It’s one of the most basic policy priorities. The day after the Brussels-based forum for the future of agriculture conference that I wrote about last week, I attended a fascinating series of talks and presentations on the way that national food self-sufficiency can be increased.
Organised by the FAO – the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, it pin-pointed the pivotal importance of well-directed agricultural research.
Figure 1 shows how the key world players in population and agricultural production have recognised, over the last 30 years, that farm output and increased food production were essential for political stability and national survival.
India and China are the two most populous countries in the world. Both have a history of food insecurity and periodic famines, as they have tried to come to grips with increases in population and low agricultural productivity.
Not any more. While both are members of the World Trade Organisation, they have broadly ignored its rules by availing of the concessions intended for developing nations.
India has steadfastly refused to open up its market to American grain regardless of President Trump’s tantrums and has continued with a policy that guarantees a minimum wheat price of approximately €300/t, and maintains large government stocks in case of a weather or disease-induced crisis.
Figure 1
Most years India is a net exporter of grain, mainly rice but occasionally wheat, while it has also become the world’s largest producer of milk.
China has adopted a similar approach, with dramatic increases in its traditionally critically important pig herd. It resolutely regards its grain stock figures as confidential and imports what it cannot easily produce itself in sufficient quantity, such as soya, beef, dairy products and even hay.
Closer to home, Canada has again, despite Trump’s tantrums, simply insisted that its poultry and dairy quota systems are not on the negotiating table, while the US has similarly insisted that efficiently-produced, low cost Australian cane sugar is not allowed compete with US sugar beet.
Little needs to be said about the explosion in Brazilian agricultural output driven by well-directed research.
Europe on the other hand has steadily traded access to its food market at the expense of its own farmers, but in the interest of access for its own industrial products and services.
As we begin another round of CAP reform, farmers – Irish and European – have little to feel guilty about and should campaign for a policy that promotes efficiency and safeguards livelihoods.
It’s one of the most basic policy priorities. The day after the Brussels-based forum for the future of agriculture conference that I wrote about last week, I attended a fascinating series of talks and presentations on the way that national food self-sufficiency can be increased.
Organised by the FAO – the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, it pin-pointed the pivotal importance of well-directed agricultural research.
Figure 1 shows how the key world players in population and agricultural production have recognised, over the last 30 years, that farm output and increased food production were essential for political stability and national survival.
India and China are the two most populous countries in the world. Both have a history of food insecurity and periodic famines, as they have tried to come to grips with increases in population and low agricultural productivity.
Not any more. While both are members of the World Trade Organisation, they have broadly ignored its rules by availing of the concessions intended for developing nations.
India has steadfastly refused to open up its market to American grain regardless of President Trump’s tantrums and has continued with a policy that guarantees a minimum wheat price of approximately €300/t, and maintains large government stocks in case of a weather or disease-induced crisis.
Figure 1
Most years India is a net exporter of grain, mainly rice but occasionally wheat, while it has also become the world’s largest producer of milk.
China has adopted a similar approach, with dramatic increases in its traditionally critically important pig herd. It resolutely regards its grain stock figures as confidential and imports what it cannot easily produce itself in sufficient quantity, such as soya, beef, dairy products and even hay.
Closer to home, Canada has again, despite Trump’s tantrums, simply insisted that its poultry and dairy quota systems are not on the negotiating table, while the US has similarly insisted that efficiently-produced, low cost Australian cane sugar is not allowed compete with US sugar beet.
Little needs to be said about the explosion in Brazilian agricultural output driven by well-directed research.
Europe on the other hand has steadily traded access to its food market at the expense of its own farmers, but in the interest of access for its own industrial products and services.
As we begin another round of CAP reform, farmers – Irish and European – have little to feel guilty about and should campaign for a policy that promotes efficiency and safeguards livelihoods.
SHARING OPTIONS