Rice hybrid is one possible method, which was invented by a Chinese man called Yuan Long Ping. Rice hybrid is the method of using two genetically dissimilar crops in a field. Also, male sterility of the seed is necessary in growing the rice (Hybrid Rice India). This invention shows a major breakthrough in growing rice to harvest. According the Hybrid Rice Indian, the harvest has increased by 15-20%. However, some people argued about the result of the food (Hybrid Rice India). They did not believe there was enough nutrition in the rice that was grown in this way. Therefore, Yuan decided to investigate the problem. He started to put vitamin A and protein into the crops in order to prove his research a success (A World-Brand Name). In improving the nutritional quality of the rice, the initiative could efficiently solve the shortage of food in developing countries.
Genetically Modified, or GM, food is another popular method to increase food supply. GM food generally refers to crop plants or fruits. The principle is that scientists try to break down a little part of a particular gene in order to replace different genes of other animals or plants. After they combine the genes together, the plant in question will have the features from the donor plant (Altruism). Moreover, by changing the gene of the food, it would become more resilient to store for longer periods (Deborah). Food would not expire as easily, and could be exported to other countries. This initiative could be efficient in solving the shortage of food in poorer countries since storage of food could be increased around the world. Besides, they can live in severe weather conditions, such as winter frosts. For instance, according to the article of “Altruism Sustainability,” scientists have attempted to take out part of the gene from fish which live in freezing places and put it into apples. As a result, the apples can adapt to cold weather and still grow (Altruism). In addition, the scientists decided to put more nutrition, such as protein, into the plants (Deborah). Therefore, people are likely to be willing to purchase the GM food.
Protecting the environment can help to maintain clean soil and water. Soil, air and water are the most important elements to enable plants to grow. Hygienic conditions can produce more food and plants. For the problem of air, many countries have started to plant more trees to enhance photosynthesis. Also, less people smoke since more cities have restricted the habit by law. Regarding soil, some countries in Europe have passed environmental laws, such as industrial pollution prevention, nature protection, and chemical protection (Environment). However, this is not enough to achieve sufficient levels. The governments in different countries need to work further on this. For the water, the United States has designed some possible solutions. Based on Republic Works to Protect Water near closed Landfill, the government has invested $25 million into Las Vegas Paving Co. to control the storm water and monitor the groundwater. It could avoid 17 million pounds of contaminant each of the year (Jim Johnson). However, these methods are not adequate to lead the environment into a good situation. If we want to achieve this goal, and thereby increase the food supply, governments should work harder on the problem.
There are ways to increase the food supply around the world. Reducing the spending of biofuels can efficiently solve the food shortage. The price of food has rapidly increased but not because of the decline of the food supply. The reason for the food shortage in the world is the enhancement of oil price (Global). As the food prices rise, the citizens in poor countries cannot bear the expense. Some die of starvation, and some learn to live with hunger. Based on research, one quarter of grain is used for biofuels in the United States. This amount of food can help 330 million relieve their hunger (Marianne). Therefore, governments should make an effort to eradicate this problem. Brown has mentioned that the government needs to redesign the policy so that the “blenders of ethanol collect the subsidy only if they reduce production” (Marianne). This could help to improve the world food economy. Besides, the industries would spend time in the poorer countries to develop the biofuels. They would lose some of the areas that are currently used for farming (Global). Therefore, reducing the production of biofuels could efficiently help to solve the problem of food shortage in developing countries.
Cutting down on the amount of meat being consumed is another method to solve food shortages in the world. According to the food chain, corn is the main food of herbivorous animals. Producers need to purchase corn to feed those animals. As the price of corn increases, the selling price of the animals would proportionately increase. Based on the news, 7 pounds of corn only can produce 1 pound of beef; 6.5 pounds of corn only can produce 1 pound of pork; 2.6 pounds of corn only can produce 1 pound of chicken. Therefore, most of the food gets more expensive than before (Marianne). According to research, British people absorb 50g of protein from meat, on average, each day (Mark). In order to achieve feed-efficiency, scientists invented a solution of trying to reuse the reminder of the biobuels to feed cattle. This can bring down the cost of livestock and thereby lower the food shortage (Marianne).
In conclusion, food shortages exist all the time around the world. Many people in poor countries cannot accomplish a normal life and many struggle for food each day. Meanwhile, food is abandoned which could feed all the people in the world. However, because of the excessive use in rich countries, the price of food is rising and people in developing countries cannot afford it. This leads to the food shortage getting worse. In order to solve this problem, governments need to correct the policies to limit the production of biofuels and protect the environment. The social communities need to encourage people to eat less meat in order to reduce the price of food. In addition, scientists should spare no effort in investigating the methods of genetic food and rice hybrid.
Works Cited
“A World-Brand Name: Yuan Longping. The Father of Hybrid Rice.” Sep 5, 2008
“Altruism Sustainability”
Deborah B. Whitman. “Genetically Modified Foods:Harmful or Helpful.” ProQuest, Apr, 2000
“Environment - Soil.” European Commission. 23 Feb, 2012
Global Youth Panel. “The Developed World Should Stop Its Drive to Use Biofuels.”
Debatewise.
“Hybrid Rice India”
Jim Johnson. “Republic works to protect water near closed landfill.” Waste & Recycling. Feb,
2012
Marianne Lavelle. Kent Garber. “8 Ways to Fix the Global Food Crisis.” US. News. May, 2008
Mark Prigg. Sophie Goodchild. “Eat less meat to stop climate change.” London Evening
Standard. 25 Nov. 2009
