現在世界の10億人とも言われる貧困層の人々を中心に慢性的に食糧危機が続いている。2008年に世界中を食料価格の高騰が襲い、食料を求めて暴動が起きた。国連食糧農業機関（FAO）によると2009年にはアフリカのケニア・エチオピアを中心に2300万人が飢餓状態に陥った。原因は主に1．人口の増加、2．異常気象による不作、3．砂漠化などによる耕地の減少、4．バイオ燃料への転化、5．投機などだ。世界の人口は2025年には80億に膨れる見込みだから更に食料不足が進む。食料輸出国だった国も自国民の食糧確保に事欠くようになる恐れがある。1番の原因は主に人口増加が激しい発展途上国の問題だ。2番、3番は地球の温暖化問題だから、世界中で早急に二酸化炭素の削減に取り組むことだ。4番はエネルギー問題で食用トウモロコシなどのバイオ燃料への転換が原因だ。これに対してはバイオ燃料に食料を使わないなどの取り決めが必要だと思う。5番は金融政策によりある程度は解決できるはずだが、市場を考えるとかなり難しいことがわかる。どれもが一朝一夕には解決できないことばかりだ。日本の場合、食料自給率が40％前後で危機的状況だ。 将来はお金があっても売って貰えないようになるかもしれない。しかし現在多くの日本人は食糧危機など、どこの話かとばかりに毎日贅沢な食事をしたり、食べ残しをしたり、食べすぎて病気になったりしている。食料の25％を捨てていると聞くと心が痛む。解決策として穀物をそのまま食べれば食糧危機はかなり遠のく。家畜の飼育には大量の穀物が必要で、牛は8〜10倍、豚5倍、鶏2〜3倍の穀物が必要だそうだ。食生活の変化が食料不足の原因とも言える。肉を食べるなというのではないが、日本人が食べすぎているのも確かだ。反省すべきではないか。日本は世界の国と協力して上記で述べた原因を取り除く努力をするべきだ。 しかし今各国は自国民の食糧確保にばかり目が向いている。ヨーロッパや韓国、最近では中国までが安いアフリカやアジア、ロシア、東欧、南米の国の土地を買ったり長期で借りたりしている。日本も同じことをするかもしれない。しかしこの政策が将来的にうまくいくかどうかはわからない。その国の食料が不足すれば必ず大問題になるからだ。私は日本はまず（注）休耕田を活用するべきだと思う。今、安い輸入食物に押されて日本の農業は疲弊している。各地に多くの荒れた休耕田がある。早急に農地に戻すことだ。農地法のせいで新たに農業に参入することが難しいそうだが、新規参入者を増やし農業を活性化する政策に変更するべきだ。①農業の未来に希望が出てきたとき、食料危機のかなりの部分が解決するのではないだろうか。
A chronic food crisis continues, primarily affecting the world's estimated one billion poor people. In 2008, soaring food prices swept the globe, triggering riots as people sought food. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in 2009, 23 million people, mainly in Kenya and Ethiopia in Africa, fell into a state of famine. The main causes are: 1. population growth, 2. crop failures due to abnormal weather, 3. reduction of arable land due to desertification, 4. conversion to biofuels, and 5. speculation.
The world's population is expected to swell to 8 billion by 2025, further exacerbating food shortages. Countries that were once food exporters may struggle to secure sufficient food for their own citizens. The primary cause is the rapid population growth in developing countries. The second and third causes are global warming, necessitating urgent efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. The fourth cause is the energy issue, driven by the shift to biofuels such as corn used for food.
In response to this, I believe agreements are necessary, such as not using food for biofuels. The fifth issue should be resolvable to some extent through monetary policy, but considering the market, it is clear that this is quite difficult. None of these issues can be resolved overnight. In Japan's case, the food self-sufficiency rate is around 40%, which is a critical situation. In the future, there may come a time when, even with money, we will not be able to buy food.
However, many Japanese people today seem to treat the food crisis as someone else's problem, indulging in luxurious meals daily, leaving food uneaten, or overeating to the point of illness. It is heartbreaking to hear that 25% of food is wasted. As a solution, eating grains in their natural form could significantly alleviate the food crisis. Raising livestock requires massive amounts of grain; cows require 8 to 10 times, pigs 5 times, and chickens 2 to 3 times the amount of grain. Changes in dietary habits can also be cited as a cause of food shortages.
It is not that one should not eat meat, but it is true that Japanese people are eating too much. Should we not reflect on this? Japan should make efforts, in cooperation with countries around the world, to eliminate the causes mentioned above. However, currently, each country is focused solely on securing food for its own citizens. Europe, South Korea, and recently even China have been buying or long-term leasing land in affordable African, Asian, Russian, Eastern European, and South American countries. Japan might do the same.
However, it is unclear whether this policy will succeed in the future. If the country faces a food shortage, it will inevitably become a major issue. I believe that Japan should first (note) make use of fallow fields. Currently, Japanese agriculture is struggling due to the pressure from cheap imported food. There are many neglected fallow fields in various regions. They should be urgently returned to agricultural use. It is said that the Agricultural Land Act makes it difficult for new entrants to enter the agricultural sector, but the policy should be changed to increase new entrants and revitalize agriculture.
When hope emerges for the future of agriculture, wouldn't a significant portion of the food crisis be resolved?
