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Can the World Still Feed Itself: Summary and Critique The article written by Brian M. Carney en d “Can the World Still Feed Itself” and published online in The Wall Street Journal was based on the results of the author’s interview with Nestles chairman, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe. From the perspectives and views of an authority and expert in food production, Brabeck-Letmathe presented very disturbing insights that stirred one’s reflective skills in trying to discern the veracity of the contentions.
As disclosed, the contemporary practice manifested by developed nations, such as the United States and those comprised in Europe, regarding enhancing agricultural production for the purpose to augmenting energy sources would eventually take its toll in terms of providing an imbalance in food supply. Likewise, there was also reference to preferences for organic food, abhorrence to GMOs, and relentless indifference to potentially endangering water sources to oblivion. At the onset, one could initially be swayed by the assertions of Brabeck-Letmathe given his credentials and authoritativeness on the subject matter.
In the capacity of Nestle’s chairman, he should have the competencies to be holistically equipped with relevant information, updates, and future trends pertaining to food production, the global organization’s thrust, he apparently leads. As such, through the same capacity, he could likewise possess latent bias, in terms of opposing the use of these nations’ alleged pursuance of increasing agricultural production for the objective of augmenting energy sources, instead of being ultimately serving the food needs of the global population.
By diverting the purpose, most of the agricultural harvests would be earmarked for energy sources, rather than being considered inputs for his global organization. His fear of apparent raises in food prices should not therefore stem from overabundance in agricultural production, which should supposedly drive the prices down and not up. Likewise, there could be a tinge of ironic tone as exemplified in his arguments that other food alternatives (organic food and GMOs) seem to further imply cuts from the market shares of Nestle, in general, as the food giant in manufacturing, processing, canning, preserving and stocking supermarket shelves.
In this regard, one deduces that although there could be points that could be considered valid; such as the continued increase in food prices; but the factors contributory to these increases are varied and not limited to the supposedly diversion to produce biofuel. One has had the chance to read other articles that continue to search for more alternative energy sources, including tapping the most abundant and available natural resources: the sun, the waves, among others. But, it is always a welcome respite to read articles from different perspectives presenting various opinions about global food supply, or climate change, among others, as reflective pieces to ponder.
Response to Post One shares the same contention that there are obvious priorities in addressing the needs of the global population in terms of food requirements. These are actually the basis responsibilities of each nation’s government and their respective agencies tasks to address agricultural production. The natural course for achieving a balance in demand and supply for food has long been insufficient as the sole mechanism to achieve equilibrium. Time and historical events have proven that the lure to produce more would enable entities to gain profit to market and export the excess to others in need, or to more innovative applications.
Inasmuch as global food hunger, poverty, health concerns, global warming, and energy sources remain problems of global scale, the fact the people continue to search for ways to address these are commendable in itself as means to eventually find the perfect solution to evidently crucial global problems.Work CitedCarney, Brian M. "Can the World Still Feed Itself?" 3 September 2011. The Wall Street Journal. 2 November 2012 .
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