The British Prince of Wales, Charles, concluded his three-day visit to the United States on the 4th.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11316/
He called on governments of all countries to support organic agriculture, advocated “sustainable” food production methods, met with U.S. President Barack Obama, and praised “First Lady” Michelle for her efforts to address childhood obesity.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11316/
■ Advocating “Sustainability”Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11316/
On the 4th, Charles was invited to attend the “Future of Food” conference at Georgetown University in Washington and delivered a keynote speech. He first joked, “Compared with the embarrassing speech I gave at the wedding banquet of my eldest son William, this is undoubtedly a change.”Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11316/
Charles shared his views on agriculture and food with about 700 attendees. He believed that unsustainable agricultural production models excessively consume natural resources and push the world toward a food crisis. “In some cases, we overdraw nature's life support systems to the point where they cannot bear our demands.”Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11316/
Charles said that mechanized agricultural production relies heavily on fossil fuels, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, antibiotics, and other chemical agents, damaging soil and water sources, exacerbating climate change, producing unhealthy food, and squeezing the living space of local small-scale farmers.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11316/
“This is a complex and interconnected system. We cannot simply choose a single goal such as maximizing output without (considering) ensuring that the benefits produced by this system meet other social needs.”Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11316/
Charles said that the world faces a major challenge: how to meet the food needs of billions of people without damaging the environment. Citing United Nations report data, he said that by 2050, global demand for food will increase by 70%. “We must find ways to address the food supply for the 220,000 people added to the global population every day... We do not have much room for choice. To take bold steps, we must develop more sustainable food production methods.”Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11316/
■ Supporting OrganicӨгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11316/
Charles strongly supports organic agriculture and called on governments of all countries to redirect subsidies for modern mechanized agriculture to organic agriculture, and to advocate the cultivation and promotion of organic food.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11316/
Charles promotes organic agriculture on some farms in his personal estate, and can be described as a practitioner of this approach.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11316/
He believes that organic agriculture is at a “disadvantage” in the market. Governments provide support for mechanized agriculture, including direct forms such as subsidies and not requiring producers to bear “external costs,” such as dealing with air and water pollution, making ordinary food sold on the market much cheaper than organic food and affecting the promotion of organic agriculture. For example, in U.S. and European markets, locally produced organic food accounts for only 2% to 3% of total sales.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11316/
Charles asked: “If public finances were redirected so that sustainable, less polluting, and more publicly beneficial agricultural production methods received special subsidies, would that bring benefits?”Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11316/
On the contrary, the costs of pollution treatment and health responses brought about by current practices are shifted to other sectors and ignored by people. “The key is to ensure that the production of healthy food is rewarded and its price is more acceptable.”Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11316/