Food Glorious Food - is the question of food shaping a new world order?

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During the past fortnight we have witnessed the toppling of despotic regimes in Tunisia and the continued crisis in Egypt one of the world's oldest civilizations. In each situation the populace were forced to protest against increasing food prices which subsequently mushroomed into protests of other societal ills ranging from unemployment to basic human rights.
The UN's December bulletin announcing the highest increase in its Food Price Index peaking at 214.8 points fell on the deaf ears of Western donors distracted by annual Christmas and New Year celebrations. This apathy was also fueled by the preoccupation of Western governments with domestic policy austerity measures to the detriment of not only Foreign Policy budgets but also aid programs to Africa, India and Latin America. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that world cereal output will drop by 1.4 percent to 2.23 billion metric tons whilst demand will increase by 1.8 percent to 2.26 billion metric tons thereby creating the first cereal deficit since 2008.
The crisis in global food supply is exacerbated by environmental shocks ranging from floods in Pakistan, Brazil and Australia with drought in Argentina. Lets not forget the case of nuclear armed Pakistan is acute as that country is facing terrorism arising from Taliban insurgent incursions from neighboring Afghanistan and Taliban sympathizers from within its own populace not withstanding flood devastation, population displacement with its consequent food shortages. The  Philippine's one of the world's biggest importers of rice has increased the retail price of rice in December by 8% despite a quarter of its population living on $1.25 a day according to World Bank estimates. To add to Philippine misery its cereal harvests have been decimated by a combination of drought and flooding.
A recent report by Foresight a UK government future's think tank argues for fundamental change to the existing approach by global society to food and the management of the food supply chain. The report unsurprising indicates that the world's food supply chain is unsustainable which has lead to a situation where a billion human beings are hungry, another billion are the "hidden hungry" and of course there are the billion of us who are never hungry. This global disparity has led to flash points which flare in regions within which there already existed social and political tensions concerning issues of disenfranchisement  and distribution of wealth. Especially Tunisia which for the past 30 years has been viewed as a cheap holiday destination and in some cases second home locations for the global middle class or Egypt another popular tourist destination which until recently was hailed in the business press as the "new mecca" for the call center outsourcing industry in each case little regard was given to the social or economic conditions within which the faceless population survived, I think it unlikely that the other leg of the three legged sustainability stool - the environment - was even considered in the strategic planning of multinationals who have invested in Egypt within the past five years - its no wonder civil society has collapsed as there was investment but not sustainable development.
As international middle east "experts" and political strategists ponder on live television the consequences of western inaction from their Cairo hotel studio whilst being fed from the sandwich buffet from the hotel bar I wonder if Egyptian children in villages along the Nile can ask for more dinner .... did I hear correctly did they ask for more?

To learn more about quality, safety and environmental management visit www.sustainabilitycsr.com 

MBA in Sustainability or Sustainability MBA - can sustainability be taught?

