Global Food Shortage

The United Nations has recently brought attention to this global crisis, or is it? While is it a fact that many countries are low of food, for example, grain, and prices are skyrocketing, the United States, Europe and Australia make up for the supply.

“People still remember what happened a few years ago, so it is a combination of psychology and the expectation that worse may come,” he added. “There are critical months ahead.”

 -Abdolreza Abbassian, an economist at the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization

 Although it is true that the food prices have been lowered to 30% when compared to the stats of 2008, it is surprising that many less fortunate countries are already resorting to food riots. Maybe Abbassian is correct, as a whole, all the countries have the ability to advert this crisis with minimal damage to the economy, locally and globally, but will the countries around the world be able to psychologically handle the crisis. It can be done, but I believe it is up to the lower tier countries to contain themselves a bit longer and that will be the key in pulling through this shortage.

Is going Organic ACTUALLY better?

Karen Kaplan discusses an article about how beneficial organic strawberries really are. While scientists have indeed shown results of heightened nutrition and other beneficiaries, many critics argue the profitable means of the Organic Strawberry business.

"We eat considerably more potatoes, apples and bananas per capita annually," Clark said. "Changing what people eat — increasing fruits and vegetables and decreasing meats, fats and total daily calories, for example — could have a more profound impact on public health and longevity than switching from conventional to organic strawberries." 

-Sean Clark, a professor of agriculture and natural resources at Berea College in Kentucky

While the issue of eating organic foods because one doesn't believe in eating pesticidal  fruits and vegetables is still valid. When compared statistically with the nutrition actually gained and the amount of fruits, in this case, strawberries, is actually decreased. In addition, it takes more money to grow organic fruits which results in a lower overall yield.