Davos: Rethinking The Food Chain

[cedric]

Found this when surfing the Davos Conference

http://www.weforum.org/en/knowledge/Events/KN_SESS_SUMM_22933?url=/en/knowledge/Events/KN_SESS_SUMM_22933

Rethinking the Food Chain

• Hilary Benn • M. Carl Johnson III • Michael Pollan • Alice Waters
Moderated by • Orville H. Schell
Friday 25 January
Rising energy prices, growing demand for biofuels, higher rates of obesity and commodities shortages are trends that suggest the precariousness of a globalized food chain. Panellists discussed the implications of these trends for governments, businesses and culture, and the effect they have on traditional family meals.

Some insights from the session include:

Mass production of food and demand for cheap, consistent products have resulted in unsustainable practices in growing food. For example, one variety of potato displays the ideal characteristic of fast food French fries. Overproduction of this plant threatens genetic diversity and requires inefficient use of energy.

Consumption of food that arises from this kind of production could lead to an “overfed and undernourished” population.

Climate change is a major issue for rethinking the food supply. Addressing issues such as water shortages and excessive greenhouse gas emissions will require better technologies for agricultural production.

Corporations that rely on unsustainable production models are squeezed between pleasing shareholders and needing to adopt more responsible environmental practices, which can have higher short-term costs.

Consumers are increasingly expressing preferences for environmentally-friendly, sustainable agricultural practices. One participant noted that the limiting factor on the organic produce market in many parts of the United Kingdom is not demand from customers but availability of products. “Vote with your fork,” noted another participant.

Expanding these practices beyond niche markets to feed a larger percentage of the population remains the biggest challenge for “fixing” the food supply.

Food production will have to change due to rising energy costs and more responsible environmental planning, and the short-term result is likely to be higher costs. As one participant predicted, “the price of doing things bad for the planet is going to rise” due to new policies like carbon emissions restrictions.

Contributors
Orville H. Schell
Hilary Benn
M. Carl Johnson
Michael Pollan
Alice Waters