Is there a hope for the future of food? Flashcards
(23 cards)
Geopolitics and food
Geopolitics ~ the concept of SPACE , NATIONS and the relationship between them.
Food is a GEOPOLITICAL COMMODITY ~ a number of key players will continue to influence the global food system.
Scarcity or distribution problem?
- World food problem is not caused by scarcity of food
- Issues with distribution of food resources & ACCESS to:
- markets
- technology
- commercial opportunities
- land
- water
PRESSURE ON GLOBAL POLITICAL RELATIONS:
- The divergence between where food is grown and where it is needed most.
KEY PLAYERS that influence the Global food system
NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS:
- working independently or together
INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS:
- example ~ WTO
PROFIT-MAKING ORGANISATIONS:
- agribusinesses
- TNC’s
- Food retailers
NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS:
- Example ~ world fair trade organisation
Trade
- Scale is UNPRECEDENTED ~ increased five-fold over the past 5 decades
- AGRICULTURE accounts for more than a THIRD of export earnings in 50 developing countries
- EXPORTS SUBSIDIES & IMPORT TARIFFS mean poorer countries are unable to compete in international markets
- Expenditure on staples , e,g rice, are in DECLINE whilst higher value foods , e.g meat, dairy & processed, has INCREASED.
- CHANGING DIETS in emerging economies , e.g Brazil, China & Asia, has created new TRADE FLOWS.
Trading Blocs & problems with the CAP policy
TRADING BLOCS ~
an agreement between a number of countries to promote FREE TRADE amongst its members whilst imposing TARIFFS on imports from non-member states.
EXAMPLES:
- European Union
- Association of Southeast Asian Nations
COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY:
- introduced by EU in 1963 and was criticised
- guaranteed prices for farmers, regardless of demand
- created food surpluses & depressed world prices
- Farmers outside EU unable to compete
Multilateral agreements
MULTILATERAL ~ exist where several countries engage in a trading relationship with a third party.
EXAMPLE~ Lome Agreement
- EU gave Africa, Caribbean & Pacific nations free trade access to EU markets.
- CAP meant unfair terms , suppressing the development of commercial farming in these developing nations
Bilateral Agreements
BILATERAL AGREEMENT ~
Made between two political entities , that has mutual benefits and is legally binding to the two parties.
EXAMPLES:
Sainsburys & Waitrose ~ trade agreements with St Lucia for fair trade bananas
Café direct ~ trade agreements with Columbia & Peru for coffee, tea & cocoa
FOOD AID ~ disadvantages
- Often reflects the INTERESTS of the DONOR country , rather than the needs of recipient country
- Donor - driven food aid centres used a vehicle to DUMP surpluses from ACs
- E.G United States, China, EU states , Japan
- Creates a CYCLE of food aid DEPENDENCY
- Large quantities of food SWAMPING local
urban markets can : - drive down prices
- reduce income of indigenous farmers
FOOD AID ~ advantages
- CRUCIAL contribution to saving lives in EMERGNCY situations
- saves lives
- protect livelihoods
- promote recovery
EMERGENCY FOOD AID IN NEPAL 2015:
- distributed to 2 million people in 7
districts - CASH given so food could be bought
locally, revitalising markets - cash for work so infrastructure was
cleared of rubble
ALTERNATIVE to direct food aid
MERET programme:
- joint venture between WFP & Ethiopian government
- Helped to feed people while they work on RECLAMATION of DEGRADED land
- Caused a 20% REDUCTION in poverty rates
INPUTS:
- terracing hillsides to prevent erosion
- building dams for sustainable water supply
- irrigation channels to capture rainwater
OUTCOMES:
- enough corn, soy & fruits grown to feed
families and make profits
- money used to but land & livestock
The ROLE of the World Trade Organization
- Provide a FORUM for governments to negotiate trade agreements
- Support FREE TRADE
- Work to REMOVE BARRIERS . e.g import tariffs
- Settle TRADE DISPUTES
The IMPACTS of unfair trade on farmers in LIDCs
FOREIGN BUYERS
- impose strongest quality control
measures
- causes waste at production end of supply
chain
PRICES:
- food crops prices are unstable
- due to disease & climate
AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS:
- relied heavily upon for foreign earnings
- creates a vulnerable economy
CASH CROPS:
- grown on best land in LIDCs
- marginal land is left for subsistence
farmers
Role of AGRIBUSINESSES
AGRIBUSINESS ~ refers to large-scale , capital-intensive-corporate farming by business enterprises.
