Cultural
From IssuesBriefs
Overview
Cultural changes within societies are resulting in an increase in demand for food for various reasons including demand for more production intensive foods and over-consumption. The production of beef exemplifies this problem, as grain is needed to feed the cattle, and the processes utilises land for both the cattle and the grain. This current expanding demand for these products is largely caused by the increase in income in emerging economies such as China and India where the populations are achieving higher income levels and can thus afford more and better quality food. Furthermore, in 2005 there were 300 million obese adults globally who were over-consuming food, which is not only redirecting food from more needy people but also causing health problems for those who are obese. Each year, there is also a large amount of waste of edible food in countries such as Australia, where fresh produce is not presentable for sale, which is exemplified where bakeries who throw away surplus food each day and grocery retailers who chose to discard slightly damaged goods – such as a damaged cardboard packaging with no damage to the food itself. The aforementioned over indulgent and wasteful habits accepted with little opposition are compounding the food shortage and the issue of inflated food prices.
Contributors
- Karin Geiselhart - Al Gore Ambassador for climate change and formerly a journalist in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
- Mira Kamdar - Author of Planet India: The Turbulent Rise of the Largest Democracy and the Future of Our World and a 2008 Bernard Schwartz Fellow at the Asia Society in New York
- Louise Staley - Research Fellow The Institute of Public Affairs
Articles
