply.

Although food, if much of what is sold in North American grocery stores is worthy of the name, is at present in abundance in Western countries how prepared are we should the climate of areas currently producing much of our food change? For example, what if California continues to experience droughts and higher temperatures? If the state hailed as the #1 food and agriculture producer in the U.S. gradually becomes an arid waste land, is there a back up plan? Are new crops being considered for the Canadian prairies should the climate there witness a permanent 5-10 degree temperature increase?

It seems unlikely that the above questions or anything similar are being asked at a high enough level in countries where centralized food processing is still being ruthlessly pursued despite being an outmoded and insecure means of production. It is regrettable that what remains of a news-reading public will be left ill-informed of the risks facing them as a result of poor Food Security planning.

If only the average person knew how important access to even a small personal supply of food might be, we might not have to worry about the follies of greater systems.

This entry was posted on November 1 2007 at 01:44 and is filed under Food Security. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.