This article by Lester Brown, founder of the Earth Policy Institute, appears in the May 2009 issue of Scientific American magazine.
In his analysis, Brown argues that causal factors such as the current world order, water shortages, eroding soil, and rising global temperatures are threatening not only the global food supply, but world civilization as a whole because of it. He warns that a lack of widespread intervention on the latter three environmental factors, global water tables in particular, could push governments in poorer countries to collapse, with the resulting failed states threatening global security.
Brown also argues that the current food crisis is of concern for reasons beyond food shortage issues of the past. He cites examples of event-driven shortages, such as droughts in the 1970s, and charges that today’s food crisis is trend-driven – following the intertwining of food production and the energy economy as well as the growing world population and shifts in population affluence. These trend-driven shortages, he says, pose a larger threat because they demand a shift in far-reaching global trends rather than isolated environmental conditions.
He also finds acts by states to hoard food exports as a result of shortage concerns, worrisome. These actions drive food prices up and deprive needy states of food imports. Should that behavior continue, food access could become a forefront motivation in international conflict.
Lester Brown appeared as a guest on the Great Decisions Television Series 2009 episode entitled, “Running Out: The Global Food Crisis.” The full episode can be viewed here.
Read Brown’s full article and please feel free to react in the “Comments” section below.
