Discussion Board

The Oct 2008 newsletter has great info on organic foods. Thanks!

However, the ending is confusing to me. It states:

"About 40% of the world’s grain harvest is fed to animals. Half of this amount of grain would be more than enough to feed all the people on our planet."

But "half that amount" is 20% of the world grain production. And already 60% of the world grain production is not used for animal feed and therefore available to humans. So having an extra 20% of world grain production would only increase the grain available to humans by 33%. So how can that amount be "enough to feed all the people on the planet"?

For if that was true, then there is already 3 times as much grain available as needed to feed all the people on the planet (60% of world grain crop production).

Any explanation would be appreciated.

I wonder if the other 60% are used for things like corn syrup, processed oils, alcoholic beverages, fuel, etc?

From what I have read, food shortages have much to do with the politics of distribution. Magically switching the world to a vegetarian or vegan diet would not help the people whose hunger is the result of political situations beyond their own control. I get angry when I hear other vegetarians say that vegetarian eating can solve world hunger. The problem is not so simple that it can disappear by switching types of food. We would also have to look at the political regime or economic system involved in each case. At least, that is my understanding. Please correct me if anyone can suggest why it's wrong. I'd really love to know.

Yeah, if you've ever read Paul Theroux's book Dark Star Safari you realize how much politics and corruption has to do with malnutrition and starvation in Africa. It was a real eye-opener for me.

Plus there are also those darn PIRATES! They have been looting ships with humanitarian food bound for their OWN country(Somalia) and selling it on the black market.