Saturday 14 May 2011

Can we have some more, please, Sir?

Food security is going to be a major global challenge over the next few decades. The world population is still rising ... yet the percentage of land given over to agriculture is falling.

For example, a recent policy summit in Melbourne was told that that while Australian farms are capable of feeding the nation until it more than doubles in population, agricultural productivity is in decline and the effects of a looming food crisis overseas are already being felt in rising grocery costs.

Many countries are in a far worse state than Australia ... and shortages are likely to lead to higher prices then perhaps political instability and even mass migration.

We (collectively) have to find ways of significantly increasing agricultural productivity. Our past record is good ... but the problem gets ever more acute.

In the meantime, perhaps you'd better put a few extra tins in the cupboard!

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