25 & Trying

Food Production: Friend or Foe?

Harvesting Wheat

Today, I read an article featured in the NYTimes’ Magazine about the possibility of Agro-Imperialism. Finally, a discussion of two things that I am truly passionate about- Food sustainability, and the effects it will have on the African continent.

Ultimately, the article took a very economic viewpoint, discussing land purchase deals in East Africa by countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE. These wealthy government and private officials are seeking food security for Persian Gulf residents, whose ability to grow their own food is hampered by the difficult desert climate. They are buying up large plots of land in countries like Ethiopia, whose country has been suffering from starvation and a lack of any type of economic opportunity.

A dual argument has arisen here that is really at the forefront of why some people view the World Bank as a savior, and some as the devil itself. The World Bank argues that allowing private investment (even if it is through land purchasing) is a way for a country to self-sustain. The opposite argument goes that this is allowing billionaires to purchase land that could be used by Ethiopians for as little as 50 cents an acre.

What is the right way to do business? In my opinion, sustainable farm programs are the way to go – ensuring that farmers in a country can work on their own land and make a living. With a country like Ethiopia, which practically screams fear for foreign investors, its hard to make the case that the government will fix things.

This is not to say that private investment doesn’t have its place, but it seems like there should be a requirement that these companies employ Ethiopians, and that a certain amount of the food does in fact stay in the country. The Times article brings up these points, but the importance of them is dismissed.

I am really thankful for this type of journalism though, because there are few papers that want to even touch the big issues of food production, and what it means  for us in the long term.