Bad tastes

"On the demand side of worldwide food production, globalisation, economic growth, and urbanisation in places such as China and India have impacted people's dietary preferences and food choices, the report noted. While demand is on the increase for processed food and high-value agricultural crops such as vegetables, fruit, meat and dairy, demand for grains and other staple crops is declining.

This shift in "tastes" represents a microcosm of the food costs issue, said IPFRI research analyst Timothy Sulser, who also contributed to the report. As wealthier populations shift to a diet full of meat, fruits, and vegetables, poorer populations will struggle to afford ever pricier food staples. " (thanks Anna).

I don't think this issue ("tastes") is sufficiently addressed. I am convinced that the reason is that this will reduce demand, hence sales, financial flows and profit. That's what I like least about Green Revolution II. We're trying again to increase supplies via technical fixes, while we know that every solution carries with it its own problems. We absolutely must change our way of life when it comes to food. I know what people say, that asceticism is not the answer, that purchasing is a basic human right (!), that people have a right to chose and to spend their private money if they so wish. They point at the experience of the former Eastern block countries, and challenge me loudly by asking if my idea of a sustainable future is to buy sujuk (armenian spicy sausages) on the black market. What I can say is that it is not acceptable that personal choices destroy the environment and natural resources and to hinder a fairer distribution of food resources for the dubious pleasure of eating fast foods. And that I'm not talking about asceticism, I'm just asking if people really have to eat meat everyday?