1. World Hunger: Food Aid vs. Sustainable Agriculture Matt Singer Conor Sullivan
2. United States and Food Aid Agricultural Trade Development Assistance Act (PL480) 1954 President Dwight D. Eisenhower “…lay the basis for a permanent expansion of our exports of agricultural products with lasing benefits to ourselves and peoples and peoples of other lands.”
7. Program Food Aid Subsidized food is given to a country by a donor Recipient sells this food for a profit Profit used by recipient country for various purposes
8. Project Food Aid Donor country sends food and services to recipient country at no charge Recipient country uses food and services to aid in food production projects Use food to feed workers (Food For Work) Sell food to fund project
9. Emergency Food Aid Aid sent to country in response to a disaster (usually natural) Not meant to be long term Done for free
14. Somalia (cont.) Self reliant in food grain until early 1970 Food aid imports start to increase Main imports are cereals Wheat Rice Maize
15. Food Aid Imports Source: “Food Aid: Economic Effects in Somalia”
16. Food Aid Imports (cont.) Reasons for rapid increase in food aid Rapid population growth? Domestic food production can’t keep up Economic development? Increasing per capita income? More money available to buy food
17. Food Aid Imports (cont.) Reasons for rapid increase in food aid Rapid population growth? Domestic food production can’t keep up Economic development? Increasing per capita income? More money available to buy food +3.5%/year - 0.3%/year
20. The Disincentive Effect Low prices of food from food aid sources make local producers less competitive Local producers stop producing as much food to cut losses Food aid required to fill the gap
23. Changes in Consumption Pattern Domestic staple grains being replaced by imported ones via food aid Sorghum/Maize Rice/Wheat Disincentive effect shifts consumption Domestic grains can’t compete with imports Consumption rates increase
24. Family Expenses in Mogadishu Source: “Food Aid: Economic Effects in Somalia”
25. Family Expenses in Mogadishu (cont.) Source: “Food Aid: Economic Effects in Somalia”
26. Bad Domestic Policy Subsidizing food aid imports for consumers furthers disincentive effect Producers can’t compete Lack of coordination of aid deliveries furthering disincentive effect Increased risks & uncertainties for producers Relatively unmonitored use of “counterpart funds”
27. Program Food Aid in Somalia: Summary Pros Increased supply of food to consumers Decreased price of food to consumers Revenue generated for donor country Cons Disincentive effect for domestic production Shifts in consumption patterns Potential misuse of “counterpart funds” Dependence
28. What is Sustainable Agriculture? Healthy for consumers & animals Does not harm the environment Humane for workers Provides a decent wage to farmers Supports/Enhances the community
29. Types of Organic Farming Pure Organic Farming:“A type of organic farming in which crops are produced with the help of different kind’s organic fertilizers and different kinds of biological natural insecticides without any interference of inorganic fertilizers or chemicals is called as pure organic farming.” Integrated Organic Farming:“A type of farming in which development of crops from natural resources having the complete nutritive value and also manage to prevent the crops or plants from pest is known as integrated organic farming.”
34. History of Reform 1959 Revolution U.S. trade embargo Soviet bloc 1989 collapse of trading
35. Soviet bloc Imported hybrid seeds, agrichemicals, machinery, & petroleum Exported Cuba’s main crop: sugarcane Three times as much land was used for sugarcane than for food crops 80% was large scale farming 20% was small scale farming
36. 1989 Collapse Trading between Cuba & Soviet bloc stopped Farming slowed down 80% drop in fertilizers & pesticides 50% drop in petroleum Food shortage “Special Period of Peacetime”
37. Transformation Happens High Input to Low Input Pesticides replaced with microbial products & used natural enemies Fertilizers replaced with earthworms, compost, animal & green manures Machinery replaced with animal traction such as horses and oxen
39. Farmers started implementing old farming techniques that previous generations used when growing crops They started using earth friendly fertilizers & pesticides in their daily routine “Linking People With the Land” 1993 began using Basic Units of Cooperative Production (UBPCs) Starting off Fresh!
43. Key Steps to become a Sustainable Farm Agroecological technology instead of chemicals Fair prices for farmers Redistribution of land Greater emphasis on local production
44. Sustainable Agriculture in Cuba: Summary PROS Environmental Friendly Farmers make money The crop itself is better CONS Low Productivity Takes more man power More expensive
45. Sources Barrett, Chris. “Food Aid After Fifty Years: Recasting Its Role”. Cornell University: Department of Applied Economics and Management. 15 April 2004. Powerpoint. Farzin, Hossein. “Food Aid: Positive or Negative Economic Effects in Somalia?” The Journal of Developing Areas 25.2 (1991): 261-282. Web. Hall, Darwin C., Brian P. Baker, Jacques Franco, Desmond A. Jolly. “Organic Food and Sustainable Agriculture “Contemporary Political Issues 7:4 (1989): 47-72. Rosset, Peter M. Hunger for Profit: The Agribusiness Threat to Farmers, Food and the Environment. New York: Monthly Review Press, 200.
