Impact of War on Agriculture

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Algeria
Delegate Name: Kelly Robinson
School: Royal Oak High School

War goes beyond turning fields into battle grounds, and we know that blood does not make a good fertilizer. Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP’s) are a product of some of the worst wars; these people are left without homes, and sometimes food and water as a result. With nowhere to go these homeless, hungry people roam to lands that have only enough resources to support its current inhabitants. This locust effect spreads, and soon entire areas are wiped out of resources. Wars effects are long lasting and severe to those who are unprepared, and who have little guidance.

When war and agriculture mix the outcome can be brutal; people who were once fighting with guns and knives, are now fighting with the hunger their bloody fields left them. Once the bread basket of Africa, Zimbabwe’s civil war has affected countless countries around it. Without the grains that Zimbabwe once provided for many countries in Africa, they are suffering the high prices of foreign grains. War in one country can collapse the economy of others. Now, almost ten years after war in Algeria has ended people are still feeling its effects. Poor land quality that already existed before times of war was only worsened by the bloodiest war in all of Algeria’s history. At the moment 25% of all working Algerians are involved in some way with the agriculture industry. As a nation we are working hard to provide as much food as we can while trying to maintain a strong economy.

Algeria also recognizes similar situations in countries that have struggled with war and its effects. Entire populations are threatened by a lack of food. Algeria would like to see a plan put in place that does not lead to an entirely homeless nation.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Angola
Delegate Name: Aaron Appel
School: Roeper School

War has an adverse effect on everything it comes into contact with, especially human lives, but war also has a major effect on the environment. For example, an agricultural community needs three things to prosper. One, there must be fertile land; two, this land must be able to be harvested either manually or mechanically; and three, there must be a market to trade the produced goods. During a conflict or war, the land is often poisoned, mined, burned, polluted, or neglected in some way. This can make the land infertile, unmanageable, and unmarketable, preventing the community from prospering. War can often indirectly damage the agriculture in a community by splitting ties between countries. This can effectively slow or stop international aid and trade, which can save a harvest from a pestilence, or prevent the importation of food from other countries.

The Republic of Angola realizes the severity of the impact of war on agriculture. In Angola, there are small, isolated, and vulnerable rural populations, which loose planting seasons because of poor quality seeds. These seeds are ineffective because farmers have difficulty storing them before trade on the current poor market.

Angola urgently requests assistance from the international community in the formation of a UN body to advise, assist, and coordinate the restoration of agricultural lands to productivity in areas that have seen significant destruction due to conflict. In Africa, Angola, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo would be examples of nations in significant need of such assistance.

If the impact of war on agriculture is brought to the public attention, then donations could be collected to aid the farmers to keep the agricultural community afloat. Financial support would work better than introducing new edible plants into different ecosystems, and the wide assortment of harmful effects that this action could have.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Austria
Delegate Name: Kara Harrison
School: Forest Hills Northern High School

The impact of war on agricultural development has constantly proved to be devastating. One of the most onerous examples is Ethiopia’s famine. Ethiopians face annual food-price inflation of more than 75%. This is due to an armed rebellion in Somali that disrupted food distribution, a drought that killed off an entire spring crop, and an assortment of plagues (Rick Hampson, USA Today). This is not the first time Ethiopia has been besieged by a famine, their last extreme one was in 1985. Many times famine is a reoccurring event that needs to be stopped. Often agricultural troubles have an underlying source of war. Battlegrounds can overturn prosperous lands into chemical dumps, bountiful rivers into streams of disease; food products are prevented to enter a country because of political disputes. Austria believes that with long term programs with concrete actions made by all countries that should carry out policies related to food security and war regulations.

Austria is not individually suffering from agricultural tribulations at this time, but can identify with the hardships of them. A large extent of WWI was fought in trenches; gases were released in these trenches to kill soldiers. The foremost gases released were tear gas (aerosols causing eye irritation), mustard gas (cell toxic gas causing blistering and bleeding), and carbonyl chloride (carcinogenic gas). Battlefields were contaminated, and unexploded ammunition caused major problems in former combat regions. Austria was unable to cultivate these regions impeding their ability to provide for their people. Obviously Austria has recovered and developed. Now Austria attaches extreme importance to international endeavors on behalf of environmental conservation.

