The Australian embassy to the Holy See on Wednesday hosted a conference on the crucial
economic, political, social and moral questions connected to food security - how can
we sustainably increase food production in the face of our planet's dwindling supplies
of water, oil, fossil fuels, agricultural lands and other natural resources. Australian
journalist Julian Cribb, author of a book entitled 'The Coming Famine', highlighted
some of the alarming scenarios as governments attempt to feed an ever increasing global
population. But his message is not all about gloom and doom – he believes that if
we wake up to the urgent challenges and develop a more equitable vision, there are
many creative ways of responding to the demand for food that is expected to double
over the next half century. Philippa Hitchen spoke to Cribb and to Bishop Marcelo
Sanchez Sorondo, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences who addressed the
conference on our moral responsibilites to ensure a just distribution of the gifts
of Creation..... Listen: