Nothing lives that cannot get nourishment. Plant, Animal, microbiological critters all must eat something. If they cannot find whatever it is that nourishes them they die. It is in the best interest of all living things to be as close to a reliable food source as possible. Just kind of makes sense doesn’t it.

Unless of course you are referring to, what is commonly referred to as, the smartest and highest living species on the planet. I am of course referring to the human race. We are the only known species to put in place a global market system. The global market system has created much wealth for many people and done much good as well. However, when the desire to use that marketplace to earn capital outstrips our desire to ensure our own food security you have to wonder about how bright we really are.

For example Kenyan farmers have been growing a monoculture of French green beans for sale on the global market, primarily to Europe. Now on the surface that does not seem to be a bad thing, traditionally underdeveloped country participating in the global market system, earning lots of money, hoorah.

There are some problems here, first of all Kenyans do not eat French green beans. There is no reason they can’t; it is just not something they eat. So French green beans are all grown for export. The Kenyan farmers sell the crop overseas and then buy their food from some place else with all that lovely European money. Until they have a drop in the market and end up stuck with 60% of their agricultural production.

So now since the Kenyans have so heavily invested themselves into one crop at the near exclusion of all the other crops they could grow they have a problem. They cannot sell the French green beans and they have neglected the agricultural system that supports their own food needs. They do not have the cash to buy from other sources because no one was willing to buy their French green beans. So the Kenyans have opted to feed the beans to their cattle.

And then to make things even better you have quotes like this from People like Stephen Mbithi, chief executive of the Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya (FPEAK) actually encourage food insecurity:

"Encouraging subsistence farming is another way of taking Kenyan farmers out of the international market chain and confining them to poverty. African countries will not become food secure by having enough food in their granary, but by having enough disposable income in their pockets to buy the food they need."

No one wants to confine anyone to poverty. African countries need to participate in global markets. No country should participate in the global market place to such a degree that it jeopardizes their own ability to feed themselves. I do not care how you prepare it cash has no nutritional value.

Source: Agence France-Presse