“The authors suggest that instead of producing more food to meet the world’s growing population needs, a more effective way to address food security issues and climate change would be to encourage self-sufficiency and waste reduction, in wealthier and poorer nations alike. “If we shift just some of our attention away from production to consumption issues and reducing food waste, we might actually get quite a big bang for our buck, because that ground has been neglected,” said Brian Halweil, co-director of the project. “The majority of incentives that governments give to farmers are still tied to the production mindset. The farmers are rewarded for sheer production quantity, with very little guidance for the quality they produce and the impact of their farming practices on the environment and on human health and nutrition … It is necessary to change these incentives,” he said.”

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Nothing that hasn’t been said here or elsewhere before, but it’s a good point to underscore.

World hunger best cured by small-scale agriculture: report | Environment | guardian.co.uk (via teneasysteps)

betterworlds:

Posted at 12:08pm and tagged with: food, agriculture, longevity,.