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Today I had a cursory Google search for the words "sustainability MBA" which yielded quite surprisingly over a million sites. Since the development of the first MBA program by Harvard University over hundred years ago the content of MBA courses have reflected the changing landscape of business. In my own brief career I have seen the inclusion of quality and lean management principles into the core curriculum which was intended to provide MBA candidates with generalist management knowledge to function effectively as future CEO's and business leaders. The business school fraternity decided to differentiate the MBA "product" by adding specialisms ranging from human resource management to the European MBA without altering the philosophical approach to teaching the subject and science of management which was and still is being dominated by "Friedman fundamentalism" i.e. the role of business is profit making.
Then came the "Dot Com" era when some of my fellow MBA classmates sought to make their fortunes by working for small internet start-ups for little pay but with share options which could yield astronomical returns if the company's IPO was the darling of the investors. In hindsight it seems naive but true but then the bubble burst and we were all given a reality check. As MBA's we rationalized the "Dot Com" bubble with even some bestsellers along the way, if you don't write a book and make a buck then being qualified to act as CEO is not a bad fall back position.
However the lessons of the Dot Com era were quickly forgotten until the Financial Crisis and fall of Lehman Brothers the scene on the evening news of highly sophisticated but dazed MBA's leaving Lehman Brothers, London offices with there belongings in cardboard crates sent warning signals across the global business community.
So the Business Schools again did their market research and re-branded providing course offerings in business ethics, corporate governance, corporate social responsibility and now the MBA in Sustainability, inviting NGOs, green activists and labour leaders to conferences in effect elevating the entire environmental and social activist community to the status of management gurus.
Therefore it can be perceived sustainability has been hijacked by Business Schools as another flavor of the month with no fundamental shift in the philosophical principles being taught to new MBA's. At a recent "sustainability" research conference I attended I inquired if anyone new the carbon footprint of the event only to receive smiles of amazement but strikingly no real answer not even a crude guess.
From an academic perspective we do not know enough about our planet or how human impact from industrialization affects our planet but what we know is that there is a relationship between environmental degradation and human suffering and it is this effect that we must address as MBA's. Therefore it may be considered premature by academia to anoint MBA's with the mantra of sustainability gurus of their organisations. If this premature repositioning of the MBA as a "Sustainability MBA" or "MBA in Sustainability" is a case of I say tomato... you say "toomaytoe" the MBA as a useful qualification may loose some of its appeal to young graduates who may be inclined to pursue post graduate qualifications in environmental sciences.
However I firmly support the efforts by business schools to influence the sustainability agenda through instruction and training in the core MBA program not as a bolt on subject or specialism..... which if the recent sentiments of leading bank officials are a window into the collective conscience of their boardroom, business academia has an enormous challenge.... but then how can you challenge your major patron...

ISO 26000 - New approach to management systems or a new competitive barrier

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Reflecting on the major stories of the past 15 days of the New Year - floods in Australia and Brazil, shooting of public officials in the US state of Arizona with its relaxed approach to firearms, extravagant bankers bonuses, food riots that led to the overthrow of a dictatorship in Tunisia - there are common themes such as climate change, ethics and human rights which all fall under the vast umbrella of social responsibility.
Into this foray at a critical time in 21st Century history enters the ISO 26000 Guidance on Social Responsibility: that explains all we currently know about corporate social responsibility & sustainability delivered in 120 pages of diagrams and illustrations. The International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) whose traditional focus has been on engineering and scientific issues felt compelled to lend clarity to the existing proliferation of CSR reporting schemes and standards and began work on the ISO 26000 standard in 2002.
The ISO 26000 standard builds on Brundtland definition of sustainability and interprets its approach through an understanding of the interconnectedness of sustainability and corporate social responsibility. The approach to sustainability and corporate social responsibility is based on an organisation defining its priorities in relation to the core subjects of the standard which are organisational governance, human rights, labour practices, the environment, fair operating practices, consumer issues, community involvement and development.
The standard clearly describes best practice guidance for each core subject yet avoiding being prescriptive. In my opinion the ISO 26000 standard in its present form cannot be a certifiable standard as its 120 pages of potential criteria will be a certification auditors nightmare and thankfully the ISO committee has not indicated any intention of pursuing this option at present. Sentiments expressed by emerging economies such as India on the inclusion of labour practices as a core subject is being perceived as a competitive barrier to trade and in the case of China the use of human rights criteria as a potential indirect attack on its national sovereignty.
If recent events are any indication of potential future threats to governments and organisations, visionary political and business leaders will embrace the principles of the ISO 26000 standard  to create new competitive models and produce products and services that not only sustains growth but contributes to the development of a socially responsible society.

The Governors are ungovernable - Can banks be socially responsible?

