Is there a hope for the future of food?

Question 1

Geopolitics and food

Answer 1

Geopolitics ~ the concept of SPACE , NATIONS and the relationship between them.

Food is a GEOPOLITICAL COMMODITY ~ a number of key players will continue to influence the global food system.

Question 2

Scarcity or distribution problem?

Answer 2

• World food problem is not caused by scarcity of food
• Issues with distribution of food resources & ACCESS to:
• markets
• technology
• commercial opportunities
• land
• water

PRESSURE ON GLOBAL POLITICAL RELATIONS:
- The divergence between where food is grown and where it is needed most.

Question 3

KEY PLAYERS that influence the Global food system

Answer 3

NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS:
- working independently or together

INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS:
- example ~ WTO

PROFIT-MAKING ORGANISATIONS:
- agribusinesses
- TNC’s
- Food retailers

NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS:
- Example ~ world fair trade organisation

Question 4

Trade

Answer 4

• Scale is UNPRECEDENTED ~ increased five-fold over the past 5 decades
• AGRICULTURE accounts for more than a THIRD of export earnings in 50 developing countries
• EXPORTS SUBSIDIES & IMPORT TARIFFS mean poorer countries are unable to compete in international markets
• Expenditure on staples , e,g rice, are in DECLINE whilst higher value foods , e.g meat, dairy & processed, has INCREASED.
• CHANGING DIETS in emerging economies , e.g Brazil, China & Asia, has created new TRADE FLOWS.

Question 5

Trading Blocs & problems with the CAP policy

Answer 5

TRADING BLOCS ~
an agreement between a number of countries to promote FREE TRADE amongst its members whilst imposing TARIFFS on imports from non-member states.

EXAMPLES:
- European Union
- Association of Southeast Asian Nations

COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY:
- introduced by EU in 1963 and was criticised
- guaranteed prices for farmers, regardless of demand
- created food surpluses & depressed world prices
- Farmers outside EU unable to compete

Question 6

Multilateral agreements

Answer 6

MULTILATERAL ~ exist where several countries engage in a trading relationship with a third party.

EXAMPLE~ Lome Agreement

• EU gave Africa, Caribbean & Pacific nations free trade access to EU markets.
• CAP meant unfair terms , suppressing the development of commercial farming in these developing nations

Question 7

Bilateral Agreements

Answer 7

BILATERAL AGREEMENT ~
Made between two political entities , that has mutual benefits and is legally binding to the two parties.

EXAMPLES:

Sainsburys & Waitrose ~ trade agreements with St Lucia for fair trade bananas

Café direct ~ trade agreements with Columbia & Peru for coffee, tea & cocoa

Question 8

FOOD AID ~ disadvantages

Answer 8

• Often reflects the INTERESTS of the DONOR country , rather than the needs of recipient country
• Donor - driven food aid centres used a vehicle to DUMP surpluses from ACs
• E.G United States, China, EU states , Japan
• Creates a CYCLE of food aid DEPENDENCY
• Large quantities of food SWAMPING local
  urban markets can :
• drive down prices
• reduce income of indigenous farmers

Question 9

FOOD AID ~ advantages

Answer 9

• CRUCIAL contribution to saving lives in EMERGNCY situations
• saves lives
• protect livelihoods
• promote recovery

EMERGENCY FOOD AID IN NEPAL 2015:

• distributed to 2 million people in 7
  districts
• CASH given so food could be bought
  locally, revitalising markets
• cash for work so infrastructure was
  cleared of rubble

Question 10

ALTERNATIVE to direct food aid

Answer 10

MERET programme:

• joint venture between WFP & Ethiopian government
• Helped to feed people while they work on RECLAMATION of DEGRADED land
• Caused a 20% REDUCTION in poverty rates

INPUTS:
- terracing hillsides to prevent erosion
- building dams for sustainable water supply
- irrigation channels to capture rainwater

OUTCOMES:
- enough corn, soy & fruits grown to feed
families and make profits
- money used to but land & livestock

Question 11

The ROLE of the World Trade Organization

Answer 11

• Provide a FORUM for governments to negotiate trade agreements
• Support FREE TRADE
• Work to REMOVE BARRIERS . e.g import tariffs
• Settle TRADE DISPUTES

Question 12

The IMPACTS of unfair trade on farmers in LIDCs

Answer 12

FOREIGN BUYERS
- impose strongest quality control
measures
- causes waste at production end of supply
chain

PRICES:
- food crops prices are unstable
- due to disease & climate

AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS:
- relied heavily upon for foreign earnings
- creates a vulnerable economy

CASH CROPS:
- grown on best land in LIDCs
- marginal land is left for subsistence
farmers