Alternative Solution to Food Crisis in Australia

ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION TO FOOD CRISIS IN AUSTRALIA
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Table of Contents
1. FOOD CRISIS IN AUSTRALIA.................................................................................................................3
1. Executive summary..............................................................................................................................3
2. Evaluation of Alternative Solutions......................................................................................................3
Climate-smart farming.........................................................................................................................4
Invest in Rural development................................................................................................................5
Invest in technology and innovations..................................................................................................6
Eliminate biofuel subsidies and policies..............................................................................................7
Increase reforms and funding of agricultural research and development...........................................8
3. Selection of methodology..................................................................................................................10
4. Consideration of alternative solution................................................................................................11
Introduction.......................................................................................................................................11
Social consideration...........................................................................................................................13
Environmental consideration............................................................................................................15
Economic consideration....................................................................................................................16
Quantification and costing.....................................................................................................................20
a) Benefit-cost ratio...........................................................................................................................21
b) Incremental rate of return analysis...............................................................................................21
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................23
References.............................................................................................................................................24
Appendices............................................................................................................................................29
Appendix 1: AUSTRALIA’S INBOUNDS................................................................................................29
Appendix 2: AGRI-FOOD EXPORT AND IMPORTS...............................................................................30
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1. FOOD CRISIS IN AUSTRALIA
1. Executive summary
Food security is a big problem that affects every country in the world, this is due to climate
change impact, water scarcity and high demand for livestock products. The price of food has
greatly risen and it has caused an impact on developing countries such that 90% of income is
spent on food (Abu and Soom 2016, p.55). The rising food crisis has a negative impact on global
food security and this eventually leads to an increase in conflict over resources. The main
intervention to solve food crisis is to put in place an effective strategy to adapt to any changes
in climate in order to increase biodiversity and variety of crop species (Hunter et.al, 2018). This
portfolio, therefore, presents research that has been done and has been given priority as an
alternative option for solving the food crisis in Australia. The selected options have been chosen
on the basis of environmental, social and economic considerations. Environmental, social and
economic considerations main objectives are to achieve the best alternative for food crisis and
not only will it benefit the government of Australia but every individual and the surrounding
environment. Considerations above help in forming a basis for making an informed decision on
an alternative solution for the food crisis.
2. Evaluation of Alternative Solutions
There are many alternative solutions that can solve the food crisis in Australia. These solutions
will not be easy to implement since the drastic food price increases due many causes while oil
prices have strained every stage of food production from fertilizers, tractors, and transport
(Baffes et.al, 2015) Australia is the main exporter of grain but there is worry because climate
change is the main problem that causes a decline in food production. These different
alternative solutions for solving the food crisis are named below:
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Climate-smart farming
Change of climate is a major threat of Australian food security between now and 2050(Myers
et.al 2017, pp.259-277). Change of rainfall patterns, prolonged through and incidences of
extreme weather events alters agricultural production and it affects the ability of the country to
produce food. This is method if reducing the food crisis by helping communities to adapt to
climate change. They include: addressing water security by monitoring water use and
facilitating water trading, this helped farmers to survive the millennial drought. There are some
authorities such as Murray-Darling basin authority which was set up to specifically deal with
water security by managing natural water resources in a sustainable manner and in the interest
of citizens (Koehn 2015, pp.25-32). It is responsible for reducing competition for water between
agriculture and consumers. During drought, water trading made it possible for some crops to
remain fairly stable as others are fall. Water saved was sold to farmers to produce perennial
crops such as fruits and wine grapes which are of high value, water efficiency enabled farmers
to adapt to changing conditions. Farmers bought feed that replaced on-farming irrigation, this
enabled farmers to have excess water that they could sell to other farmers. Farmers were able
to adapt to climate change by switching their farms to more resistant plants such as pineapple
which is resistant to pest and diseases, farmers were able to be flexible in their seeding time by
planting those crops which are drought-resistant and with shorter production time before
harvesting for example varieties of seeds such as tomato, onion, sorghum, and cowpeas (Lobell
et.al, 2015, pp.4115-4127). Use of irrigation water rather than rainwater. Farmers are able to
adopt simple and proven methods of farming, for example, us of mulch which conserve water,
planting variety if crops together for example mixture of legumes and cereals, avoid much tilling
of land that causes disruption of soil because it will help the soil maintain moisture and its
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fertility (Lawley et al,2016). Australia to reduce the use of a greenhouse, greenhouse emission
causes changes in climate that's why there is a need for reduction.
Invest in Rural development
This is spreading out of capitalism in rural areas (Keulertz, and Woertz, 2016, pp.30-52). The
main aim is to boost the socio-economic change and people’s improvement in rural areas,
especially in the farming economy. It addresses many issues for example agrarian revolution
and peasant economy. It mainly deals with projects on rural people and environment and
checking on impacts that may be improved and enhanced. In order to solve the issue of food
crisis resource mobilization for agriculture and food security need to be done. Rural areas
require investment not only those goods that are linked to agriculture such as irrigation service
and power but also education, health, rural roads, and telecommunication that helps in
reducing food insecurity and poverty. Being there is tight budgets, those people who make
policy need to decide which investment will have the most impact. A research conducted on
the impact of public investment in rural development especially in agriculture sector shows that
there are high social returns compared to investment on rural roads, infrastructure, education
and telecommunication (Testa et.al 2015, pp.227-232). Rural areas require agro-enterprise, this
included strong donor support which is present in rural areas which give support to farmers for
example research, technical assistance, marketing of their agricultural products, forming of
unions or organizations and giving them credits (Glover, and Kusterer, 2016). Through this,
farmers were encouraged to increase their crops by planting variety. Emphasis was in on plant
breeding and agronomy and its connection to productivity issues. Moreover, socio-economic
issues for farmers were identified and there need for enough income and food will be
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addressed. Farmers will be assured that the new variety of crops they will adopt will be
acceptable to their buyers and consumers in the market or else they will be reluctant to adopt
new varieties. Some interventions such as promoting the transfer of assets, technologies, and
inputs such as fertilizers, pest management solution and improved seeds to improve farmer’s
productivity and food security as well as enhancing conditions for better handling of harvest
and storage facilities should be implemented. These interventions, however, will not be
implemented unless it is accompanied by the use of inputs and natural resources, for example,
rural investment.
Invest in technology and innovations
The aim of technology in achieving food security in Australia is to ensure that people
throughout the country, including the vulnerable group such as the poor who are living in urban
and rural areas, have access to enough amount of safe and nutritious food that can maintain
their healthy and active life (Abass et.al 2018, pp.87-102). It plays a role in producing more food
by creating a variety of plants with improved traits as well as making the best of input which is
needed to make agriculture to be more productive. This solution will be able to address the
different aspect of food security. There are different types of scientific and technical applicants
that can address the four aspects of food security namely: availability of technology,
accessibility by users, utilization by the users and stability. Technology is able to improve the
food system from farm to market. Different technologies play a big role in addressing different
areas during the production process. Examples of those technologies are those that improve
soil fertility for example use of synthetic organic fertilizer, soil microorganism, and biogas
digester. Raise cash crop by breeding, tissue culture and micropropagation and advanced
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