Recognising the urgency of a sustainable and just food system transition, significant financial pledges were made to propel impactful actions forward. Multiple pavilions of global and national organisations showcased possible pathways, including India’s Community Managed Natural Farming initiative in Andhra Pradesh.
Just weeks prior to COP 28, the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s State of Food and Agriculture Report (SOFA) 2023 rang alarm bells. Beyond concerns of hunger, climate change, or dwindling resources, a silent but insidious epidemic plague our food systems – hidden costs. These costs, encompassing environmental, social, and health downsides masked by low price tags, stand at a staggering $10 trillion annually. They are the polluted rivers choked by agricultural runoff, fertile soil eroded by chemical-intensive practices, and communities ravaged by climate shocks induced by our insatiable appetite for cheap food.
The report was a stark indictment of our current agricultural model. Beyond being a climate culprit, it stands as a chronic abuser, emitting a staggering 24% of global greenhouse gases, poisoning soil and waterways, and leaving millions vulnerable to food insecurity and malnutrition. This model, built on sand, is teetering on the brink of collapse under the weight of its own ecological transgressions. These environmental consequences translate into tangible threats such as droughts, floods, and a climate crisis threatening the very foundations of our food security. But the hidden costs extend far beyond environmental woes.
Farmers, the backbone of this system, often bear the brunt of its injustices. Trapped in a cycle of debt and low prices, they struggle to provide for their families while our plates overflow with cheap food. With rising food price inflation, a majority of households earning less than Rs 10,000 a month, find nutritious food unaffordable. This situation forces households satiate themselves with ultra-processed, least nutritious and cheap food, exacerbating their vulnerability to malnutrition and hunger.
Both the food day at COP 28 and SOFA 2023 shine a spotlight on the true price of our food choices.
24/12/2023