Several months ago—long before any bank failures—an article in The Guardian examined the frightening similarities between the ongoing global financial crisis and a looming worldwide food crisis. The headline stated: “The banks collapsed in 2008 – and our food system is about to do the same” In short, today’s sophisticated, just-in-time food production and delivery systems often lack a back-up plan for when things go wrong. The article explains: “Beyond a certain point, a small disturbance can tip the entire system over its critical threshold, whereupon it collapses, suddenly and unstoppably … Features that might impede systemic collapse have been stripped away, exposing the system to ‘globally contagious’ shocks.” Even worse, the article reveals: “The food industry is becoming tightly coupled to the financial sector, increasing what scientists call the ‘network density’ of the system, making it more susceptible to cascading failure.” All of this is the result of streamlining the global network for maximum efficiency. While this is a good thing in some ways, it can also backfire extraordinarily. The Guardian explains: “You might imagine that this smooth system would enhance food security. But it has allowed companies to shed the costs of warehousing and inventories, switching from stocks to flows. Mostly, this just-in-time strategy works. But if deliveries are interrupted or there’s a rapid surge in demand, shelves can suddenly empty.” | 
