by Joyce DiBenedetto-Colton
Most folks in the developed world have not had to give much thought to it. We take available food for granted. We go to the grocery store, and there it is in all its glory. Grown, harvested, prewashed, processed and brightly packaged. No worries. But for 70 percent of the world’s human population, access to adequate food is a daily concern.
In April of 2005 the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development presented to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), recommendations for International Trade and the Human Right to Adequate Food as a proposed safeguard to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Agriculture. That document states that according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) – the arm of the UN that addresses world hunger – more than 850 million lack adequate food. “Every five seconds a child under the age of five dies of hunger or hunger-related disease. Eighty percent of people suffering from hunger live in rural areas and derive their livelihood from agriculture.” Yes, somewhat surprisingly, those poor and starving people make their livelihoods by farming. So, why are they starving? In this day and age, why isn’t there enough food to go around? Well, actually, there is. According to the FAO, the world produces more than enough food to feed everyone, yet the number of people who suffer from hunger and malnutrition is increasing. What’s going on?
It seems that industrial agriculture and, ironically, the over-production that it creates, undermine agricultural markets in less developed countries, forcing prices below their cost of production. “This process, known as dumping, disrupts local markets and affects livelihoods, living standards and access to adequate food, particularly in developing countries” (Rights & Democracy.)
This is such an important concept for people in the Western world – particularly US citizens – to wrap their minds around. Why? Because perhaps, just maybe, it will shed light on erroneous justifications for directions in industrial agriculture, particularly biopharming and genetically engineered crops. Monsanto, Aventis, Syngenta, Novartis and the hundreds of biotech companies around the globe will tell you that they are re-engineering the genes of plants, insects and animals to make the world a better place. Biotech giant, Monsanto has long said that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are necessary to meet the world’s requirements for food, implying that there is insufficient production. The real problem is primarily over-production, compounded by a synthetic economic system that mandates failure in equitable distribution. The affluent get richer and the poor are shut out. What an ideal distraction for chemical and biotech corporations to position themselves for global dominance. Which they have. Just an hour or two on the internet googling biopharming and biotechnology can put things more in perspective. There are hundreds of companies that have rearranged food-plant genes for a variety of purposes. Monsanto bought out Calgene for its FlavrSavr® tomato, its BXN® cotton and its Laurate Canola. The tomato’s fish gene extends its growing season into colder months. The cotton has a bacteria gene implanted right in it that kills insects that munch it, so there’s less pesticide spraying for the farmer – but death to any insect that feeds on BNX® or on any plant that might cross-pollinate with it. The Laurate Canola was engineered to prevent its oil from causing the production of cholesterol in the body. An impressive selling point, considering heart disease remains a major killer in the US. Gee, wouldn’t it make better sense to stop over eating? Or simply eat healthy, whole foods?
There’s another thing to consider. Quality of food. With all the concern over securing food availability, there has been insufficient regard given to the quality, wholesomeness or safety of food.
Our world leaders, government representatives, and policy makers understand little if anything about sustainable food production, true drug-free health or ecology. So its little wonder that our most important needs – pure food and water – have been traded for financial status and social power.
To make matters worse, biopharming corporations are using food-crop plants to grow industrial chemicals and potent pharmaceuticals in secret, open-air locations without safeguards for cross pollination with plants and crops intended for human or livestock consumption. Once these genetic structures are released into the natural environment, there’s little hope of retrieving them. How secure is that?
Until now, our best protection was certified organic production, but it’s clear that organic standards are threatened as well. Not only by the threat of cross contamination, but by the proposed weakening of the the National Organic Standards. Don’t just sit there. Take some action. Come to the next couple of EarthSave programs (see calendar) and learn how and who you can contact to express your concerns. And keep choosing certified organic. Locally.