<
https://theconversation.com/a-more-varied-diet-would-help-the-worlds-economy-as-well-as-its-health-236815>
"More than 75% of the food consumed in the world today comes from just 12 plant
and five animal species. The over-dependence on this small selection, which
includes rice, maize and wheat, damages the environment and human health, and
it makes our globalised food system vulnerable to shocks. But on top of all
this, it also has negative economic impacts.
Our recent paper shows why crop diversity is the key to the transformation of
the food system. We suggest that a diversity-based system can provide multiple
benefits for the health of people and planet and distribute the financial
profits more equitably.
As opposed to industrial monocultures, farms that grow a variety of crops and
trees are better for the environment because they increase the richness of
non-farmed species, improve nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration, and
support the livelihoods of farmers.
For example, a 2023 study of agroforestry in east Africa suggested that unlike
monocultures that produce only cereal grains, multi-crop systems support
livelihoods by producing firewood, construction material, timber, medicinal
plants and other non-wood forest products in addition to food.
These farms also often support alternatives to conventional agriculture,
adopting farming practices that include regenerative farming and permaculture
(that is, sustainable land-use).
A 2021 report looking at regenerative farming in Africa found that this form of
agriculture could add more than US$15 billion (£11.7 billion) to the African
economies per year by 2030, increasing to US$70 billion by 2040 (one fifth of
the current agricultural GDP of sub-Saharan Africa). The same report found this
could create more than a million full-time jobs by 2030, and nearly 5 million
jobs by 2040.
The current global trade in food commodities such as corn, rice, soybean,
sugarcane and wheat is now controlled by a small number of big companies. They
have influence on all aspects of the food system including production,
processing, packaging and transport.
Viewing food as a profitable investment rather than a source of sustenance has
introduced serious inequalities. One consequence is foreign direct investment
in developing countries displacing small-scale farmers, which contributes to
inequalities in land ownership and exacerbates food insecurity."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
