Much could be said about the interest and relevance of linking global warming and food sovereignty. Far from trying to be exhaustive, I shall only take a few examples here to illustrate the fact that the first consequence of recognising food sovereignty as a right of each state will be a reduction in global warming. The recognition of food sovereignty will first of all lead to a drop in imports of food stuffs for the benefit of domestic production. As a result there will be a reduction of transport and energy requirements and hence less production of green house gas.

The examples I quote are from West Africa, but I invite readers to look for similar examples in their own environment.

The day in which West Africa will have ensured adequate protection for its farm products, the urban citizens will rapidly discover that the farmers of ECOWAS member states are fully capable of providing the entire population with quality food.

When that day comes tomato pulp will no longer be imported from China (passing through Italy), but will be produced locally in many small industrial units, set up in the tomato growing areas.

Cocoa nut flakes will no longer be imported from France, but will come directly from the neighbouring coastal countries, where the processing will take place on the spot.

Farmers who have raised cattle for years, will be able to supply milk all year round and will have a source of additional income. Imports of milk powder and condensed milk will be substantially reduced.

In the course of a few years, rice yields will suffice to cover the bulk of the demand of the entire population. It will no longer be necessary to send rice to Koudougou by ship from Asia, continuing by train from Abidjan and by truck from Ouagadougou.

The Orodara region in south east Burkina will no longer be known for its mangoes and oranges only, but also for processing them into juice and jam.

Bread will not have disappeared, but other products will have come on the market, such as maize biscuits.

Those who stop at the coffee stalls along the road for their break-fast will be offered a good bowl of milk coffee, prepared with coffee beans from the Ivory Coast (and ground in their presence) and good milk from cow herds nearby.

There is even hope that Soumbala soy cubes will be taking the place of the Maggi or Jumbo cubes for flavour and sauce.

Cotton oil will have survived the various oils imported from Malaysia, such as the 100% GMO soy oils already on the shelves in Burkina’s grocery stores. (It should be pointed out that these GMO oils originate in the United States or in Latin America and are at present shipped to France for conditioning and export).

And our planet will all the better for it.

Koudougou, April 26, 2007
Maurice Oudet
Director, SEDELAN