[Draft] Convention on Food Security

[Sciongrad]

Category: Environment | Area of Effect: Agriculture | Proposed by: Sciongrad

The General Assembly,

Reaffirming its commitment to balancing the importance of resource extraction and protecting the environment,

Recognizing that unsustainable agricultural practices often contribute to environmental degradation like desertification and may lead to regional food scarcity,

Asserting that it is the responsibility of the international community to adopt appropriate measures designed to decrease agriculture input, increase agricultural output, and expand access to safe and nutritious food to all people,

1. Mandates that member nations adopt sustainable agricultural policies whenever appropriate, including, but not limited to, regular crop rotation, polyculture techniques such as multicropping and intercropping, and responsible soil management techniques such as organic composting and cover crops;

2. Further mandates that member nations adopt measures designed to ensure a reliable supply of quality water for agricultural purposes whenever appropriate, including, but not limited to, reduced-volume irrigation systems, improved water storage, incentives for drought-resistant crops, incentives for salt-resistant crops, and tile drainage; farmland without access to a reliable source of water or without access to quality water (high salinity water, water contaminated by toxic substances, etc.) should be converted to other productive uses, including, but not limited to, wildlife habitats and drought resistant forages;

3. Requires that member nations adopt sustainable livestock management techniques to promote biological and economic diversity and complexity in farming systems whenever appropriate, including, but not limited to, holistic enterprise calendars of all agricultural operations, transhumance, land and herd production records, monitoring and recording feeding patterns to minimize feed costs; animals shall be carefully selected based on whether they are appropriate for a given farm's ecosystem and resources;

4. Establishes the World Assembly Committee for Sustainable Food Development (WACSFD) and charges it with the following:

1. Assisting member nations, especially low-income food-deficit nations, upon their request, with adopting and implementing sustainable land and water management techniques,
2. Assisting member member nations, especially low income food-deficit nations, upon their request, with allocating appropriate resources to establish infrastructures conducive to sustainable agricultural practices,
3. Coordinating the transfer of relevant technology between member nations and helping member nations, especially low-income food-deficit nations in implementing such technologies if it is determined that they're locally suitable and effective in promoting sustainable agriculture,
4. Conducting research into sustainable agricultural practices and technologies - the results of this research shall be made freely available to all nations and their inhabitants;

5. Authorizes the WACSFD to liaise with the International Meteorological Organization in order to provide member nations with adequate warning prior to weather conditions which may disrupt sustainable agricultural practices, such as droughts and intensive rainfall, so as to allow them to make appropriate preparations.

The General Assembly,

Affirming that access to safe and nutritious food is a fundamental right of all people,

Recognizing that poverty and unsustainable agricultural practices are the leading causes of international hunger,

Asserting that it is the responsibility of the international community to adopt appropriate measures designed to decrease agriculture input, increase agricultural output, and expand access to safe and nutritious food to all people,

1. Mandates that member nations adopt sustainable agricultural policies whenever appropriate, including, but not limited to, regular crop rotation, polyculture techniques such as multicropping and intercropping, and responsible soil management techniques such as organic composting and cover crops;

2. Further mandates that member nations adopt measures designed to ensure a reliable supply of quality water for agricultural purposes whenever appropriate, including, but not limited to, reduced-volume irrigation systems, improved water storage, incentives for drought-resistant crops, incentives for salt-resistant crops, and tile drainage; farmland without access to a reliable source of water or without access to quality water (high salinity water, water contaminated by toxic substances, etc.) should be converted to other productive uses, including, but not limited to, wildlife habitats and drought resistant forages;

3. Requires that member nations adopt sustainable livestock management techniques to promote biological and economic diversity and complexity in farming systems whenever appropriate, including, but not limited to, holistic enterprise calendars of all agricultural operations, transhumance, land and herd production records, monitoring and recording feeding patterns to minimize feed costs; animals shall be carefully selected based on whether they are appropriate for a given farm's ecosystem and resources;

4. Establishes the World Assembly Committee for Sustainable Food Development (WACSFD) and charges it with the following:

1. Assisting member nations, especially low-income food-deficit nations, upon their request, with adopting and implementing sustainable land and water management techniques,
2. Assisting member member nations, especially low income food-deficit nations, upon their request, with allocating appropriate resources to establish infrastructures conducive to sustainable agricultural practices,
3. Coordinating the transfer of relevant technology between member nations and helping member nations, especially low-income food-deficit nations in implementing such technologies if it is determined that they're locally suitable and effective in promoting sustainable agriculture,
4. Conducting research into sustainable agricultural practices and technologies - the results of this research shall be made freely available to all nations and their inhabitants;

5. Authorizes the WACSFD to liaise with the International Meteorological Organization in order to provide member nations with adequate warning prior to weather conditions which may disrupt sustainable agricultural practices, such as droughts and intensive rainfall, so as to allow them to make appropriate preparations.