In 1992 the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and the Statement of principles for the Sustainable Management of Forests (Agenda 21) were adopted by more than 178 Governments at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) was created to ensure effective follow-up of UNCED, to monitor and report on implementation of the agreements at the local, national, regional and international levels. Austria adopted Agenda 21 and strongly supports the CSD in their fight against famine. Some of the main subjects of Agenda 21 are the review of national and regional agricultural policy, inter alias to foreign trade, price policy, exchange rate policies, agricultural subsidies and taxes, as well as organization for regional economic integration. Also considering demographic trends and population movements and identifying critical areas for agricultural production and promoting social and economic research and policies that encourage sustainable agriculture development, particularly in fragile ecosystems and densely populated areas.

Austria believes that the effects of war on agriculture can be suppressed by the efforts of developed and undeveloped countries by omitting the underlying issues. To neglect these issues would cause great turbulence in the many years to come. Austria would like to increase the potential of the land in hunger stricken regions. Austria would also like to balance these country’s economical means to better provide for agricultural needs, not only for their people but also for export, to help their surrounding neighbors.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Belarus
Delegate Name: Kailene Schabes
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School

While the Global Food Crisis, for justifiable reasons, is receiving abundant attention, some of its triggers, such as war, go without suitable notice or concern. War has a large impact on the vulnerable and fragile system of agriculture. Its effects are both direct and indirect but both disrupt the agricultural process and fuel the Global Food Crisis.

Since 1954, the number of armed conflicts has been increasing. There are an estimate 30 major and 80 to 100 minor conflicts throughout the world, most of which are in rural, low-intensity areas where farmers and their work are disrupted. In Vietnam, as a result of the Vietnam War, unexploded bombs inhabit potential farm land. In the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea, Ethiopia has tried to disrupt Eritrea’s agriculture as a strategy. The bombs there have made farming and herding dangerous. The dropping of the atomic bomb to end World War II caused agricultural devastation up to 7 miles from the drop site. Plants and animals were killed in the blast and later from radiation poisoning. In Sudan, farmers often abandon their own land for their own protection. The farms in Ethiopia and Somalia are currently being devoured by plagues of locusts, but the countries are hesitant to declare a state of emergency because of their dispute. Belarus has also experienced the effects of war on agriculture first hand. WWII ruined our agriculture and as a result, we were forced to rely heavily upon other countries such as Russia, for a source of energy and raw material.

Agriculture is a fragile system that needs fertile, undisturbed farmland, a workforce, and a market, all of which are disrupted by war. War prevents transportation of seeds, livestock and products, directly destroys farmland, increases fertilizer prices, poisons and pollutes animals and fauna, reduces biodiversity, takes money that could be used to prevent/reduce agricultural problem, and much more. Since agriculture is often a large part of a country’s economy and essential to fighting the Global Food Crisis, the devastating impact of war on agriculture must be reduced. As it is unlikely that countries will end conflict to protect agriculture, Belarus encourages them to at least not destroy it as a strategy. This effort will take money, years, and unity and needs more attention and concern now.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Bolivia
Delegate Name: Allie LeVasseur
School: Forest Hills Central High School

Entering a war can mean many things for those involved in agriculture. As a farmer, and a citizen, being recruited is an option. Citizens won’t have as much income during the war, and crops may spoil sitting in the market. Enemy troops may seize farmland, or it may lie vacant if there aren’t enough workers to run it properly. For all citizens it means that food may become scarce, and cutting back on food is a very real possibility. War is a stressful time for a country and all of its citizens as well. Bolivia is in the midst of a war itself, however it’s not the type that normally comes to mind. We’re in a war with ourselves.