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We have entered into another bankers bonus season again the face of the fat, greedy banker lining his pockets with the earnings of usury drives most bank customers with a since of outrage. Since the financial crisis banks in terms of public trust are now third from bottom just above the media and insurance companies. As the custodians of our money we require banks to produce as much profit for our savings and pensions, few of us rarely questioned how these financial gains were accrued prior to the recent financial crisis. Our current paradigm of the pursuit of profit and expressions of wealth... bigger cars and even bigger houses placing demands on bankers to service our desires. The profit ethos is not congruent with sustainable principles, therefore when we observe bankers requesting the payment of £2 million bonuses they are only demanding their due as stipulated by employment contractual arrangements - financial engineering has more market value than real engineering. Prime Minister David Cameron's call for bonus restraint may do little to solve the problem in a scenario where society and bankers value short term profit taking approaches on investment decisions. Sustainability requires us to incorporate the needs of future generations in investment decision making, such a concept defers instant gratification i.e. profit taking if it is not in societies best interest. Its been part of the UK Pensions Act that environmental, social issues are reviewed as part of good governance. The issue is that the governors need to be governed probably by CSR Regulations as in France. The fear of "micro managing banks" is a legacy of the Friedman disease. Our options as a society are to encourage our bankers to pursue good governance in society's best interest i.e. fund sustainable development or we become governed by market forces i.e. a return to the summer of 2008 - a future bank bailout on an even unimaginable scale....

Enviropig and other GM food superheroes coming to a store near you

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If it smells like a pig, looks like a pig, sounds like a pig, eats like a pig then its a pig... rings true in all cases except in the case of Enviropig. Enviropig is a leap in biotechnology which combines an enzyme genome found in the bacterium E. Coli and mouse DNA to produce an altered pig that can digest phosphorus which is contained in the corn, barley and cereals that comprise its diet. "Ordinary" pigs cannot digest phosphorus therefore high levels of phosphorus is found in pig waste which at the industrial levels at which pigs are farmed increases the risk of phosphorus entering the rivers, lakes and watercourses. Phosphorus entering into inland fresh watercourses stimulates the growth of algae which depletes the oxygen in water killing fish and other aquatic life.
The phenomena of aquatic dead zones has resulted in stringent environmental regulation being applied to pig farming with the US adopting a "zero discharge" policy allowing no nitrogen or phosphorus run off from farming operations. Farmers attempts comply with environmental regulation by introducing phytase as a dietary supplement to reduce the phosphorus content in pig excrement in conjunction with the containment and treatment of pig waste has contributed little benefit for the level of investment accrued, making the development of Enviropig a welcomed breath of fresh air.
Our planet's population currently stands at 7 billion inhabitants depending on your religious persuasion or vegetarian dietary preference that leaves just over 6 billion human beings that would include pork, ham and bacon in their diet. Therefore Enviropig can contribute to the mitigation of environmental impact, however is it necessary to farm pigs at our current industrial levels? or should we adopt a balanced diet that includes mainly vegetables, fruit and other plant food as it will help save our planet and is good for our health?
If Enviropig is to become the pig of the future will "ordinary" pigs be relegated to zoos or altogether eliminated by an industrial breeding program? Are we entering into a much larger Orwellian phase of human existence where "All pigs are equal but Enviropig is more equal than others". Can Enviropig fly?

Climate Change is it a myth?...

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After spending and hour clearing snow from the footpaths around my house yet again this winter I am beginning to question the concept of climate change.  Snow storms in the United States have brought record snow fall, in some places in the Midwest 19 inches of snowfall and reports from Arizona a traditionally warm state as much as 3 feet in some instances. New York city the world's leading financial capital has been paralyzed yet again by this unusual weather phenomena with the reputation of its flamboyant Mayor Micheal Bloomberg being severely tarnished as the city's budget cuts resulted in a 75 reduction in the snow removal workforce. The issue of budget cuts and resilience raises its ugly scepter once again.   In the UK record snowfall has disrupted public transport services and claimed political scalps in Scotland with the resignation of that regions Transport Minister. The Southern Hemisphere has not been spared from savage weather, flooding in Australia and drought in Argentina has impacted on world food supply chains.
The facts are we have had the 10 hottest years on record since 1995, global temperature rises have increased by 0.18C per decade since 1976 this increase is 3 times more than previous decades and actually snow cover in the US is at the same levels or less than the previous year based on data provided by the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.
Have we reached that ecological tipping point whereby we are unable to reasonably predict weather patterns and temperature? If this is the case the effect on agricultural planning and global food supply may be catastrophic. Newton's Third Law of Motion states that "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction" if liberally applied to climate change I believe human action or activity has resulted in our climate reacting in ways which may be neither equal or opposite. In essence "For every action there is an over reaction" 

Sustainable Economics - A question of Biofuel or Butter...

