Today is World Food Day. The theme this year is "Climate is changing - Food and Agriculture must too." As the world population is expected to increase to about 9.5 billion by 2050, the food supply becomes central to survival of all. The campaign for 2016 stresses the need for sustainable food production, as the key to producing enough food over the long term. Finding methods to grow more food on less land is necessary. Agriculture will need to find ways to increase sustainable production of varieties of food that have greater resilience to the challenges of climate change. More drought, flood and disease resistant techniques have been in development for some time, but further work is needed.
Farmers and ranchers were part of my life as I grew up in the prairies. Family members and friends were (and still are) involved in the production of cereal crops, pulses, dairy and small and large animals. Living on the east coast, I am closer to the fisheries and seaweed industries. Primary production has been part of my immediate environment for most of my life. Some secondary production has been present in terms of flour mills, oil seed crushing plants, fish plants and fish oil production. Food and the food system are central to my profession, too. Finding a way to alter the global food system to be more sustainable is something in which everyone can play a role. It can change, though it won't be overnight. A quote from someone I admire greatly, Stephen Lewis, states, "You never give in to futility -- and one day the pendulum swings."
Today's selection is by a singer/songwriter from Alberta. It does speak to the changes that have been happening and how we might address them. Enjoy!
The Truth comes out -- Corb Lund
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