Bolivia is the world’s third largest producer of cocaine. In recent years the United States has in combined effort with our government, tried to put a stop to drug trafficking in Bolivia. Coca is a main crop that farmers cultivate in Bolivia. We want to stop the trafficking, but shutting it off cold turkey would mean several thousand citizens would lose their jobs, digging Bolivia’s economy even deeper. However recently President Evo Morales banned United States anti-drug agents from working in Bolivia. Morales believes that we can fight drug trafficking on our own. This has only strained our relations with the United States even more, considering a large sum of our cocaine is sent straight to them. Since 2006, Morales has pursued a policy of “zero cocaine, but not zero coca”. This policy allows tens of thousands of farmers to grow coca for legal purposes. We don’t want to see our economy suffer, but we cannot allow this illegal behavior to continue.

There are several countries, the United States being one of them, which would say that we are permitting dangerous behaviors, and that there is no way that just our national police can combat these crimes. However, in many developing nations, farming is a key part of their unstable economy, and they can see that all we want to do is protect our citizen’s livelihood. Venezuela has taken many of the same actions as Bolivia in the course of combating drug trafficking.

Bolivia is trying to preserve what little economic stability that we have left, and with Morales’s “zero cocaine, but not zero coca” policy we are trying to do just that. Protecting jobs for citizens while still fighting drug trafficking.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Brazil
Delegate Name: Conner Fitzpatrick
School: Saline High School

Brazil is aware of the devastating effects that war can have on agriculture. Roughly 23% of Brazil's GDP lies in its economic sector, and although it has not directly engaged in a war since its independence from Portugal in 1822, the imagined results could be horrific. When crops are destroyed in a conflict-ridden area, the people living in it feel the immediate effects. Often, war has the effect of not only destroying crops, but the land that was used to cultivate them. Pollution, burning and sterilization of the land result in non-arable areas that could have been used to feed families and support the agricultural sector of a nation's economy. For countries with high subsistence-farmer populations, food crises often occur, and this is of course tragic for all those involved.

In Somalia, the world saw limited resources as the cause of famine and civil disruption during the country's civil war in the 1990's. Even now, millions of Somalis receive food aid- and it is clear that even years after a war has terminated in a country, its effects are still lasting: its people are left destitute, without food and much of their formerly fertile land now being useless.

Somalia's civil war serves as an example to the world of the grave impact of war on agriculture. As a global community, if we fail to address this issue, we will fail to address key human rights guaranteed to all citizens of the world. If we ignore it, we will be neglecting our humanitarian values and our own value for peace. Brazil believes that war is something that should be avoided at all costs, because its effects can be seen in almost every area of what it ravages- be it agriculture, the environment, even the lives of those who are forced to witness it.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Cameroon
Delegate Name: Mike Ruggles
School: Traverse City West High School

The impact of war on the agriculture has greatly affected the world and countries surrounding Cameroon. Warfare is inherently destructive of sustainable development. Application of weapons, the destruction of structures and oil fields, fires, military transport movements and chemical spraying are all examples of the destroying impact war may have on the environment. Air, water and soil are polluted, man and animal are killed, and numerous health affects occur among those still living. Many civilian lives have been taken from past wars and wars of today.

The impact of war has even gone as far as making it harder to produce food. Villages have been ruined and many civilians are now homeless. For example, in the Darfur region of Sudan, farmers have been driven off their land violently. This causes two main problems. One, there is now less food being produced and two, the farmers being driven off their land are now homeless and starving. Many farmlands are covered with land mines and other violent objects from past wars and current wars. This can make farmlands unusable for many years even after a war has ended. Some farmlands have even been burned, polluted and purposely poisoned. Conflict may even stop the needed transportation of food from farms that haven't yet been destroyed. Conflict also causes famine. Many schools have been targeted in war too. It is very unsafe for children. There is nothing good about war and it needs to end.

President Paul Biya of Cameroon sais this issue is only getting worse and he will use all legal means to end as much violence as he can. Cameroon will need more help though. Cameroon's policies are against war and Cameroon is very committed to the war on corruption and conflict. Cameroon and Africa Action calls on the U.S. to do everything necessary to secure the rapid deployment of the complete peacekeeping operation authorized by United Nation Security Council Resolution 1769 to protect civilians and humanitarian efforts. This must be coupled with new diplomatic efforts. The U.S. and the international community must pursue both these strategies as part of a comprehensive approach to nationwide peace. This will require increased diplomatic engagement to support the implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the North-South civil war in Sudan. Overall, Cameroon knows that nobody can change the wars of the past and the impact it has had on the agriculture but people can help to eliminate the wars and conflicts of today in order to save the agriculture.

