I’ve come to a revelation on our role in Feeding the World after reading this portion of a Bloomberg Report:
“There’s been unprecedented demand globally for grains,” said Gordon Davis, managing director of Melbourne-based AWB Ltd., the largest wheat exporter in Australia. “It’s being driven by demand for protein in Asia, which reflects rising incomes.”
Even farm animals, which eat 16 percent of the world’s wheat, are driving consumption as alternatives such as corn feed get more expensive. The appeal of corn-based ethanol is increasing as the U.S. government sets mandates for alternative energy sources.
“There is a tremendous competition for food,” said William Doyle, chief executive officer of Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc., the largest maker of crop nutrients. Corn may jump another 15 percent this year to $6 a bushel, he said.
If our job as the United States was REALLY to bring others to a ‘better way of life’ and assist our fellow man on the planet (as I believe we SHOULD do, that is NOT an argument against doing such humanitarian efforts), then why do we just sell stuff? Why are we so happy to sell our own food supply to the world? Is it for money, or power or recognition that we do this?
The efforts that take time, commitment and energy of individuals to mentor and train those in need are the ones that will last and improve the less fortunate. Feeding the world does not have to be limited to selling off our own food supply.
Much like ‘passing the plate’ in church and tossing in our dollars, we don’t invest the emotion, skill or empathy into that offering like we do when we paint the widows home, rake leaves for the man newly released from bi-pass surgery or feed the people at the soup kitchen.
Too much of our ‘assistance’ to the rest of the world makes them dependence upon our government and policies. All this is done while lining someone’s pockets and depleting our own emergency food needs. Is it really humanitarian effort to rob Peter to pay Paul?
It has become clear to me that we need to train the man to fish to feed the world as the old saying goes:
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”-Author unknown
Popular Questions
What does feeding the world require as the global population grows?
Feeding the world requires increasing food production while protecting soil, water, biodiversity, and farm livelihoods. This means combining productive farming with better storage, transportation, processing, and distribution. Reducing food loss and ensuring people can afford nutritious food are also essential parts of a reliable global food system.
How can sustainable agriculture help with feeding the world?
Sustainable agriculture can support feeding the world by maintaining soil fertility and using water, fertilizer, and energy more efficiently. Farmers can apply practices such as crop rotation, cover cropping, integrated pest management, and precise irrigation. Choosing methods suited to local climates and supporting farmers with research, training, and suitable technology can improve long-term food security.
Why is reducing food waste important for feeding the world?
Reducing food waste makes more of the food already produced available to people without requiring equal increases in land and water use. Better harvesting methods, weather-resistant storage, cold chains, packaging, and transportation can limit losses after crops leave the farm. Households, retailers, and restaurants can also plan purchases, improve inventory management, and donate safe surplus food.
What role do farmers and technology play in feeding the world?
Farmers are central to feeding the world because they produce food and manage the land and water on which future harvests depend. Technology can help through improved seeds, weather information, soil testing, mechanization, digital markets, and precision application of inputs. These tools should be affordable, accessible to smallholders, and paired with local knowledge rather than treated as a single solution.
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