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As I relax during my early morning commute to work I began reading a summary of the UN's Food and Agriculture Agency report that states its food price index has risen almost two points above the record set in 2008 and now stands at 215 points. This dire situation has contributed to food riots in countries such as Cameroon, Bangladesh, Haiti and Somalia. Industry analysts attribute food price increases to poor harvests in Russia, Canada and the Ukraine, a drought in Argentina and recent floods in Australia. Climate change has wreaked havoc on the global food supply chain to the disadvantage of consumers in emergent economies for whom food comprises a larger proportion of their household budget.
In light of this scenario European plans to increase the use of Bio-fuels will require the reallocation worldwide of  69000 square kilometers of land; an area more than twice the size of Belgium removed from vital food production. Europe's audacious plan hopes to provide 9.5% of its transport fuel by 2020 of which 90% will be derived from food crops. NGO research indicates that this initiative may prove harmful to the environment in  long run by increasing greenhouse gas emissions by an extra 26 - 56 million tonnes annually which is estimated as the equivalent to having 12 -26 million automobiles on European motorways by 2020. The economic question of our decade is not guns or butter but biofuel or butter...
Writing about food makes me hungry I guess I'll just step out to a Tesco Express for a sandwich and a cup of hot chocolate... how convenient.. It might be a cold sandwich but at least the bread is buttered...

A breath of hot air, the poor and workhouses

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Anyone thinking about a Charles Dicken's novel conjures up a horrible nightmare of dark smoke filled chimneys, half starved families and workhouses for the poor. This scenario is far removed from our post "Cool Britannia" environment or is it? The EU has been a champion in the use of policy instruments such as vehicle emission controls, Integrated Pollution and Prevention Control (IPPC) and the Large Combustion Plants (LPC) Directive. The European Commission's most recent report on air quality sadly indicates that if its policies were implemented by all member states there would be even further improvements in air quality for EU citizens. Evidence of this is the continued poor air quality of UK cities such as London and Edinburgh  that perpetually ignore EU air quality standards. In 2011 EU air quality targets become mandatory which may see the imposition of fines from Brussels for any identified breaches. The fines are one issue but the choking question is the impact on human health from poor air quality.
Amazon one of the world's leading online retailers recently cut short the shift of its casual labour force at its Gourock, Scotland site in an effort to reduce their wage bill; with some workers who were compelled to work at the site as a condition of maintaining their Jobseeker's Allowance spending the rest of their shift at the plant as they were unable to secure public transportation to return home until the following morning.
Its all perfectly legal in the UK but is it ethical? As a righteous man once said "The poor you have always" and  I would also add workhouses

UK Value Added tax increases to 20% - is it sustainable...

Sustainability is a three legged stool comprising of economic, social and environmental spheres, as a sustainability practitioner I am inclined to be biased to the latter two issues. The increase in value added tax (VAT) to 20% may be a blessing in disguise to the environment by controlling rampant consumption but this leaves the other legs of the stool i.e. the economic and the social a little bit weak..
The present UK coalition government pledged to be the greenest government ever despite having to tackle a large fiscal deficit. The rise in VAT will contribute £13 billion revenue into HM Treasury but it will also mean a reduction in disposable income. The other alternatives were income tax increase which by nature rise with income or an increase in National Insurance which may yet happen in the Spring of 2011.
Sustainability also embraces the concept of our impact on future generations, therefore I agree with attempts by the present government to tackle our burgeoning debt as I am not one to pass the buck or the budget to my son's generation. I think I may just consult him for his views on the rise in VAT, I forgot he is playing on his new Wii games console.... I guess its time for me to call my Dad fortunately he is Canadian...

