The FOOD FUTURIST Christophe Pelletier: Fear Monqerinq Does Not Build A Solid Future

摘要

Since the drought in the US last summer and the strong price increase of agricultural commodities, agriculture has become a favourite topic in the media. As such, this would be really good if it were not for the (potential) disaster voyeurism. There is nothing like a flavour of the end of the world in the works to get the attention of readers; it works wonders for filling advertising space or to promote a book. Since I started to look at the future of food and farming, I have seen an evolution on howpeople look at the future of agriculture. When I started, I could hear statements about the need to have two (even three and four) Earths to meet demand. Interestingly, none of those who stated this impossibility paid any attention to food losses; theywere only focusing on more production. When could passing a mop under an open tap be a sensible approach? If we really come to need more than one planet, then there is only one outcome. Since that second Earth does not exist, the surplus of people wouldhave to die so that the world can meet the demand of the survivors. I agree that it is not a cheerful thought. However, Mao Tze Tung once considered that it could be acceptable that half of his people, the poor, would die of famine to allow the other half that could afford food to be able to meet its needs. Such a morbid thought is actually more common that one would admit, and in this world of political correctness, it is repressed voluntarily. That does not stop the fear mongers, though.