"We have split this off from our resolution on desertification. We believe multiple resolutions on the topic is more effective than one, omnibus one. Comments and questions are welcome.

[Imperium Anglorum]

I don't see anything in here that a rational nation would not already be doing. What is the problem you're trying to solve that exists in the status quo?

EDIT: Secondarily, don't we have something on food already?

Category: Environment | Area of Effect: Agriculture | Proposed by: Sciongrad

The General Assembly,

Affirming that access to safe and nutritious food is a fundamental human right,

Recognizing that poverty and unsustainable agricultural practices are the leading causes of international hunger,

Asserting that it is the responsibility of the international community to adopt appropriate measures designed to decrease agriculture input, increase agricultural output, and expand access to safe and nutritious food to all people,

1. Mandates that member nations adopt sustainable agricultural policies whenever appropriate, including, but not limited to, regular crop rotation, polyculture techniques such as multicropping and intercropping, and responsible soil management techniques such as organic composting and cover crops;

2. Further mandates that member nations adopt measures designed to ensure a reliable supply of quality water for agricultural purposes whenever appropriate, including, but not limited to, reduced-volume irrigation systems, improved water storage, incentives for drought-resistant crops, incentives for salt-resistant crops, and tile drainage; farmland without access to a reliable source of water or without access to quality water (high salinity water, water contaminated by toxic substances, etc.) should be converted to other productive uses, including, but not limited to, wildlife habitats and drought resistant forages;

3. Requires that member nations adopt sustainable livestock management techniques to promote biological and economic diversity and complexity in farming systems whenever appropriate, including, but not limited to, holistic enterprise calendars of all agricultural operations, transhumance, land and herd production records, monitoring and recording feeding patterns to minimize feed costs; animals shall be carefully selected based on whether they are appropriate for a given farm's ecosystem and resources;

4. Establishes the World Assembly Committee for Sustainable Food Development (WACSFD) and charges it with the following:

1. Assisting member nations, especially low-income food-deficit nations, upon their request, with adopting and implementing sustainable land and water management techniques,
2. Assisting member member nations, especially low income food-deficit nations, with allocating appropriate resources to establish infrastructures conducive to sustainable agricultural practices,
3. Coordinating the transfer of relevant technology between member nations and helping member nations, especially low-income food-deficit nations in implementing such technologies if it is determined that they're locally suitable and effective in promoting sustainable agriculture,
4. Conducting research into sustainable agricultural practices and technologies - the results of this research shall be made freely available to all nations and their inhabitants;

5. Authorizes the WACSLD to liaise with the International Meteorological Organization in order to provide member nations with adequate warning prior to weather conditions which may disrupt sustainable agricultural practices, such as droughts and intensive rainfall, so as to allow them to make appropriate preparations.

"We have split this off from our resolution on desertification. We believe multiple resolutions on the topic is more effective than one, omnibus one. Comments and questions are welcome.

[Kaboomlandia]

@IA: GAR #52, the Food Welfare Act.

@Scion: In Clause 4, you call it the WACSFD, but then in Clause 5, it's the WACSLD. Which is correct?

[Sciongrad]

@Scion: In Clause 4, you call it the WACSFD, but then in Clause 5, it's the WACSLD. Which is correct?

OOC: Good catch, I appropriated that committee from another resolution of mine.

I don't see anything in here that a rational nation would not already be doing. What is the problem you're trying to solve that exists in the status quo?

"There are two reasons a resolution on this topic is necessary. Firstly, there are low-income food deficit nations that will not implement these measures for ideological or political reasons. Free market paradises will probably recoil at the idea of government regulation or even direction of agriculture. Oligarchies that direct most food towards the ruling class are unlikely to spend money to promote sustainable agriculture if there is no internal impetus. So the first issue involves certain member nations being unwilling to implement the policies listed here. However, secondly, member nations may not have the funds, technology, or expertise to implement sustainable farming practices which is why the WACSFD is so crucially charged with helping them doing so in clause 4.

[Imperium Anglorum]

Firstly, there are low-income food deficit nations that will not implement these measures for ideological or political reasons.

Food bank solved that already.

Free market paradises will probably recoil at the idea of government regulation or even direction of agriculture.

Capitalist paradises also do have to worry about revolution and riots. Subsidies for the poor also reduce crime. It's simply the better use of money.

Oligarchies that direct most food towards the ruling class are unlikely to spend money to promote sustainable agriculture if there is no internal impetus.