In the 62nd session with the General Assembly, Cameroon strongly supported resolution A/RES/62/275. This resolution was for the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa. Cameroon believes this resolution could greatly help Africa. Cameroon also supports the resolution A/RES/63/23 which is for the promoting of development through the reduction and prevention of armed violence.

Cameroon also supports the UN Trust Fund in support of actions to eliminate violence against women. Cameroon also shows its support for the United Nations Security Council which approved "United Nations Security Council Resolution 1706"; Resolution 1706 which called for a new 20,600-troop UN "Peacekeeping" peacekeeping force called UNAMID to supplant or supplement a poorly funded and ill-equipped 7,000-troop "African Union Mission in Sudan" Mission in Sudan peacekeeping force. Cameroon feels that Africa needs more UN actions just like the actions stated above.

To address this issue, Cameroon feels the need to urge governments to fight domestic violence. Once a government has achieved this goal, it would be right to help other suffering regions and nations to achieve this same goal. In the committees resolution, Cameroon would like to see a drastic decrease in violence in and around cities and also a decrease in violence hurting the agriculture of Africa.

Cameroon calls upon developed nations around the world to help out with a decrease in global violence. Cameroon would not only like to eliminate violence in Africa, but the rest of the world also. Our agriculture needs to be saved and war needs to end.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Canada
Delegate Name: Taylor Pawlanta
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School

Ever since the horrific events of September 11, the United States has aspired to end the battle against terrorism. Planes crashing into the World Trade Centers and thousands of innocent citizens being killed have led the United States to retaliate against their enemy- Iraq. Being over six years after the war was started, over $800 billion dollars spent, over five thousand lives lost, and over thirty thousand soldiers wounded causes our nation to think- Are we in this ostensibly endless war alone? Not entirely. Our neighboring country to the north, Canada, is seeking to help reach peace in the Middle East as much as what is doable.

In 2003, Canada opted out of joining the United States in their war in Iraq. Though Canada has declined taking part of the invasion citing The International Laws as reason, the true basis for this opposition derived from the United Nations disapproval of the United States’ invasion plan. The leader of the Alliance Party in Canada, Stephan Harper, disagreed with the countries decision and believed that Canada should be fighting alongside their neighboring country. Canadian leaders also opposed the falsely accused charges the United States and the United Kingdom urgently pushed to attack Iraq on. Help comes in more than just one form.

Aside from the actual invasion and battles in Iraq, Canada has aided the United States in numerous ways. Canada is to be thanked for the training of police and army-officers in post-war Iraq. Canadian officers and international teams were sent to observe the 2005 Iraqi elections and the writing of their constitution. Canadian Air Force members were allowed to fly in combat missions over Iraq with the American forces. Need we not forget the $300 million that was given to help reconstruct and rebuild the war torn cities.

The war efforts in Iraq have little effect in both the United States and Canada, but the opposite can be said about Iraq. Iraqi citizens can be frightened to leave their houses and have been forced to move from their familiar surroundings. Previous businesses, if thought to be the least corrupt, can be shut down. Farming and agriculture has always been a major staple in the Iraqi economy. The crop varies upon the weather, but the United States troops moving into the country have caused the availability of land to cultivate to decrease; therefore, the economy is deemed to suffer some.

Some may say the world is not as safe as it once was, some may say that war is the answer to all disagreements, and some may say that peace should always be kept no matter how tempting war may be. Canada is known to some as the historic peacekeeper in a world that struggles to keep peace. Though Canada does not instantly engage in combat, they engage instantly in efforts of creating peace without violence. All countries should first try to achieve peace without violence. This could save both lives and money.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: China
Delegate Name: Lauren Walkiewicz
School: Roeper School

The international community’s agricultural is under enormous pressure because of the current world food crisis. China, with a population of over 1.3 billion, or almost a quarter of the people on the planet, has in the past struggled to feed its population. Today, with the added pressures of war, many nations’ have had their food supplies seriously disrupted, with adverse affects for their people. Because humans naturally live in a web of interdependence, war affects more than the lives of soldiers killed in combat, but disrupts nations’ agricultural output. The ravages of war are detrimental to things such as seed acquisition, planting, fertilizing, watering, harvesting, and disturbs the harvest of crops. War also negatively impacts the agricultural workforce, which furthers the problem.

