A New Global Food Crisis Is Imminent: Do You Know How to Prepare?
A New Global Food Crisis Is Imminent: Do You Know How to Prepare?
As the flood of troubling news continues to stream from the mouths of our leaders and the news tickers on our computers, we have yet one more catastrophe to worry about, a global food crisis.
Recently, the UN warned of the potential of a “food price shock” if prices continue to climb. The reasons for the increased upward pressure on prices is varied, ranging from the cost of oil and fuel, floods down under and record breaking heat waves in Latin America.
During the most recent food crisis of 2008, we witnessed rioting and unrest in more than 30 countries, and things could get much worse this time around. Already, the price of the typical “basket of food” as determined by the UN is above the peak levels of the 2008 crisis and the USDA hasn’t helped with their recent announcement that global harvests of key crops are being revised downward. This downward revision has resulted in the prices of future contracts for the commodities to rocket skyward, further pressuring food prices to increase.
With so many of the causes for the impending doom being related to natural occurrences, it doesn’t appear that there is an easy fix for the situation. It is up to each individual and family to take the necessary precautions to ensure that they are prepared for any eventuality.
In developed nations, we stand a much better chance of weathering this storm without the devastating loss of massive numbers of lives, but pain will be felt, even if that pain means paying $10 for a gallon of milk. If we are prudent, however, we should at least give thought to preparing for the worst.
So what is the best strategy to ensure that you and your family skirt this disaster? Maybe the LDS food storage theory is the way to go. Let me preface this by saying, I am not a member of the LDS faith and have no preference for what anyone believes, however, I also know that if someone has a good plan, and has already worked out all the kinks, then why re-invent the wheel.
Food storage is essentially the stockpiling of all of the food essentials required to feed you and your family for a set length of time. In most instances the recommended time-frame is one year, but beginning with a three month supply and adding to it is a great way to start.
To begin with, when you go to the market you should buy double the amount of items that you use most commonly. You will also want to start your three-month supply with those items that you use on a daily basis, in order to ensure that they do not spoil before they are used.
You will also want to spend some time re-arranging your shelves so that you can employ a FIFO (First In First Out) system. In this system, you always ensure that the oldest items are the first ones to be used. So put the newest items at the back of the shelf, and move the oldest ones towards the front as you use them and as you purchase more.
As you build up this three month supply and move toward a longer goal, perhaps that year, things will get a little trickier and you may have to look at more advanced options including dry items, even things like powdered milk.
By beginning to build your own food storage supply today, even if a little at a time, you can ensure that you and your family will be prepared for any emergency or the next global food crisis.
