Food Crisis

A few weeks ago I heard a report on Radio-Canada’s La semaine verte TV show about the impending world food crisis. We heard, among other things, about the growing of Jatropha Curcas in parts of India.

Is this the miracle product that will allow everyone to eat their fill? Far from it! It’s actually a plant that for some time seemed to be a promising source of biofuel. Unlike edible plants, like corn, Jatropha Curcas is not a food source. Growing corn for fuel instead of food creates food scarcity and raises prices, making it harder for poorer people to make ends meet. Growing a toxic plant like Jatropha Curcas for biofuel doesn’t raise the same moral dilemma.

But the report says a moral question of another type has been raised. Jatropha Curcas is being grown on a large scale in an area of Chhattisgarh, India. Some 18 families who collectively owned the land saw it taken away by authorities. They can no longer grow their own food and cannot feed themselves or their cattle. They now depend on food donations.

These families hardly see any benefit to growing a plant like Jatropha Curcas. The plant is as toxic to them as it is to their animals. The plant itself cannot be used for heating, and since none of them use motorised vehicles, they don’t need its fuel. In short, the plant is of no use them.

The authorities planned to use so-called infertile and degraded land since it was thought at the time that it could grow almost anywhere and wouldn’t require much water. The problem is many areas said to be arid and semi-arid were actually inhabited and used by local and indigenous communities. In other words, the land was productive. Force was often used against these vulnerable peoples, violating their right to subsistence.

There is also the matter of disappearing human cultures. These people lived off the land for at least decades, perhaps centuries. Tearing them away from the land and stripping them of the right to use to make a living has led to the end of a long tradition. Don’t blame modernity, because modernity would lead to improved production without compromising the lifestyle. In this case, the lifestyle has been totally turned upside because others saw an opportunity to make lots of money.

But the worst part is the experiment seems doomed to certain failure. Yes, the plant can grow in less fertile land, but its yield has not met expectations. "This is not a wasteland crop. It needs fertiliser, water and good management," according to another Internet report.

In the same TV report, there was talk of Senegalese who were fishing off the coast. The only truly modern tool used by these modern Senegalese fishermen was an outboard motor. But fishing isn’t so good these days because of large fishing boats from other countries with greater fish-catching ability. When the next generation comes of age, will there still be someone to teach them how to fish traditionally? And if so, will any fish be left?