energy and food

This weeks discussion on food raised some of the more fundamental problems associated with sustainable development. By connecting food production to energy usage, a somewhat frightening situation became apparent. Upon viewing a few figures comparing energy input to output in the production and distribution of the simple apple the unbalance became apparent. What shocked me personally was the sheer magnitude of the imbalance in the region of 3:1. While purely organic producers may have a lower energy input they also have a lower net yield of product in the end showing there is no ‘simple’ answer. We are faced with two serious interlinked problems, firstly the steady rise in global population in the last few decades is accelerating more than ever now, meaning more and more food is needed to keep people alive. On top of this global energy concerns are escalating meaning there may not be enough energy available at current rates for a much larger population in the decades to come. The main question which arises from this is who gets the food when supplies are limited?

During the week Con Trass brought up the topic of GM foods as a ‘silver bullet’ solution. personally I agree with this view, while it may look like an attractive, easy solution it has its perils. In our second week of lectures Peader Kirby raised the idea that since the time of hunter gatherers mans overall respect for nature has diminished. As a species we have gained more and more control over what the land produces and is used for. Thus far we have used farming techniques and chemicals to alter our food yields and quality, now with genetic modification man is effectively playing god. In a perfect world this would be a solution yet where there is an option to make money from it certain levels of mis-use are to be expected. The issue regarding modifying plants to produce certain chemicals for various uses came up and this is an important factor in Gm foods. As the technology advances, what is actually in our food becomes less and less clear. As an example, scientists in america have developed tomatos which naturally produce THC [the active ingredient in cannabis} in higer concertrations then the cannabis plant. Continueing on from this, extracts from any drug, poison or chemical it would seem could be inserted in our foods if the people in control of these GM foods saw fit. This alien thought that the foods we are do used to could contain drugs is a disturbing thought and while people will try to control this process, what solution is there when these GM plants cross pollinate to the extent that we wont know what our food contains anymore. GM foods should not be looked on as an answer, alternitive methods are needed.

~ by oisindonohue on March 5, 2010.