There are four principles that will ensure all people have access to safe, affordable and nutritious food. That was the message from Cargill Executive Chairman Greg Page speaking before the Chicago Council on Global Affairs Global Food Security Symposium.
His “ought to’s” include:
– Appreciating the importance of price
– Honoring the principle of comparative advantage
– Embracing the power of emulation
– Ensuring society’s comfort with the science of producing food
On the importance of price, Page said we need to appreciate the value of prices to signal the world’s farmers what to produce. “We saw this in 2012 when, in the face of a severe drought in the U.S. Midwest, prices motivated farmers from South America and Central Europe to increase production, ultimately mitigating the drought’s impact on global food production and ensuring people’s access to safe, affordable, nutritious food,” said Page.
He said it will also be increasingly important to honor the principle of comparative advantage in food production. “To produce the food the world will need in the most economically and environmentally sustainable way, we need agriculture and trade policies that encourage farmers to cultivate the crops best suited for their growing conditions and then trade the surpluses with others,” said Page.
Page also explained that women will have a large role in emulation – in part because of their influence over their families’ diets – and will be critically important to combatting malnutrition.
He added science and technology are important for producing more food in a more sustainable way, as well as improving food safety, reducing food waste, and making food more nutritious and healthful.