Britain's Prince Charles concluded his three-day visit to the United States on the 4th.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11316/
He called on governments to support organic farming, advocated “sustainable” food production methods, met with U.S. President Barack Obama, and praised “First Lady” Michelle for her efforts to combat childhood obesity.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11316/
■ Advocating “Sustainability”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11316/
On the 4th, Charles was invited to speak at a “Future of Food” conference at Georgetown University in Washington, delivering a keynote address. He first joked, “Compared to the embarrassing speech I made at my eldest son William's wedding banquet, this is certainly a change.”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11316/
Charles shared his views on agriculture and food with approximately 700 attendees. He argued that unsustainable agricultural production models excessively consume natural resources and are driving the world toward a food crisis. “In some cases, we are overdrawing nature's life support systems to the point where they can no longer bear our demands.”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/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 survival space of local small-scale farmers.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11316/
“This is a complex and interconnected system. We cannot simply choose a single goal such as maximizing output without (considering) ensuring that the system's output delivers benefits that meet other societal needs.”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11316/
Charles said the world faces a major challenge: how to meet the food needs of billions of people without destroying 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 feed the 220,000 people added to the global population each day... We don't have much room for choice. To take bold steps, we must develop more sustainable food production methods.”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11316/
■ Supporting OrganicArtikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11316/
Charles strongly endorsed organic farming, calling on governments to redirect subsidies from modern mechanized agriculture to organic farming, and advocating the cultivation and promotion of organic food.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11316/
Charles practices what he preaches by promoting organic farming on some of the farms within his personal estate.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11316/
He believes that organic farming is at a “disadvantage” in the market. Government support for mechanized agriculture—including direct forms such as subsidies and the failure to require producers to bear “external costs” such as addressing air and water pollution—makes ordinary food sold in the market considerably cheaper than organic food, hindering the promotion of organic farming. For example, in U.S. and European markets, locally produced organic food accounts for only 2% to 3% of total sales.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11316/
Charles asked: “Would there be benefits if public finances were redirected so that sustainable, less polluting, and more publicly beneficial agricultural production methods received special subsidies?”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11316/
On the contrary, the costs of pollution treatment and health responses brought about by current practices are shifted to other sectors and overlooked. “The key is to ensure that the production of healthy food is rewarded and its price is more affordable.”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11316/