Thursday, May 15, 2014

Climate Change and Food Security


CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOOD SECURITY
by Antonio C. Antonio
January 22, 2014

Climate change is not at all confined to “global warming” which is the primordial concern of everyone especially the developed countries.  A reverse condition to global warming, therefore an extreme drop in temperature, is also a serious concern.  Whatever the rank of a country --- First, Second or Third World --- no one could be spared from the ill effects of climate change.

The farmers in the Trinidad, Benguet area (where a drop in temperature to 8 degrees centigrade) lost their vegetable crops.  As we all know, Baguio is the vegetable basket of Luzon where a bigger percentage of vegetable produce come from.  Temperature changes, whether high or low, so long as it is not within normal levels is what climate change is all about.  This applies to most primary commodities.

Climate change also has a negative effect on food production.  Again, like in the case of Baguio, an entire crop of vegetables have to be condemned on account of the frost.  The normal cropping and production cycle in the Trinidad Valley has been disrupted which will only lead to low supply of vegetables in Luzon.  A low supply of food resources could only lead to an increase in demand for the particular item and, as the Law of Supply and Demand would dictate, the prices for these scarce items will increase.

Anthropogenic climate change will definitely affect food production which will also have a negative effect on food supply and security.  An escalation in the prices of prime commodities will not be much of an issue in more advanced economies… but for underdeveloped and developing economies, where the purchasing power of people is weak, it will be a dire concern.  Rich and poor nations could have different strategies in adapting to limited food supply.  People in rich countries could opt for cheap food but not necessarily inferior in quality while people in poor countries have no choice but to settle for cheaper food that sacrifices quality.  As another adaptive strategy, it is also quite possible that people will also lessen their food intake.

The only “advantage” of the Filipino race in the dire effects of climate change is its tested resiliency.  After centuries of foreign domination, being ruled by a few political and economic elite and being marginalized in own country has made us very adaptive to socio-political and economic hardships.  Kung baga, sanay tayo sa hirap.  While other nations will probably go crazy with the thought of food shortages, the Filipino will simply laugh at this problem, go on his merry way and look for solutions.  Past experiences made the Filipino understand better what adaptation is all about.

Just my little thoughts…

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