KUWAIT: Skyrocketing food prices worldwide are not the result of the recent global financial crisis but of global warming, according to a prominent local environmental expert. Delivering a lecture at the American University of Kuwait's (AUK) auditorium yesterday, Dr. Ahlam Alaki said that food prices are connected to global warming since crops are chosen and grown depending on the climate in the country in question. Because crops are dependent on the climate for growth, she explained, climatic instabilitymeans that many food-producing nations have been unable to provide plentiful harvests, resulting in major price rises.

A high temperature can significantly reduce the yield of crops like wheat, rice and grains. Many in the world have noticed this already, and sadly this shortage of food causes hunger and death for many, as we've heard here today." Despite this, said Dr. Alaki, people in rich nations seem indifferent. As an example of this, she cited the unprecedented waste of food by the people in the richest nations and their failure to consider the empty stomachs of tens of thousands of people from the poorest countries
.

In the latest survey by the BBC, it said that 33 percent of the foods bought by British people are just thrown away into the garbage," she said. "My concern is that even in Kuwait, that percentage could be higher, if not double, as we have witnessed large amounts of food being wasted in several houses here, as you may notice at banquets and parties. Just imagine the waste of food after the party.
Over the next 40 years, according to Dr Alaki, the human population is set to increase by almost a third, growing from the current 6.5 billion to 9 billion. This increase in population means additional food consumption, she continued, especially in the emerging economic powers like China and India.

If the country gets wealthier, food consumption increased. This is something very relevant to Kuwait; when we are talking about oil, the price of oil plays an important role in the price of food in the market," she explained. "Imagine, the price of oil has increased by 400 percent over the last eight years alone [between 2002 and 2010]. Agricultural production is largely reliant on the use of oil for technology, transportation and preservation of products. But producing and using oil pushes up global warming levels. There are ups and downs and it is interrelated.

Alaki advised everyone to do their share to save the planet from continuous deterioration due to the impact of global warming. One of the major factors behind the existence of global warming or climate change is people's reluctance to share the responsibility and play their part in resolving the problems, she said, warning against such selfishness.

Every person can contribute, every one of us can help save our planet," she asserted. "Start it with your family; ask your children to eat all the food on their plates, ask them to conserve light, save energy and water and tell them to be responsible people because, at the end of the day, whatever happens on our planet is partly because of our actions.

The Global Warming Forum, organized by the AUK's student organization, was part of the AUK's fifth annual international week being celebrated from March 7-11. The themes of yesterdays' discussions include the scientific explanation for and social aspects of global warming. - Kuwait Times