The Dark Continent

In all probability Global population will exceed 10 billion by the year 2050. The impact of such an influx growth of the world's population on existing food supplies without first increasing the resources to avail more harvestable edible food crops the world will come face to face with a Global Famine that would trigger a catastrophe of Biblical proportions. The question every government must now be asking; how will we be able to thwart a pending disaster and still be able to feed the hungry multitudes on a Global scale?

Now, with this current Pandemic causing disruption in our food supply chain has made it more relevant that we had better get a handle on the encroaching other Pandemic. Global Famine is now a very real and imminent threat to the stability and security of every nation around the world. We had better address this crisis and the key to solving the worlds food shortages lies not in the US but in Africa and in South America.

There is no doubt about it the world is facing one of it's greatest challenges. Global Famine is not only a threat but will be a reality sooner than latter if nations don't come together with a workable plan of direction to eliminate one of man kinds greatest threats. In some parts of the world are already facing acute food and water shortages. Just look at what is occurring in California where water restrictions have been put in place. Yes, climate change is real and having a real disastrous effect all around the world. Even in many other areas of the United States there is a growing number of people that face horrific starvation and poverty everyday. A major catastrophe is going to happen if we continue on this destructive path of denial and apathy that such a disaster won't happen.

The greatest concern this world has for feeding the increasing populations is that at least 80% of the earth's farmable land is already under productive and of this 80% 35% is so severely depleted due to the extensive chemically based farming practices that have been used since the 1940's. Compound to this is the increasing dependence on hybrid varieties [they don't have the capacity to self-replenish due to the fact that these hybrid food sources were designed using chemicals]. Add to all this is the continuing escalation of energy prices. The rotation of crops, a direct link to enriched food sources have not been used in decades. Too much of the land is so worn out that what ever food is harvested is extremely weak in vitamins and minerals.

The very soil that is the base for food sources through-out the world has been steadily over cultivated to the point where the nutrients and minerals that are essential for healthy crops are so depleted that what ever is harvested no longer contains the necessary nutrients and minerals that are so essential. Consequently the Honey Bees are dying off because the soil has not been given the time to replenish itself. This is devastating to the Honey Bee and ultimately to man. The Honey Bees are more susceptible to viruses, mites, and the pesticides. This is the greatest cause as to why the Honey Bees are vanishing.

The United States Department of Agriculture projects that domestic production of grain is at the lowest level is 55 years, and now a large percentage of the food sources are still being processed to supplement the oil industry for the production of Ethel Alcohol. Using vital food sources that are the bread and butter of human existence in the production of fuel is so hideous when any organic compound can be substituted and is more readily available.

Global commodities such as grain, meat, and dairy have now risen is cost by more than 50% n the last year and half. Another factor is that due to these soaring food prices the United States [ still the world's most dominate exporter ] has diminished it's exports by more than 1/3 and now is at it's lowest level in decades. The long range projections are that we will continue to export less every year unless we change from organic food sources such as grains to non-food sources in the production of bio fuel. This means that countries that are dependent upon our exports will continually be in an economic, social, and security crises. In general what we have created as a result of ignorance and greed practiced by our agriculture industry over the past 50 years is a disaster of epic proportions.

That 80% of the earth's farmable land much of which is in Africa has to be a focal point for nations to realize that harvestable crops can be grown in areas where the soil has been underutilized. When we think of the 35% of that 80% of earths soil that has been over used to the point that the soil is depleted of it's nutrients that are necessary for healthy crops much of which lie in the United States and other industrialized countries leaves the Dark Continent in a very good position to not only help the nations of Africa economically but solve the food crisis for all humanity.

There is also another dark side to the food crisis facing the world today. The dependence on hybrid sources comes from the world's largest producer of Genetically Modified seeds. Monsanto supplies over 95% of the world's seeds of harvestable food sources. The fact of the matter is that today many nations including the United States populations are malnourished as a result of the GM food that reaches the grocery stores. The high rates of obesity is partly a result of the malnutrition of GM food that people consume. These genetically modified food sources though they produce more in quantity but in the end leaves out much of the nutrition of non GM altered food sources.

Then there is the extinction of the small independent family owned farms. The commercialization of farming has over taken the whole spectrum of 95% of the worlds food supply. Make no mistake profit and not some noble idea about feeding the world is the driving factor in the commercialization of feeding the world. The extinction of the local independent family farm is the result of years of governmental influence that has allowed big agro- businesses to buy out those independent local farms and thus drive up food costs. As a result many nations populations are unable to keep up with the ever increasing cost of nutritious food. It is very evident here in the United States, likewise in Africa and every other nation as well.

But, when we take a look at the importation of food from around the globe that comes to the United States for example and compare that to the amount of available fertile land Africa is the one place that is still vastly under productive. What is important to remember though is that the independent local farmer does not have the available resources, or the funding to have a greater impact on the economic overall growth of their community. It takes a joint venture from both the local independent farms as well as a concerned effort on part of investors who are willing and able to infuse not only funds but the technology to develop large enough acreage of harvestable edible crops for export and domestic consumption.

It was recently that a group of investors including 800 financial leaders from around the world with over 3 trillion dollars at their exposal agreed to finance 5% into agricultural efforts in Africa. Such an infusion of private funding, not to mention the technology, is exactly what the global community needs to help stave off a disaster that is already in the making. The key is balancing that investment to yield benefits for all, ensuring secure land rights, thriving markets and increased productively on all farms both small and large. When there is this balance the infrastructure will develop, local communities will thrive, it will bring employment opportunities from the larger farms while smaller farms will make it on their own. This is the key to not only spurring economic growth but will go a long way toward meeting the food challenges of the world for the future.

In this way the global community will stay ahead of this clear and present danger we all face today. The technology and the resources are available but time is running out. Only through intervention, education, and commitment will solve this impending catastrophe. The United States must implement National Economic Reform's Ten Articles of Confederation. In that way the US will lead the rest of the world in coordinating efforts to bring plentiful food sources from not only America but Africa that will feed the worlds ever growing populations. This, while at the same time stop the inflationary cost of living that is undermining the security, the health, and the quality of life in every country around the globe.