The Food Crisis
By Alex Atwater, an eighth grade student from New York

Unlike other crises that are well known, the food crisis is unfamiliar to many people. The economic crisis, the war in Iraq, the cost of health care and education are all crises covered in the media.  Although the food crisis is something that deserves to be one of the top priorities globally, it is not as exposed as it should be.

There are currently over 6 billion humans living on this planet, with a population projection of 8 billion by the year 2050. When it comes to feeding these 6 billion mouths we’re not in the least bit efficient, especially in our own country.  An example of this inefficient food system is “after cars, the food system uses more fossil fuel than any other sector of the economy – 19 percent.” according to a New York Times Magazine article. 

Another problem is that it takes more calories to produce a pound of beef than the calories contained in that pound of beef itself.  Also, 5,000 gallons of water must be used to produce one pound of beef.  We do not have enough water on the planet to fulfill the feedlots water need.  A by-product of our food production is the excessive pollution that it creates.  America’s farm animals have been moved to feedlots so that production can be increased to feed 190 lbs of beef a year to the average American.  However, this makes no ecological sense because the waste product is not being utilized as fertilizer, therefore contributing to our pollution problem.  The use of fossil fuel as fertilizer further contributes to the problem. 

The food problem is becoming more apparent every year.  In the past several months alone more than 30 nations have experienced food riots, and so far one government has fallen, “But while there are alternatives to oil, there are no alternatives to food” (NY Times Magazine, 10/12/2008). 

While there are many solutions that can be put into place, the most urgent ones are as follows:  first, the American farming system needs to become less reliable on fossil fuel and gear itself toward solar, wind and geothermic energy.  Just as important, a mandatory composting system should be created to allow farmers to freely utilize the fertilizer.  This would offer multiple benefits, such as a decrease in waste, cut back on the need for irrigation and fossil fuel fertilizer, and improve the nutritional value of the food.  People should be made aware of the importance of re-regionalizing their food and to support their local farms.  This would cut back on usage of fuel to transport the food and result in a fresher product. 

The food crisis is a very important issue for me.  I believe that a better food system is within reach if we work on it, and must be obtained quickly if we are to save humanity and our planet.  I am committed to working on solutions by further studying and researching the food crisis, by making people aware and by personally becoming involved in being part of the solution, through my education and the education of others.

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