{"id":85348,"date":"2025-08-26T07:42:49","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T06:42:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.taxresearch.org.uk\/Blog\/?p=85348"},"modified":"2025-08-26T07:42:49","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T06:42:49","slug":"famine-food-neoliberalism-and-choices-that-need-to-be-made","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.taxresearch.org.uk\/Blog\/2025\/08\/26\/famine-food-neoliberalism-and-choices-that-need-to-be-made\/","title":{"rendered":"Famine, food, neoliberalism and choices that need to be made"},"content":{"rendered":"

In an important report on recent trends in famines published\u00a0in the Financial Times last night, the following was noted<\/a>:<\/p>\n

For decades, the number of people dying from famine was in retreat, reduced to almost nothing by a world intolerant of witnessing people starving to death.<\/p>\n

Not anymore. From Sudan to Afghanistan, Yemen and Gaza \u2014 where a UN-backed panel declared a famine on Friday \u2014 experts say more people are dying of hunger as public opinion shrugs and humanitarian agencies lose their ability to counter leaders willing to use food as a weapon.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

They added:<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout 10 years ago, famines began to make a return, and over the past few years we have seen the numbers dying from starvation begin to escalate in a terrifying way,\u201d said Alex de Waal, a famine expert and executive director of the World Peace Foundation at Tufts University\u2019s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.<\/p>\n

The resurgence, said experts, has resulted partly from a weak humanitarian response, hobbled by a declining commitment to multilateralism and reduced aid budgets.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To put this another way, which the Financial Times did not, or at least, at most implied, the rise of neoliberal and neofascist culture is being reflected in an increase in the prevalence of famine around the world. This is not a natural phenomenon. What we are seeing is the creation of human-made crises.<\/p>\n

I found this particularly relevant in the context of some of the responses<\/a> that were made to my discussion of the need for inward migration to tackle the UK pension crisis, posted on this blog yesterday, which was reflected in my blog on the same issue<\/a> published this morning. As a consequence, I did something that I have never done before, which was to ask ChatGPT 5.0 to prepare a report for me on the current capacity of the world to deliver sufficient food to feed its population of human beings.<\/p>\n

My brief, or prompt to use AI jargon, was as follows:<\/p>\n

\n

Can the world continue to grow sufficient food to meet the needs of its growing population, or is climate change, plus other crises that are going to create a situation where there will, inevitably, be either food shortages, or even famine, giving rise to widespread migration, and potentially population loss.<\/p>\n

If so, what are the most likely causes? Where will these problems be seen first, and in what crops, and what mitigation techniques can be used?<\/p>\n

I am looking for a summary of around 1000 words for use on the Funding the Future blog, but to be written in summary format, suggesting it comes from ChatGPT, and not in my usual blogging style. You may, however, assume an intelligent, informed, reader who understands political economy and who wishes to appraise this data within the context of the stresses that such a crisis will give rise to.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This was the response that I got, which I have not edited in any way, except to reduce the boldness of some of the headings:<\/p>\n

\n

Global food outlook under climate & systemic stress \u2014 a ChatGPT briefing (25 Aug 2025)<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

Bottom line:<\/b><\/span> On present evidence, the world can still produce enough calories to feed everyone, but the reliability of that supply is eroding. Climate change is already slowing productivity growth and amplifying shocks; when combined with conflict, trade restrictions, input-price volatility and ecological degradation, the risk profile shifts from chronic under-nutrition toward recurrent, acute food crises concentrated in climate- and conflict-exposed regions. Avoiding widespread shortages or famine is still feasible, but only with rapid investment in adaptation, stronger social protection and smarter trade and reserve policies.\u00a0 <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

1) Where the world stands now<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n