"Global food price increases a boost for all Kiwis" - really?

Reading the latest press release from Federated Farmers "Global food price increases a boost for all Kiwis" it leaves me with a bad taste. I think this is a very selfish and commerce orientated position fed farmers take there. It is a slap in the face of all people who fight for New Zealand being more self sufficient.

I know we all have to live and we here on our farm live from this system as well. But celebrating the huge issues the increase in food prices worldwide bring as a success is a bit ruthless and even unethical if you ask me. Last time we had revolts in Haiti and other places because people went hungry and couldn't afford to eat. Taking the position "Everything what brings money is good for us" doesn't really look very sustainable.

Where will we be should this system fall apart as the doom and gloom brigade called survivalists predict? Even if the world won't come to an end in 2012, the dependency we have with our export partners creates often difficult situations. We already had political and economical issues in the past when our government was ass-kissing Chinese officials.

As we already see with the new Food Bill 2010 our government is supporting export businesses over local markets. The Food Bill 2010 prepares the framework to align our food system with the US and the World Trading Organisation. We will be well prepared to meet overseas requirements. But are we well prepared to feed our own people with healthy food? I don't think so. But listening to organisations like Federated Farmers, all is well as long as we make money with our export business. That's all that counts in New Zealand. Really?