Food security is misunderstood and of underestimated importance

by Robert McLean

Most people in the modern world can’t grasp the reality, or critical importance of food security.

In fact, it is a coming reality that escapes the understanding of most.

The cornucopia of
 food in the average
supermarket.

The idea that someday food might be scarce is unimaginable, particularly if those same people happen to be standing amidst the cornucopia of food filling the burgeoning shelves of the average supermarket when the thought flits through their mind.

Food security is something rarely, if ever, thought about by most for beyond occasionally feeling a little hungry, they have never really experienced true hunger.

For most it is a little like climate change being something they have heard about, but of which they have little knowledge.

Climate change, of which the world’s food security will be one of the many manifest difficulties, is like an extremely slow motion ship wreck – it is happening, but as yet we have not really felt much of the impact.

The near decade-long drought from which most of Australia, particularly the south-eastern corner has just emerged, followed by devastating bush fires, flooding and in the last few days (it’s February 20) and out of character downpours are little more than the entrée to the coming climate change challenges.

Genuine free range chickens.

Before discussing and considering food security, it seems important that we have some agreement about the terms of the conversation and what it means to us individually, as a community and on a society-wide basis.

Frankly, I am unsure what it means, but I do know that unless we can address, significantly, the impact of climate change and slow down what seems to be a relentless drive by the corporate world to put burgeoning profits ahead of the welfare of its customers, the world will be in such disrepair that food security will be a reality for us all and corporations, with far fewer customers, will be wrestling with a plunging income and profits will be a faded memory.

Industrialized farming has filled the shelves of the world’s supermarkets bringing with it an explosion of the population, but the costs have been huge and measureable.

In answer to the question - What is food security? An Australian Government website says: "Food security exists when populations have access on an ongoing basis to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life."

Farming of that type has been built around, and on, the world’s finite fossil fuels as without oil it would not be possible, natural gas has enabled the production of the fertilizers that has made depleted soils fertile and huge mono-crop farming is something of a bonanza for insects.

Farming as it once was.

Gone is the mixed farming that encouraged different crop types and styles that brought on the natural refurbishment of soils and processes which because of their inherent attachment to nature, made them instinctively organic.

Consideration needs to be given to the idea of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in which a local farmer teams with those from nearby towns to plant and grow goods effectively to order.

That is, the urban dwellers, indicating favoured vegetables, contribute cash to the farmer, help with preparation, planting and harvesting of crops, and subsequently are entitled to a portion of resultant produce.

Food shortages, something we will undoubtedly experience as climate change begins to bite, can be alleviated through community gardens that are established on land provided by local authorities and then become productive as a result of people growing vegetables on small personal plots. Growers often end up with more food than immediately needed and can trade with others.

Also, those with the space at home can grow a huge array of vegetables on their own property and again, they often have more than needed and so can trade or share the extra with neighbours and others in the community.

Climate change will bring inconsistent weather changing cropping patterns, seriously disrupting the availability of water supplies, resulting in droughts and then unseasonal heavy rains and floods that wash away vital top soils.

Food security – pretty much unknown in the modern developed world, but a matter which will become increasingly urgent as the impacts of climate change begin to be felt in our various food bowls.