Sep 09 2009
Is Globalism a threat to the food supply?
In my opinion, yes.
I will not get into the “genetically altered food” debate here (even though it is part of the equation) since there are many other issue to be discussed.
All of the reasons can be boiled down to one thing, self-sufficiency. When one is dependant on others for their food supply, as well as other goods needed for survival, one loses the ability to be self-sufficient.
Now, we are all, in one way or another, dependant on others for many, if not most, of the goods we need to survive. However, this is amplified when what we need is grown, or produced, half way around the world and/or by a small number of providers. If one, or a couple have “production issues” the whole supply of food could be severely disrupted. By have many smaller providers for the same food you reduce this threat. In addition, many providers possibly supply a wider variety of the same type of food.
The second issue is transportation. Transportation these days is dependent on one thing and one thing only: oil. We saw over the past year or so how the spike in oil prices can have a drastic effect on not only prices, but also on supply when certain food products are diverted for other uses. This is only amplified when the food has to travel further and further to get where it has to go. By having the source closer to the consumer, both costs and disruption in the supply of goods is reduced.
The third issue is disease/insects. When production for vast amounts of a certain food is concentrated in one area, disease and/or insects could wipe out a considerable percentage of the supply of that food. We have seen that recently with the blight destroying vast quantities of certain types of wheat in the Middle East. In addition, if the producers and transporters are not careful, these diseases and insects could easily be transported along with the food to other parts of the world. By having the food produced closer to where it is sold, the chance of contamination spreading from one place to another is reduced.
The fourth issue is related to the last part of issue three. That issue pertains to quality control. Many parts of the world have very poor quality control. We have seen this in the past year with many products coming from China where people and animals have died from the products produced in China. We have also see that with other food products from areas like Mexico. Just like issue three, by having the food produced closer to where it is sold, the chance of contamination spreading from one place to another is reduced.
The final issue is one of competition for the goods produced. When they are produced in limited areas and/or by a limited number of producers, there is not only increase competition for the food produced, but also the threat that certain countries and or factions may try to hoard those goods and extort even higher prices for the goods produced. This is an increasing issue these days due to terrorism and the increase of radical socialist governments bent on the control of everything. By having food produced and sold closer to the source, this is reduced but not totally eliminated.
While some foodstuffs cannot be produced everywhere, or even all year round, it is best to produced as much as possible, by as many sources as possible, as close as possible to where it will be consumed. Yes, we may have to do without many types of foods, even if it is only for parts of the year, but the dependence on other parts of the world will be greatly reduced.
