[G20] Finessing Food for the Future

Written by The Economist

[Image source: The Indian Express]

In order to ensure sustainable food supply, creative ideas need to be explored.

Even before the pandemic, global hunger was a prominent issue. The COVID-19 pandemic just made the situation worse. Workers are exposed to the virus, packed like sardines in the manufacturing line. The meat factory mega cluster in America at the start of the pandemic proves that mass food production cannot take place safely in current times. In less economically developed countries (LEDCs), farmers are at the risk of contracting the virus as well, due to intermingling between farmers. They also have an additional problem of sustainable agriculture. Faced with the issue of climate change, farmers are required to make efficient use of resources while remaining environmentally friendly. Fortunately, the G20 recognises these issues and convened to find possible solutions

They have the world’s reassurance that they will prioritise essential workers working in the food industry to get their doses of the vaccine. This includes food factory workers and farmers. They also advised companies to lockdown factories until 60% of their manpower is fully vaccinated. This does seem promising. However, do workers get compensated for the time lost working? These blue collar workers get paid piece rate; their wages are reliant on the number of goods they produce. Unlike white collar workers who get paid a fixed monthly salary, they cannot afford to work from home. Closing down factories means closing down their source of income. Even though there is hope of them returning back to work, or a slim chance of finding a new job in the meantime, costs will be borne.

The council also came up with some long term solutions. These mostly pertain to farmers who encounter the challenge of adopting sustainable agricultural methods. The council turned to the one obvious solution to this problem: research and development (R&D).  The Sherpa track decided to set up a fund where More Economically Developed Countries (MEDCs) could pour their money into. These funds are diverted to technology farmers can adopt to make their farming more productive and sustainable. However, the draft article initially failed to pass due to some disagreements within the track. This is not surprising as LEDCs have a reputation of being corrupt and funds may go elsewhere.  

More mouths to feed

World agrifood demand, income and population

[Data source: United Nations (2011a), ABARES model output]

Ambitious plans were brought up. Using satellite imaging technology ,soil sensors and weather forecasts are on the forefront of G20s agenda. Fertile soil is essential in growing quality crops. Technology can help to measure conditions of the soils such at its temperature, nutrient level and vegetative health to assist farmers in irrigating the farms in the right manner. This data also helps to use the right amount of fertiliser, allocating resources efficiently and reducing wastage and pollution.  These technologies and knowledge will be shared by MEDCs who develop them. 

The G20 also plans to employ multiple organizations to work together to reach out to farmers in LEDCs better.  Their main goal is to teach farmers how to utilize satellite image data and best agricultural practices. Data will be disseminated through the United Nations Institute for Training and Research - Operational Satellite Applications Programme or UNOSAT for short. UNOSAT will leverage local Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to be the bridge between farmers in LEDCs and the organisation. Data is useless if it cannot be interpreted. To impart this knowledge, the G20 has established the World Agricultural Forum (WAF). This forum will be held annually every G20 Summit. The forum serves as a platform for industry experts to share the latest advances in agriculture, benefitting thousands of farmers all over the world. These ambassadors will return to their home country with valuable knowledge that can revolutionise the farming industry.

The G20 does expect resistance from farmers at first but they want the adoption of technology to occur in phases. Recently, small startups are popping up in LEDCs, such as Kenya and Ghana, which are dedicated to using digital technology to ensure sustainable farming. These startups make use of cloud computing, computing systems and open source systems to collect big data that can help farmers greatly. Examples of these startups are UjuziKilimo, Zenvus, FarmDrive and many more. This shows optimism for the G20. Alongside technologies, these startups provide financial advice on loans,payment platforms and credit schemes which is crucial to keep prices affordable. Certainly, technology plants the seeds for sustainable food supply. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

[UNOCT] USA: What Happened to Privacy?

Written by The Nation Pakistan Privacy - a state in which one is not observed or disturbed by other people. Earlier in the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Office (UNOCT) press conference, the United States delegate was pressured on how the citizens sovereignty and privacy are not infringed when the government is surveilling drug traffickers. They rebutted stating that there are boundaries in place to prevent intrusion. However, no specifics were given. They were then questioned if the policy would change for the citizens' privacy. They then gave a brief plan on improving their legislation and giving the citizens the freedom to choose whether to use drugs. It was also highlighted that the government has the authority of investigating suspicious individuals, while restating that the privacy of innocent citizens was an importance too. In response to the growing terrorist threat, the United States has stepped up its counter-terrorism operations, with the goal of improving the governme...
Read more

[UNHCR] Exiting Afghanistan: Biden’s Big Blunder

Written by Wall Street Journal Upon American troops’ evacuation from Afghanistan, Kunduz and other provincial capitals fell to the Taliban within just 48 hours. On April 14, 2:29PM, President Biden announced that “more and endless American military force could not create or sustain a durable Afghan government”. A bold claim, especially since following American troops’ evacuation from Afghanistan, Kunduz and other provincial capitals proceeded to fall to the Taliban within a mere 48 hours. Biden’s controversial decision to pull out American troops from Afghanistan was not received well internationally, with news agencies such as BBC and NPR  stating that “As Kabul falls, Biden backlash grows” and that “Republicans were scathing about the White House’s actions, and Democrats, while acknowledging that President Biden was carrying out the policies of his predecessor, criticized the haphazard manner of the U.S. withdrawal.” In addition, how relinquishing a large amount of support from A...
Read more

[UNSC] Maintaining Bilaterality of the Kashmir Conflict

Image
Written by RT Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Source: Presidential Press and Information Office) "We are so near that if ever you call us from the mountain tops we will appear at your side."  Leader of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev on his visit to India.  This famous quote marks the amicable ties between Russia and India rooted in history and geographical proximity. Russia stands by India in the UNSC debates on the Kashmir Conflict, offering beneficial solutions that target the escalation of the conflict whilst maintaining its bilaterality. The United Nations Security Council has gathered for Day 2 of debates, which are more smooth-flowing on the surface. However, as council debates unfold, we see the troubled waters beneath the surface. The Delegates of Russia and France appear to be leading the council in the right direction, with most of the council agreeing that the Kashmir Conflict is indeed a bilateral issue between India...
Read more