Food challenges, technological changes and food geopolitics1

Georges Flexor

doi:10.1590/1806-9479.2022.269655

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Food challenges, technological changes and food geopolitics^¹

Desafios alimentares, mudanças tecnológicas e geopolítica alimentar

Georges Flexor

http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1806-9479.2022.269655 resr, vol.62, n3, e269655, 2024

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Abstract

In recent years, food insecurity has worsened despite decades of progress. Agrifood systems must evolve to address population expansion and climate change simultaneously. A problem of this magnitude necessitates the development of technologies that simultaneously increase (nutritious) food production and protect the environment. Based on an a diagram analysis of the economic model of technological change, this article explores various technological paths that can emerge in response to rising food prices and the need to preserve land. This article indicates, through the use of specialized literature, that the hypotheses derived from the analysis of the technological change model already exist. In addition, we investigate the potential geopolitical effects of these technological shifts on the global agri-food industry. Changes aimed at conserving land must encourage urban food production, systematic resource optimization on abundant high-quality land, and regenerative practices. In addition to rising food prices and population growth, the increasing significance of urban consumers and the internalization of environmental values should drive these various developments.

Keywords

food insecurity, sustainable development goals, technological change, geopolitics

Resumo

Resumo: A insegurança alimentar piorou nos últimos anos, apesar de décadas de progresso. Para lidar com a crescente população e as mudanças climáticas, os sistemas agroalimentares precisam mudar. Exige o desenvolvimento de tecnologias que, ao mesmo tempo, aumentem a produção de alimentos (nutritivos) e protejam o meio ambiente. Com base em uma análise de diagrama do modelo econômico de mudança tecnológica, este artigo examina vários caminhos tecnológicos que podem surgir em resposta ao aumento dos preços dos alimentos e à necessidade de preservar a terra. Este artigo indica, por meio do uso de literatura especializada, que as hipóteses derivadas da análise do modelo de mudança tecnológica já existem. Além disso, examinamos os potenciais impactos geopolíticos dessas mudanças no setor agroalimentar em todo o mundo. As mudanças que visam à conservação da terra devem incentivar a produção urbana de alimentos, a otimização sistemática de recursos em terras abundantes de alta qualidade e as práticas regenerativas. Esses desenvolvimentos devem ser impulsionados pela crescente importância dos consumidores urbanos e a internalização dos valores ambientais e o aumento dos preços dos alimentos.

Palavras-chave

segurança alimentar, objetivos de desenvolvimento sustentável, mudança tecnológica, geopolítica.

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Submetido em:
18/11/2022

Aceito em:
29/07/2023