FEEDING THE WORLD SUSTAIN ABLY DEMANDS NEW APPROACH TO FARMING AND FOOD: CALLS MOUNT FOR SHIFT FROM COMMODITY OUTLOOK TO ORGANIC, COMMUNITY ORIENTATION

摘要

Agribusiness and grain-trade policy as usual is being challenged around the world in light of 2Oo8's global food shortages and persistent hunger in many sectors. A new theme is that free-trade rules and international banking mandates to developing nations are failing, food-wise. The commodity agriculture model has evolved to require staple grain crops to be grown as efficiently as possible in one place for export to the highest buyer outside the country. This approach has too often made farming intoan industrial process while rendering the role of feeding the cultivated land's people into a virtual afterthought Political leaders, researchers and grassroots agricultural organizations are increasingly in agreement that transition to more organic farming methods that target feeding their home areas first will build stronger, safer and ultimately more prosperous countries.