52 GA prohibits unfair food transfers already.

So the first issue involves certain member nations being unwilling to implement the policies listed here. However, secondly, member nations may not have the funds, technology, or expertise to implement sustainable farming practices which is why the WACSFD is so crucially charged with helping them doing so in clause 4.

Unwilling to do so is interesting. However, why is their sustainable agriculture my business?

[Sciongrad]

Food bank solved that already.

"That is not quite true. GAR#52 prevents member nations from hoarding food surpluses to deliberately cause famine and starvation to achieve political ends. This is distinct from refusing to implement policies that promote sustainable agriculture on account of ideological opposition to intervention in the agricultural market. Nations may have institutional or environmental obstacles that prevent a steady and reliable source of food which cannot be resolved due to the ideological motivations of the government."

Capitalist paradises also do have to worry about revolution and riots. Subsidies for the poor also reduce crime. It's simply the better use of money.

"Increasing agricultural input is not a long term solution and will exacerbate food shortages over time. Using subsidies to keep revolutionary elements at bay is a myopic approach to agriculture."

Unwilling to do so is interesting. However, why is their sustainable agriculture my business?

"Sciongrad believes access to food is a fundamental human right and therefore necessitates action by the international community, much in the same way that it must act against slavery, genocide, and torture. Of course, if your country already has measures in place that promote sustainable agriculture, then this resolution doesn't really require you to do much and the national sovereignty refrain is probably misplaced."

[Bears Armed]

"A human right? Ahem!
"Having said which, although my homeland generally does not favour such levels of potential government intervention, our people generally practice their agriculture in ways that you would consider suitable anyhows so -- especially bearing in mind your inclusion of the stipulation "where appropriate" -- it wouldn't really require such intervention in ourr case. So probably, at the worst from your viewpoint, we would abstain from voting rather than vote against this proposed resolution."

Artorrios o SouthWoods,
ChairBear, Bears Armed Mission at the World Assembly.

[Jarish Inyo]

So, now you want the WA to tell farmers what crops they grow and what live stock they can have? And where they can have their farms?

[Araraukar]

So, now you want the WA to tell farmers what crops they grow and what live stock they can have? And where they can have their farms?

Don't forget that it's also saying that argicultural technologies need to be given freely to nations who have trouble producing enough food for themselves.

I'd like to ask miss Santos what "holistic enterprise calendars of all agricultural operations, transhumance" mean? And also that is the proposal language forbidding the growing of the so-called cash crops instead of food, even if the nation in question uses the cash crops to buy food from other nations?

[Imperium Anglorum]

Okay then, onto policy. Why is this such a grand problem that we have to pay for it?

[Sciongrad]

Don't forget that it's also saying that argicultural technologies need to be given freely to nations who have trouble producing enough food for themselves.

"This is correct. Although do not conflate giving technology freely with giving tools and equipment freely."

I'd like to ask miss Santos what "holistic enterprise calendars of all agricultural operations, transhumance" mean?

"That first bit is probably needlessly wordy, but enterprise calendars of all agricultural operations are exactly what they sound like - calendars of all of the farm's yearly operations. Transhumance is moving livestock to new grazing locations seasonally.

And also that is the proposal language forbidding the growing of the so-called cash crops instead of food, even if the nation in question uses the cash crops to buy food from other nations?

"This resolution doesn't have language that specifically targets cash crops and even if it did, every clause contains the qualifier "whenever appropriate."

So, now you want the WA to tell farmers what crops they grow and what live stock they can have? And where they can have their farms?

"Sorry, I wouldn't want to get in the way of Jarish Inyo's right to starve its own people."

Okay then, onto policy. Why is this such a grand problem that we have to pay for it?

"Excellent, I love policy. As Sciongrad has stated previously, and as the proposal notes in its preamble, global hunger is an issue of sapient rights. It believes fundamentally that all people are entitled to safe and nutritious food, much in the same way they're entitled to freedom from slavery or torture. And the most basic step in resolving global hunger - aside from eliminating poverty - is promoting sustainable agriculture. Unsustainable agriculture is a system of diminishing returns, and poor farmers and urban laborers are typically the ones that suffer for it."

[Potted Plants United]

A large potted plant in a big plantpot with wheels suddenly comes to life, revealing a large leaf curled up to form a cone, from which a somewhat hissing voice can be heard:

"Should any nation require help in developing, say, salt-resistant varieties of their main crop plants, we are more than happy to offer our assistance, though not entirely freely. Also we will not - can not - reveal our "technology" in creating such varieties. For our selves tinkering with genes of other plants is no harder than it would be for a human with normal eye-sight to use a magnifying glass and tweezers to separate certain colour of grains of sand from a pile of multihued sand. Perhaps easier, as we do not need to operate the tweezers. But this knowledge cannot be passed forward as is, any more than you could explain to a blind person what the colour blue looks like."

