Annals of the University of Oradea: Economic Science (Jul 2018)
WATER AND FOOD INSECURITY
Abstract
Water and food are – along air – the most important things for human life. Even human health depends in a crucial manner on air, water and food. Since ancient times, philosophers analyzed the importance of these elements; Aristotle recalled that cities must have access to fresh air and clean water, in order to have a healthy population. Furthermore, they are interconnected; reduced water availability means poorer harvests. In this century humankind will face very complex phenomena, all reflecting their effects upon water and food. Climate changes, coupled with rising world population and urbanization, would amplify the vulnerability of many countries in the world. Haushofer recalled that a high urbanization degree brings a high geopolitical risk from military point of view; and the world of the future will have to handle all this complex issues with the greatest proportion of urbanized population in history. In this context, the first part of the paper is focused on problems menacing the world and their possible evolution, while the second is dedicated on possible solutions, mentioning the Romania’s capacity to become an agricultural power and a political stabilizer in region due to her potential for food production. As climate changes – overlapping rising population’s number, rising urbanization concentration and changing lifestyles in developing countries – will make humankind more vulnerable to extreme weather events, water, food and energy will come close to the center of domestic political agenda; anyway all these three elements are interrelated. A water crisis is an energy crisis because all types of energy are based directly or indirectly on water, while an energy crisis metamorphoses instantly in a food crises. These three elements are already moving towards central position in numerous countries’ foreign policy agenda. I call here only the case of South Korean state, which is in searching for access to land (and water) in Madagascar, at a very large scale. In this context, Romania’s food potential, doubled by its good position in water resources availability, could transform it in a regional stabilizer, changing its current second-rank position towards a more pivotal role. The exploitation in a sustainable manner of Romania’s potential for self-sufficiency in water and food areas will bring welfare for its citizens and stability in its geographical region, transforming it in a state with a better position in international relations.
