In an article found in the Wall Street Journal yesterday (7-8-08)
the two below paragraphs literally jumped out at me:
The new famine is not about a crisis in global supply. Markets are full of food that developing-nation consumers cannot afford to buy. Prices for rice, corn, wheat and soy beans, the staple crops for world sustenance, have doubled in a single year.
This pinches families in developed countries who allocate 15% of their income to food. In poor countries, where many spend 75% of their earnings to eat, real wages have been cut by a life-changing one-third. A decade of progress in reducing poverty is being erased.
Speaking only of American Markets and what I know of them in the USA, there is no ‘shortage’ or ‘crisis’ of what many people may call ‘food’. But that does depend on what you call ‘food’.
Most of the world calls the staples mentioned in the article, food. The items that line many a Western super market shelf have so processed and minimized those staples with additives and chemicals that there is very little of the actual nutritious ‘staple’ inside the ‘food’ they have made so convenient for us to consume.
The crisis is looming on two fronts. First the real threat to the REAL food supply. The shortage for the less affluent countries (with populations that spend most of their month’s income on REAL food to get by) is a VERY real crisis. Second, the crisis that so many in the ‘more affluent’ countries are duped into believing (that we are buying for convenience is ‘food’) not only harms our own health but also lulls us into ignoring the shortage of real foods and real countries with real people in actual crisis.
In today’s global market, just because it isn’t in our back yard, doesn’t mean it won’t be affecting us. We need to look at where the crisis is and see the longer reaching effects of our own choices.
Popular Questions
If markets are full of food, where is the crisis really occurring?
The crisis can exist alongside well-stocked markets because availability does not guarantee that people can afford, access, or safely consume the food on offer. Prices, low wages, supply disruptions, and unequal distribution can leave vulnerable households unable to meet their needs. Looking beyond full shelves means examining food affordability, nutrition, and access.
Why can markets be full of food while people still go hungry?
Food may be present in shops but priced beyond the reach of households facing inflation or unstable incomes. Some communities also lack nearby retailers with affordable, nutritious options, while others depend on food assistance or irregular supplies. The key issue is not only how much food markets contain, but who can obtain it consistently.
Does a plentiful food market prove that there is no food crisis?
No, because market abundance measures supply at a point in the chain rather than food security for every household. A crisis may involve unaffordable prices, poor diet quality, disrupted distribution, or dependence on imported staples. Comparing food prices with incomes and tracking access to nutritious foods gives a clearer picture.
What should be examined when asking where the food crisis is?
Examine household purchasing power, regional price differences, food quality, and the reliability of supply. It is also useful to identify who is most affected, including low-income families, rural communities, and people exposed to conflict or climate shocks. These measures reveal whether full markets translate into regular access to adequate food.
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