Plant Science 102 Fall 2012 Guest Lecture Larry D. Makus Agribusiness Program Agricultural Economics and Rural Soc.
9 Billion-People Question Why is it a question? Can we feed 9 billion people by 2050! Should we as potential agribusiness professionals care about this question: If not, why not? If so, why should we care? How are we doing now, and why are we performing at that level?
Articles to read: (posted on course web-site) 9 billion people question: The Economist, February 26, 2011 World Feed itself: Interview with the Chairman of Nestle Wall street Journal, September3-4, 2011
World Hunger Introduction Sources: The State of Food Insecurity 2011 (FAO) World Hunger Education Service 2011 Growing a Better Future 2011 (Oxfam) The World Food Problem (2009, Leathers and Foster)
World Hunger Facts Worldwide, about 1 billion people are undernourished Don t get enough calories each day Susceptible to illness Unable to lead productive lives Chronic undernourishment Due to extreme poverty http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2004/112-14/hungry.jpg
Undernourishment 1969-2011
World Hunger Spike: Since 2008 Poorest cannot afford food Food prices up Increased demand from emerging countries Economic development Population increase Biofuels production Reduced crop production Climate change Recession http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/faohome/home_photo/image_home_en.jpg
Rising Food Prices
World Hunger Facts Over 20,000 people die each day due to causes related to undernutrition ¾ of these are children under the age of 5 About 6 million/year http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2005/06/30/poverty_wideweb 430x387.jpg
Undernutrition and Child Death ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/008/a0200e/a0199e.pdf http://rehydrate.org/images/child-deaths-undernutrition.gif
Common Scenario Mother Poorly educated Food is scarce Several children Youngest child undernourished Disease resistance low Drinks unsanitary water Develops diarrhea Loses interest in eating http://static.flickr.com/73/193642829_3da338122c.jpg
Common Scenario Mother removes solids from child s diet Not enough nourishment to fight disease Diarrhea continues Mother removes liquids Dehydration Death http://www.aa2sbu.org/aaezine/images/fall2002/starving_child_carried.jpg
Malnutrition Cycle http://notaids.com/images/cycle.gif
Importance of Maternal Health 1 in 6 babies in developing countries have low birthweight http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/a0200e/a0200e00.htm
Causes of Hunger Poverty 2.3 billion people earn less than $2/day http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050513/d.jpg
Causes of Hunger http://www.thp.org/africa/1bapr1-360.jpg Extreme Poverty 1.3 Billion people earn less than $1.25/day 75% of these live in rural areas many unable to own land Worst in Sub-Saharan Africa
Extreme Poverty Percentage who earn less than $1.25/day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/file:percentage_population_living_on_less_than_$1.25_per_day_2009.svg
Causes of Hunger Harmful Economic Systems Control over incomes and resources by Military Wealthy Politically powerful Conflicts http://us-cdn.creamermedia.co.za/assets/articles/attachments/31567_i1683e.pdf
Where are the Undernourished?
www.feedingminds.org/ img/map_world.jpg World Hunger Map
Sachs, J. 2005, The End of Poverty; Economic Possibilities for Our Time.
Worldwide life expectancy http://www.theglobaleducationproject.org/earth/images/final-images/life-expectancy-map.gif
Side effects of Hunger and Poverty ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/008/a0200e/a0199e.pdf
Population Pressure http://www.sustainablescale.org/images/uploaded/population/world%20population%20growth% 20to%202050.JPG World Population has doubled in 40 years Most of increase in developing countries 5 billion people Poverty and economic insecurity result in population growth Children are a source of wealth to the poor
Hope: Demographic Transition Example: U.S. History When U.S. became industrial, fewer kids/family needed Lowered infant mortality No need to rely on children s labor More opportunities for women Happened without birth control http://bss.sfsu.edu/tygiel/hist427/1920sphotos/fordassemblylinehist102.jpg
Agricultural Revolution Hunters & Gatherers Conquest for land Technology Agriculture Expanding population & environmental destruction Culture Food production Population Growth
Effect of the Agricultural Revolution Elite Wealth: Own land, Well-fed Educated, Health care, Opportunities Wealth, Tribute Food, Resources Conquered & Exploited: Peasants, Slaves, Workers Poverty: Landless, hungry, uneducated, unhealthy, no opportunities
Effect of the Industrial Revolution Sachs, J. 2005, The End of Poverty; Economic Possibilities for Our Time.
Issues Nutrition Food Security Agriculture Environment Technology Education Culture Development Ethics http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.resurgence.org/2005/egziahber233.jpg &imgrefurl=http://www.resurgence.org/selection/egziabher1005.htm&h=350&w=350&sz=1 1&hl=en&start=15&tbnid=svh3od2uZpp9bM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq %3Dfeed%2Bthe%2Bworld%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8
Ethics Is hunger and poverty morally acceptable? Why or why not? What should we do? http://www.whilechildrenstarve.org/images/starving-child-4.jpg