Arcane Agriculture Models: Manila Times

Agriculture’s tremendous success in producing more food than the world needs with fewer resources is also reducing prices. Even as the UN Food and Agriculture Organization suggests that 30 percent of the world's food goes wasted, the agriculture industry represents an increasingly smaller share of economic growth and jobs for both advanced and emerging economies. The industry carries great political weight and this can lead to treacherous protectionist maneuvers. Ben Kritz points out that, in the Philippines, prices are falling for the big export crops of rice, sugar and coconuts, yet industry should not imports or distributors. Kritz urges innovation, too often stifled by protectionism. Research can improve yields and identify appropriate crop diversity that can provide additional sources of income. Product development can also add value and supplement incomes. “The more farmers and agricultural stakeholders who can be convinced that maintaining the status quo is not the answer, the better chances farmers will have of actually earning a living they deserve.” – YaleGlobal