DR DAVID HILL, World Innovation Foundation, urges us to take food shortages seriously
WHEN will this country wake up to the fact that, in the future, we will have food shortages? This may not happen for a few years, but we should be prepared and start again growing our own food instead of being reliant upon imports. Britain (can pro
vide] food for 58 per cent of the population according to the ONS. The question that should really be asked is what happens to the remaining 42 per cent if, in the future, a global problem stops food imports coming into Britain? Or global food shortages are caused by economic changes in our fortunes as the Eastern economies grow in wealth. Then as now, world food production will only go to the highest payers. Unfortunately, we in the West being in relative economic decline and with at least 9.5 billion humans by 2050 (currently growing at the rate of 78 million humans each year), food will become the number one problem, even in this country, believe it or not. For with climate change and dwindling crops and harvests year-on-year, we cannot count on present world food stocks (presently the lowest ever recorded) so never mind the future.
But what is the most appalling and alarming fact is that people in high places these days just seem to be so complacent and remote with what is going on around the world and reaction is always preferred to proactive measures.
The full article contains 252 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
