Help Feed The World

I've posted some information re: the global food crisis.
http://kermitsteam.blogspot.com/2008/04/un-news-april-25_27.html
http://kermitsteam.blogspot.com/2008/04/global-food-crisis-op-ed.html

You can also go to any of the major news sites for more information regarding this issue:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/apr/13/food.climatechange
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0407/p08s01-comv.html
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/03/24/food.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch
More at end...

I've been watching this develop for almost a year now, and haven't spoken out. I have to stop being that way and start airing my thoughts. At least then I can say I tried to warn folks.

Annual average consumption:
Total food is around 1,950 pounds
Wheat is around 137 pounds (in all forms)
Rice - 22 pounds
Sugars - 142 pounds
Corn - is so pervasive in all of our foods that finding a per person number isn't happening. At least half the sugar is corn syrup, if that gives you an idea of the ubiquitous nature of corn.

So, how do we, as arrogant Americans, help with this crisis? Since it is so much more than just FOOD, it can be incredibly overwhelming...

Reduce demand:

For Fuel. You don't have to drive around as much as you do. None of us do. Consolidate trips. We're doing this already due to higher gas prices, but make a more concerted effort to do so. It isn't just your pocket book you'll be helping.

For Food.
Many people are hoarding grains such as rice and wheat. I won't say I'm not getting a little more, but I'm not hoarding.
Reduce the amount you eat out - the largest source of food waste possible! Just by reducing this, the nation's consumption of grains will be reduced. I'd guess for every 1% less you eat out, 2% less grain will be used.
Reduce the amount you eat at home.
We all know processed grains are bad for us. So don't eat as much of them! Pasta, white rice, white bread, biscuits, pre-made gravies and sauces, etc. will help. I'll guess it's a 1% - 1.3% savings. On average, very few of us eat every crumb of the food we cook. How much of a load of a bread do you throw away because it's stale or moldy?
Reduce your beef intake. Cattle consumes incredible amounts of grain, it's mind boggling. Switch to chicken. If you want to get a little crazy, try goat, co-op with a small farmer for your pork or beef and even your milk, or go vegetarian.
Bird food. It's seed - aka GRAIN. They can live without as much as we give them.
Reduce your sugar. Since sugar cane is being planted for use in producing ethanol, it's taking away from grain production and pushing prices up.
Reduce your use of cooking oil. In all honesty, we use very little in our house. But many homes use pints per week. Try cooking without it. Broil, pan fry, grill, roast, stew. All of these options use virtually no cooking oil.
Grow Your Food. It's far easier than you think. From our Victory Gardens during WWII, to our Community Gardens in urban settings, we are incredibly creative in our ability to grow our vegetables.
For another site I haven't had time to work on, I compiled information on starting Community Gardens http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2007/02/community-garden.html. From here, are links that can help you start your own garden, with simple tricks, fixes and tips.
I'd love to see them called a Humanity Garden, but that's just me...

By reducing demand in the US, prices will fall. They may not fall substantially, but even a few percentage points is considerable, since prices have gone up, on average, 70% in the last 12 months.

Don't borrow
The Feds keep lowering interest rates because of the foreclosures and defaults occuring at record pace. To help minimize further rate reductions, stop borrowing. Stop using your credit card. Hold off on that car loan. Hold off on that student loan. Hold off on that home improvement loan. Pay cash.

Donate
Donate to your local food pantry. Prices have gone up here, not just around the world. Along with donated monies not going as far to purchase food for the needy, people aren't donating as much.
Donate to UNICEF. Their money is only going about half as far, meaning people are only getting half the food they were before, which was bare subsistence.
Donate to organizations who help communities farm - heifer international, seeds for peace, seeds for change, etc.
If you're a gardener, plant a row for your local food pantry.

Finally,
We, as a nation, must understand that every action we take has a global reaction. That's a huge responsibility. But, it also allows us to all make very small changes that will conclude in a very large impact world-wide.
If mothers around the country can create a highly successful network to donate breast milk to children in need, certainly we as a nation can create an equally large impact on the world.

4/30 FAO's projection for world rice crop for 2008:
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2008/1000820/index.html
In the rest of the world, a dismal production is forecast in Australia, reflecting extremely low water availability. A reduced crop is also expected in the United States, mainly as a result of a cut in area caused by mounting competition from more profitable crops.
(also - noted on CNN, flooding in rice growing areas is delaying planting (ironic, huh) for at least 3 weeks, which means 1 whole crop may be lost)