This archive report was first published on 5 September 2019.
As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change, water scarcity, and soil loss, a renowned science writer has issued a stark warning: the world is on the brink of conflict over resources such as food, land, and water.
Julian Cribb, an award-winning Australian journalist, has identified seven 'powder kegs' at risk of conflict in the coming decades, with South Asia topping the list, followed by Africa and China.
According to Cribb, the world's food systems are coming under increasing strain, with climate change, water scarcity, and soil and biodiversity loss taking a devastating toll. He warns that if harvests were to fail in a major grain-growing region, prices of grain and bread would spike, and supermarkets could be emptied in 24 hours if people panic.
With more than one in four people struggling to eat healthy food and one in nine going hungry globally, Cribb urges a new system that is climate-resilient, environmentally-friendly, nourishing, and affordable. He proposes three new options: farming that repairs natural resources, deep-ocean aquaculture that avoids pollution and disease, and the recycling of urban water and nutrients.
As Cribb notes, 'The most destructive object on the planet...is the human jawbone.' With the world's population projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, the pressure on resources is only set to increase.
Published on September 5, 2019, by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, Cribb's warning serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for action to avoid a global food crisis.