[Tinfect]

Coordinating the transfer of relevant technology between member nations and helping member nations, especially low-income food-deficit nations in implementing such technologies if it is determined that they're locally suitable and effective in promoting sustainable agriculture,

"This clause alone renders the resolution unacceptable. The Imperium will not allow our technologies to fall into the hands of any foreign nations, for any reason. Standing Legislation alone provides sufficient reasoning.

Regardless of the technological provisions, we further cannot support this legislation, as it is not the place of the World Assembly to dictate the agricultural policies of the Imperium, nor is it qualified to alter a system that has supported more Citizens than have lived and died in the history most civilizations within the World Assembly, for centuries."

[Sciongrad]

Coordinating the transfer of relevant technology between member nations and helping member nations, especially low-income food-deficit nations in implementing such technologies if it is determined that they're locally suitable and effective in promoting sustainable agriculture,

"This clause alone renders the resolution unacceptable. The Imperium will not allow our technologies to fall into the hands of any foreign nations, for any reason. Standing Legislation alone provides sufficient reasoning.

"That clause does not mandate that member nations must transfer their technology, nor does it stipulate that the transfers must be free. You and others are inserting more meaning into that clause than the language itself holds."

Regardless of the technological provisions, we further cannot support this legislation, as it is not the place of the World Assembly to dictate the agricultural policies of the Imperium, nor is it qualified to alter a system that has supported more Citizens than have lived and died in the history most civilizations within the World Assembly, for centuries."

"Sciongrad is not convinced that National Sovereignty is an appropriate reason to let people die on the streets of starvation. Of course, if Tinfect does not experience hunger as a result of insufficient agricultural output, it does not need to implement any of the provisions listed in this proposal as every clause has the modifier 'whenever appropriate.'"

[Imperium Anglorum]

Okay then, onto policy. Why is this such a grand problem that we have to pay for it?

"Excellent, I love policy. As Sciongrad has stated previously, and as the proposal notes in its preamble, global hunger is an issue of sapient rights. It believes fundamentally that all people are entitled to safe and nutritious food, much in the same way they're entitled to freedom from slavery or torture. And the most basic step in resolving global hunger - aside from eliminating poverty - is promoting sustainable agriculture. Unsustainable agriculture is a system of diminishing returns, and poor farmers and urban laborers are typically the ones that suffer for it."

Yes, but why do we have to pay for it? But ignoring that section, historical evidence has shown that there have really be no famines in recorded history that have been caused by an actual shortfall in food production. All of them have been caused by a failure in the food distribution mechanism. Action there would be a much more efficient manner of dealing with the issue.

Also from an economic perspective, not all nations should produce food. Food production is only efficient in certain areas. Attempting to force other areas to produce food is a waste of resources that could have been used more efficiently. Doing so violates Pareto efficiency and thereby reduces the global economic surplus.

[Jarish Inyo]

So, now you want the WA to tell farmers what crops they grow and what live stock they can have? And where they can have their farms?

"Sorry, I wouldn't want to get in the way of Jarish Inyo's right to starve its own people."

Our subjects do not starve. No one goes without food if they are willing to work. We do not dictate to farmers what crops they can grow, what live stock they keep or where they can have their farms. Nor will we enforce this overreach of WA authority if passed. Nor will we give any technology of any form to any nation.

[Sciongrad]

"Excellent, I love policy. As Sciongrad has stated previously, and as the proposal notes in its preamble, global hunger is an issue of sapient rights. It believes fundamentally that all people are entitled to safe and nutritious food, much in the same way they're entitled to freedom from slavery or torture. And the most basic step in resolving global hunger - aside from eliminating poverty - is promoting sustainable agriculture. Unsustainable agriculture is a system of diminishing returns, and poor farmers and urban laborers are typically the ones that suffer for it."

Yes, but why do we have to pay for it?

"Because low-income food deficit nations will, in many cases, lack the resources necessary to implement relevant infrastructure and technology. Therefore, if we agree that global hunger is an issue of basic rights and thus international importance, it should follow that member nations must contribute towards ending it. The World Assembly has recognized health as an issue of international importance and has allocated countless resources through several bureaucracies to eliminate threats to it in the past. This is merely a continuity in that longstanding commitment."

"Sorry, I wouldn't want to get in the way of Jarish Inyo's right to starve its own people."

