What’s the effect of the organic food movement on world hunger?
Question by maquick2: What’s the effect of the organic food movement on world hunger?
The organic/non genetically modified food movement has been quickly gaining steam as of late. Agriculture currently is not fullfilling the world wide demand causing widespread starvation (just ask Sally Struthers…). Considering that yields are significantly lower (and more expensive) with organic farming than mainstream farming methods I ask the following two questions. What percentage of world food demands are being met now, and what percentage would be met if all farming became organic/non-GM?
Add your own answer in the comments!
4 Responses to What’s the effect of the organic food movement on world hunger?
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Not a great answer but I think that we need to be very weary of organic farming, I believe that organic farming is more expensive and yields a smaller and inferior quality crop. We already have a world shortage of food and people are starving. So in my view its idealistic but not practical given the current world population.
Mikescilly
November 10, 2011 at 10:31 am
actually the organic movement has increased world hunger. Organic yields are lower. Nations have denied food assistance based on the fact the donations were not organic. Zimbabwe is an example of that. Thousands of people starved while the government of Z argued about the genetic nature of a warehouse of corn donated by the US. Most consumers worldwide prefer organic but refuse to pay organic prices. My clients in Asia run into this problems and lose money on the organic deals they make. NonGMO food is declining in consumption and GM food is rising. Most third world nations have come to find out the GM crops are more resilient, higher producing, and better money makers for their farmers. Less loss to drought and insects puts food on the table. 85% of the corn in the US is GM, soybeans are 91% of the crop. More details are available on GM adoption in this website. http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/39/executivesummary/default.html Yearly the European Union is adoption more GM crops for human consumption as well so the tide had definitely turned towards GM adoption.
the long shot
November 10, 2011 at 10:49 am
the population could not be supported on “organic” food alone.
to simply take away the ammonia produced from the haber-bosch process over 1/3 of the earths population could not be supported.
next take away our high yielding, disease resistant, drought resistant, pest resistant, delicious, etc. “GM” food and major cities would weaken and many would be forced to acquire land and begin producing their own food. Unless of course over half of the population were to die off, then we may be able to barely support that population (with more people starving than we have today).
aldeub
November 10, 2011 at 11:30 am
As a farmer and yes I am, organic farming is filling a niche market for those who do not want their food grown or raised with chemicals or additional hormones.
Most of the starvation in the world is caused by socialist government policies.
Quite honestly, I don’t think the farmer should worry one bit about world hunger. That is not his job. The farmers concern should be to raise his own family the best way he knows how. If your concern is to “feed the world” go right ahead. Work your own ass off for nothing and find out how much the world cares about you. It doesn’t.
Pat R
November 10, 2011 at 11:35 am