Involvement in:
- production
- processing
- distribution
- manufacture of farm supplies
Example ~ DUPONT:
- animal nutrition
- crop protection
- landscaping
- seed supplies
CRITICISM:
- Focus on profit
- environment issues are compromised
- used GM crops , agrochemical &
hormones
Role of TNCs
- organised exclusively on an INTERNATIONAL SCALE
- Specialise in DOWNSTREAM ACTIVITIES :
- Processing
- Distribution
EXAMPLES:
- Nestle
- Unilever
- Kraft
- General foods
Role of FOOD RETAILERS
- Transnational retail firms are EXTENDING their operations in the developing world
- Wide-ranging effects on LOCAL MARKETS
- This is driven by POPULATIN GROWTH in rapidly expanding urban agglomerations in EDCs
- Supermarkets control 60% of food retailing in Latin America
- China & India , combined population of 2.3 billion are TARGETS for investment by global retailers
MAJOR POWER PLAYERS IN FOOD RETAIL:
- Tesco
- Sainsburys
- Walmart
- Carrefour
Role of FAIR TRADE ORGANISATIONS
- A TRADING PARTNERSHIP
Based on:
- Dialogue
- Transparency
- Respect
- Seeks greater quality in INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Contributes to SUSTAINABLE development by offering:
- Economic opportunities for marginalised
producers - Better working conditions
- Respect for the environment
TNCs that support Fair Trade products:
- Nestle
- Tate & Lyle
FOOD RETAILERS that support Fair Trade products:
- Asda
- Sainsburys
- Waitrose
SHORT TERM approaches to food security
FOOD AID:
Provided by WFP ~
- refugees
- Syria ~ political conflict
- Nepal ~ natural disaster
- Can ALLEVIATE emergency situations
- NOT a long-term solution
LONG TERM approaches to food security & CAPACITY BUILDING
CAPACITY BUILDING ~ refers to the ability of communities , countries and global institutions to build a resilient food system.
Can be ACHIEVED by:
- Access to FAIR TRADE agreements
- Government MONITORING of food supply
& distribution - Investment in transport infrastructure
- Efficient STORAGE & distribution which
minimises WASTE - EDUCATION to people on healthy &
nutritious diets
Why is PROGRESS difficult in increasing food security?
FACTORS PREVENTING FOOD SECURITY:
- financial crises
- fluctuating food prices
- conflict
- natural disasters
- tectonic hazards
- FAO ~ increase in food emergencies from 15 a year in the 1980s to 30 a year in the new millennium
Large-scale & small-scale TECHNIQUES for improving food security
LARGE SCALE:
GM crops~
- higher yields
- greater resistance to pests
- resistant to harsh conditions caused by
global warming
WATER CONSERVATION:
- new irrigation schemes
SMALL SCALE ~ Involvement of local farmers
Self help schemes:
- Simple tools , manufactured locally
- Rainwater harvesting
- Sack gardening (Kenya)
- FAO Acacia Project (Sahel)
- Fertiliser deep displacement (Niger &
Nigeria)
Case study ~ UK BACKGROUND
- Currently imports 49% of its food
- 3X more food is imported than exported
- INTERNATIONAL TRADE is crucial & a degree of DEPENDANCY is inevitable
Case study ~ Ensuring food security in the UK for the PRODUCER
- Grow more food per hectare
SUSTAINABLY - GM crops ~ increases yields
- PROTECT ECOSYSYTEMS that provide inputs of water, soil & nutrients
- INFRASTRUCTURAL SUPPORT ~ seaports, transport systems, energy, water & sewage facilities
Case Study ~ ensuring food security in the UK for the CONSUMER
- REDUCE FOOD WASTAGE
- TACKLE DIET RELATED HEALTH ISSUES:
- EDUCATION ~ nutritional content
- FISH ~ develop aquaculture industries
- ORGANIC PRODUCE :
- better soil fertility,
- natural fertilisers
- no herbicides,
- restricted use of pesticides
- LOCAL & REGIONAL FOOD SOURCES :
- small independent food stores
- farmers markets
- Eating in season food to cut production & distribution costs