Our subjects do not starve. No one goes without food if they are willing to work. We do not dictate to farmers what crops they can grow, what live stock they keep or where they can have their farms. Nor will we enforce this overreach of WA authority if passed. Nor will we give any technology of any form to any nation.

"If low agricultural output does not contribute to hunger in Jarish Inyo and its environment can indefinitely continue to support its people's nutritional needs, then this resolution does not require it to do anything."

Also from an economic perspective, not all nations should produce food. Food production is only efficient in certain areas. Attempting to force other areas to produce food is a waste of resources that could have been used more efficiently. Doing so violates Pareto efficiency and thereby reduces the global economic surplus.

"This resolution does not demand that member nations farm or that they must implement every policy listed here. The policies listed in clauses 1-3 need only be implemented 'whenever appropriate.'"

But ignoring that section, historical evidence has shown that there have really be no famines in recorded history that have been caused by an actual shortfall in food production. All of them have been caused by a failure in the food distribution mechanism. Action there would be a much more efficient manner of dealing with the issue.

"That is a dangerous oversimplification of international hunger. Permanent ecological damage caused by unsustainable agricultural practices, like desertification, do indeed cause hunger, as well as poverty and displacement."

"Suggestions on a catchier name would be cool, too!" chimed Ricardo.

[Araraukar]

*snip*

OOC: I've missed having you around.

[Jarish Inyo]

*snip*

OOC: I've missed having you around.

LOL. Still around. Just not that many topics that peek my interest these days.

[Imperium Anglorum]

Solving famine and other issues is not a question of adopting sustainability efforts. It is really more of an issue of increasing the ability of food to go where it is necessary, or, failing that, make enough of it. The former would have to do with transportation infrastructure. The latter would have to do with crop yield. The solution for crop yield is greater mechanisation and more inputs into the farming process, since the current system of guy and his ox is not working. The former's solution is an entirely different issue.

[Sciongrad]

Solving famine and other issues is not a question of adopting sustainability efforts. It is really more of an issue of increasing the ability of food to go where it is necessary, or, failing that, make enough of it. The former would have to do with transportation infrastructure. The latter would have to do with crop yield. The solution for crop yield is greater mechanisation and more inputs into the farming process, since the current system of guy and his ox is not working. The former's solution is an entirely different issue.

"Environmental degradation decreases crop yield over time. This is not really disputable. Declining crop yield over time inevitably results in famine. I recognize that issues with food distribution mechanisms and transportation infrastructure cause famine, but so does unsustainable farming. The World Assembly is capable of addressing multiple causes of a problem at once. Furthermore, increased mechanization and agricultural input are not always the right solutions - increased inputs in particular are often only short term solutions which only exacerbate environmental stress. I will note, of course, that low-income food deficit nations cannot always afford to mechanize or increase inputs, hence the need for sustainable agriculture."

[Araraukar]

Declining crop yield over time inevitably results in famine food scarcity.

Let's be accurate. A food scarcity does not always equal famine, not if the nation's government is alert and functioning enough to take measures to avoid a famine, such as importing food, better distribution of what they have, or other actions, such as some of those that you have suggested.

OOC: Most RL nations import food from nations that have surplus, and very few produce enough to keep their population completely fed for long periods of time, if all borders were closed suddenly.

[Sciongrad]

Declining crop yield over time inevitably results in famine food scarcity.

Let's be accurate. A food scarcity does not always equal famine, not if the nation's government is alert and functioning enough to take measures to avoid a famine, such as importing food, better distribution of what they have, or other actions, such as some of those that you have suggested.

"Not always, you're right, but it often does for the targets of this resolution - low-income food deficit nations who cannot afford to import food or reform distribution mechanisms."

[Araraukar]

"low-income food deficit nations who cannot afford to import food or reform distribution mechanisms."

If they can't afford that, they can't afford to implement the changes this proposal suggests, and that can only mean that the WA, and thus ultimately the better-off WA nations who had the sense to secure their own food supply earlier, will end up paying for those reforms. And that sounds to me very unfair.

[Sciongrad]

"low-income food deficit nations who cannot afford to import food or reform distribution mechanisms."

If they can't afford that, they can't afford to implement the changes this proposal suggests, and that can only mean that the WA, and thus ultimately the better-off WA nations who had the sense to secure their own food supply earlier, will end up paying for those reforms. And that sounds to me very unfair.

"The purpose of this resolution is to help low-income food deficit nations implement the polices suggested in clause 1-3. The World Assembly has a long history of spending money to improve global health - this resolution builds off of that longstanding commitment. So frankly, I do not think it is unfair that wealthier nations need to contribute resources towards combating global hunger."