Before I listened to Ms. Lisa Dreier’s presentation, I thought that food was never a problem for most people. If you’re an adult, it’s as easy as going to the supermarket for your week’s supply of groceries or even out to a restaurant for lunch, and if you’re a kid you just ask your parents. But our “simple system” of getting food is far more complex than thought to be.

​

From the presentation by Ms. Lisa Dreier, the Head of Food Security and Agriculture Initiatives at the World Economic Forum, I learned that our food system consists of growing, harvesting, processing, packaging, transporting, marketing, consuming, and disposing of all scraps. This system seems to work, but it is not inclusive or sustainable and the efficiency and quality of products are often questionable.

​

So what are potential future scenarios? I will explain four.

​

1. Survival of the richest: The rich who can afford rising food transport costs will live while those who cannot will starve.

​

2. Unchecked consumption: Everyone will deploy unsustainable resources until the Earth is no longer fit for living.

​

3. Open source sustainability: This is a much hoped for scenario. It will be a significant improvement on our current system, as it is sustainable and open to all consumers, but health and efficiency may still be in question.

​

4. Local is the new global: Consumers look for sustainable food sources from local areas and transportation of food is lessened greatly. This is also a good system, as sustainability and possibly health (food that does not need to last through transportation requires less processing) of food will be better, but some groups of consumers will not have sustainable sources of food.

​

There are many more possible scenarios other than the four above. These are the general properties a scenario needs to save our world, which I thought is NISE:

​

• Nutritious      - Keep Health Get Wealth!

• Inclusive        - No Human Left Behind!

• Sustainable   - Don’t Kill Our Mother Hill!

• Efficient         - Make Haste No Waste!

 

Starting with ourselves, if we want to help make the world better for future generations, there are a few things we can do. The first and easiest way is to be a smart consumer. For example, instead of buying from an unknown source that may not be NISE, research your food sources and try to buy just what you need and nothing more to minimalize waste.

​

Also, as young persons, we should want to determine our own future by innovating and finding creative and NISE ways to keep sources sustainable. Genetic modification works, and it could be the future of good health and well-being, if done ethically.

​

If our world is going to last with future generations, we need to reform our food system.  And if you care about the Earth and your good health and well-being, be NISE.

 

​

Sources:

 

The Future of Food Systems: Scenarios and Solutions, by Mrs. Lisa Dreier