Four and twenty blackbirds fall out the sky....

The old nursery rhyme went from prose to dark reality as more than a thousand blackbirds fall out of the skies of Arkansas. Local officials are uncertain of the cause of the birds demise which some speculate can range from high altitude hail to lightening strikes. This incident is part of a wider issue as to the direct impact of sky scrappers the new temples of the 21st century, the expanding growth of cities in terms of urban sprawl and more importantly the impact of human migration on bird migration.
Last autumn a project was started in New York City to turn off or dim the lights of unused offices in the city's skyscrapers as researchers have identified that migratory birds are disorientated by excessive light which affects their navigational perceptions. It may seem frightfully surprising switching off the lights saves birds, energy and reduces greenhouse emission its better than a bankers bonus. Toronto established its Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP) to help mitigate against the yearly tragedy in which over 250,000 birds die from the effects of artificial lighting. Its a sin to kill a mockingbird; I guess killing 250,000 birds borders on extinction you do the math. A recent University of Sheffield study has identified that Robins have been forced to sing at night as not to compete with rising urban noise levels. The evidence of our growing affluence as a global society is not only measured by the size of our skyscrapers but also by the size of our landfill sites. These landfill sites have now become the feeding ground for seagulls which in the eyes of many city folk are urban pests and nuisance to the citizenry enjoying alfresco dining at town centre restaurants. Sea gulls can defend themselves, my heart goes out to Robins its hard finding a soul mate if she can't hear you sing.

Its a Sustainable Life....

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Recently I read an interesting New York Times Week in Review  entitled the Sustainable Life. The review focused on the three F's of modern life Family, Finance and Food. We are advised to view our marital/love interests as partnerships that allow "self expansion". The same management logic that contributed to the financial collapse of 2008 "self expansion" is the new mantra to sustain human intimate relationships. I wonder were children considered in their model of "self expansion" our probably the age old concept of the family that sometimes stressful network of parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins is it no longer sustainable.
No lets move on to the second "F" financial management or should I say lack of financial management. The attraction of easy gratification from credit card spending especially over the festive season has left many wishing they had exercised self control. This Christmas my wife and I purchased a Wii games console for my 7 year old son. A subsequent Google search for the manufacturers product carbon footprint information was proved much more elusive. However an obscure website NineOverTen 9/10 enlightened me that our purchase can contribute 0.011 tonnes of  CO₂ annually if used for a minimum of two hours per day. After being bombarded by adverts of the latest Wii or Xbox games system and one's offspring who can blame the rational economic man from acting irrationally. This may have led some commentators to believe that budget is like a diet but enough about my personal failings in the self control department.
While we are busy watching the latest contestant to leave the X Factor competition there is no time to cook ... a Chinese Takeaway seems rational... so much for the concept of good food, soul food.. Anyway what's a diet....

Sustainability in 2011 - a question of political will

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Last year began with an awful distaste of failed promises arising from the Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change. It seemed that issues surrounding our dependence on fossil fuels and its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions were dealt a mortal blow. The tragedy surrounding the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico pushed the questions and issues surronding our fossil fuel dependence back into the spotlight, awakening industry and political leaders to the dangers arising from continued deep water exploration for oil to natural ecosystems and the economy. The public has asked for increased regulation and law makers in the UK and US have delivered with increased environmental regulation in 2010. However 2010 ended with "decision postponement" at the Cancun Summit in Mexico, the world's citizens await political commitment to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for yet another year. All is not lost; the late arrival new ISO 26000 standard  is a welcoming New Years gift. The ISO 26000 standard is a global initiative that provides guidance to industry on social responsibility in attempt to redress the excesses of our capitalist model; its template for sustainable development and social responsibility hopefully is embraced by CEOs and politicians alike as we embark on not only a new year but the beginning of a new decade of sustainability.