by Rhoda Wilson, Expose News:
According to a report by the Financial Times yesterday, Olam Agri, one of the world’s largest agricultural commodity traders, has warned that the world is heading towards “food wars” due to geopolitical tensions and climate change which are pushing countries into conflict over dwindling food supplies.
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Speaking at the Redburn Atlantic and Rothschild consumer conference last week, Sunny Verghese, Olam Agri’s CEO, said trade barriers imposed by countries are exacerbating inflation and pushing countries into conflict over waning food supplies.
“Big agricultural commodity traders, which reaped record profits in 2022 after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine sent food prices soaring, have been accused of exacerbating flood price inflation through profit-boosting mark-ups,” the Financial Times said.
“Food prices started to climb in the wake of covid-19 and surged following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as some exports of grain and fertilisers were blocked by the conflict. This deepened food insecurity in poorer countries and left consumers all over the world facing a cost-of-living crisis,” the news outlet noted.
But Verghese argued that elevated food price inflation was in part the result of government intervention. A proliferation of non-tariff trade barriers in 2022 in response to the war had “created an exaggerated demand-supply imbalance.”
The gist of his argument is that trade barriers and protectionist policies are creating tensions between countries, leading to conflicts over food supplies while climate change is affecting global food production, leading to shortages and price increases, which can spark conflicts over resources.
While Trade barriers and conflicts can lead to price increases, making food unaffordable for many people, conflicts over food supplies can lead to food insecurity, malnutrition and even famine. And “food wars” could have a significant impact on the global economy, leading to economic instability and recession.
If there is a concern about “food wars,” why are governments of Western nations waging a war on farmers in the name of climate change?
The War on Farmers is a global phenomenon and it has been gaining momentum in recent years. Various forms of attacks, restrictions and policies imposed on farmers by governments, corporations and environmental groups, threaten farmers’ livelihoods, national food security and the global food supply.
For example, the Dutch government has imposed strict regulations on farming practices, including reducing the use of nitrogen fertilizers, which has led to protests and concerns about food security.
Another example is the US government’s policies, such as the Renewable Fuel Standard, which have led to increased costs for farmers and reduced crop yields, making it difficult for them to compete with large corporations.
The War on Farmers continues. Yesterday, livestock farmers in Denmark were warned that the farts and burps from their cows, sheep and pigs will be measured and taxed from 2030, the first country in the world to do so as it targets methane emissions.
And yesterday, the No Farmers No Food campaign posted the video below of a British farmer. “We’re now being paid to stop growing food and grow wildflowers,” he said.
