Editor’s note: This is the first in a series addressing food shortages and how Cherokee County is combating the problem.



By Cristin Ross

cross@jacksonvilleprogress.com

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) met with 181 of the world’s countries earlier this month in Rome to discuss the causes, impacts and remedies of potential global food shortages and soaring food prices.

The Summit concluded with the adoption of a declaration calling on the international community to increase assistance for developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and those that are most negatively affected by high food prices.

“There is an urgent need to help developing countries and countries in transition expand agriculture and food production, and to increase investment in agriculture, agribusiness and rural development, from both public and private sources,” according to the declaration, published on the FAO’s Web site.

FAO Assistant Director-General Alexander Mueller said, “Clearly this Summit has decided to act. It has called for both immediate humanitarian assistance to those hardest hit by the current food price crisis and it has taken actions that in the medium term should go a long way in considering the driving forces of food system fragility to shocks in order to reduce the number of hungry people in the world, helping us to meet the World Food Summit and Millennium Development Goals.”

One report submitted during the conference reported during the first three months of this year, prices of all major food commodities soared to levels higher than have been seen in the last five decades, while retail prices were pushed to their highest levels in nearly 30 years.

“Although the food market situation differs from country to country and future evolution remains highly uncertain, best projections suggest that food prices are likely to remain high in the next few years and high prices are expected to affect most developing country markets,” the FAO report states.

The report blames several global factors recorded over the past two seasons for the spike in food prices.

On the supply side, weather-related production shortfalls; the decline in the production of cereals in major exporting countries, beginning in 2005; the gradual reduction in the level of stocks, mainly of cereals, since the mid-1990s; and increasing fuel costs are all reported to play a part in rising food costs.

On the demand side, according to the FAO’s report, the emerging biofuels market has proved to be significant source of demand for some agricultural commodities including sugar, maize, cassava, oilseeds and palm oil.

“The increase in demand for these commodities has been one of the leading factors behind the increase in their prices in world markets which, in turn, has led to higher food prices,” the report states. “With many agricultural commodity markets continuing to be tight despite the positive expectations for some, and with low stock levels that are not likely to be replenished quickly, the possibility of further sharp price hikes and continued volatility as a result of unforeseen events seems to be likely for the next few seasons.

“As opposed to other instances of sharp increases in agricultural commodity prices that have rapidly dissipated, we could be facing higher prices for some time.,” the report continues. “Of significance in this respect is the possibility of the persistence of demand for biofuels, which would depend on a number of factors, including whether the price of crude oil continues to increase and policies supporting the biofuels sector are maintained; whether the rate at which second generation feedstocks are developed and commercialized speeds up sufficiently to replace first generation feedstocks; population and income growth, as well as intensifying urbanization; climate change impact on agricultural yields in different parts of the globe; land and water resource constraints; and the ability to increase yields of agricultural products through more effective use of existing technologies and/or adoption of new technologies.”

FAO Summit-goers were prompted to look at both long- and short-term affects and relief. The Summit called for the placement of safety nets, social protection and rapid recovery of agriculture to help feed the world.

“Those most vulnerable to food price shocks need to be protected from nutritional deprivation, asset shedding and reductions in their real purchasing power,” the report states. “Such protection not only saves lives, it can also strengthen livelihoods and promote longer-term development.

“Safety nets and social protection can reduce malnutrition that has lifelong consequences, prevent distress sales of assets, and allow investments in education and health that high food prices make more difficult, all of which help keep households from falling into poverty traps.”

Some examples given to make sure the hungry get fed include direct food distribution, targeted food subsidies and cash transfers, and nutritional programs including school feeding.

“Safety nets will also be especially important for nutritionally vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant women and the elderly,” the reports states.

Cherokee County is already ahead of the game. See the Daily Progress each day this week for features on local efforts to combat hunger or provide low-cost food to those in need.