For millennia, China has faced the threat of starvation, never so much as when wars disrupted crop production. China believes that in the face of disruption of war, developed nations should be willing to support the production and food needs of developing nations in order for to help them restore their crop yield. China feels that developed nations should supply food aid for nations whose populaces may face malnutrition or starvation. China urges all nations to work in conjunction with the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in order to maximize global food reserves. Developed nations and food exporting nations should take a leading role in food relief for regions affected by war which face food shortages.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Cuba
Delegate Name: Sara Adelman
School: Williamston High School

War can ruin the agricultural integrity of the land, cause poverty, hunger, and famine in countries involved in war. The Republic of Cuba recognizes this repercussion of war around the world and at home. Cuba has faced the consequences of a political war, and is now unable to trade with wealthy nations. This has caused shortages of many useful and necessary goods and services to Cuba and its people.

When a war is fought on any nation’s soil, the agriculture becomes injured. Farmers may either flee for their and their family’s lives to a safer area, or be forced off of their own land by war officials. Or, some may join the fight, leaving behind their families and crops, to stand up for what they believe in, although some are forced unwillingly into an army. In any war there are fatalities, which then result in a smaller population, therefore there are less people in the agricultural business. Chemicals left behind from bullets and bombs can permanently alter the earth, tainting all crops that are grown from it. In war, people may become reckless, polluting the soil with trash that hurts the environment. Some wars result in the intentional contamination of the land. All of the above can cripple agriculture, and therefore the economy, of a country for years.

In the past, war has completely annihilated arable land and stripped it of agricultural integrity, this continues into the present time, and will happen in the future, unless the global community cooperates through the United Nations, while still retaining and respecting each country’s national sovereignty. War does not affect just one group of people or one country, but the entire world population, so it is important to reiterate the consequences of careless, devastating war.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Czech Republic
Delegate Name: Ryan Lakin
School: Cranbrook Kingswood

Food insecurity stands as one of the great problems of modern times. Along with the global food crisis the world is currently confronting, another grave issue is the impact of warfare on agricultural production. Throughout history, warfare has always impacted agriculture for a variety of reasons. Citizens who work the land have often been sent into battle, thus taking away a large pool of labor. Armies encroach on and destroy farmland. Farmers from rival groups in a conflict are often thrown off their land, which means that the land lies unnecessarily bare. The Czech Republic has long advocated policies by this body and by governments around the world that first and foremost prevent war. In the absence of being able achieve that result, the Czech Republic advocates that this body promote a code of conduct in war that would prevent many of the most disturbing abuses and disruptions to agricultural productions that wars often bring along with them. Also, the Czech Republic strongly suggests a firm and enforceable set of sanctions for governments and or armies that prosecute war in manners against international laws and protocols.

Although developed nations may on the surface not seem to have much of a stake in this problem, the whole matter goes to the essence of international stability. The world, an increasingly interdependent global village, cannot enjoy peace unless the whole planet enjoys. Conflicts in one area invariably lead to problems and consequences throughout the entire globe.

As the examples of Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia demonstrate, armies often wield food and famine as weapons. The Czech Republic calls on this body to take note of such practices. The Czech Republic also calls on the world community to unite and present a unified voice to communicate to rogue states and rogue militias that there are serious consequences to wielding famine as a weapon and waging war against innocent civilian populations by depriving them of food and land.

On top of simply acknowledging this sorry state of affairs, the Czech Republic strongly urges this body to finally put some muscle into its rhetoric. Many of the rogue countries and militias who perpetrate such acts behave with impunity. They know that the international community is more rhetoric than action. Cognizant that rhetoric does not work to decrease these despicable acts, we call upon this body to form an international food security strike force that could be deployed in conflict-ridden regions to secure sustenance and safety for those non-combatants who suffer. Without the threat of serious consequences, the rogues political actors of the world will not have any credible deterrent to stop them from behaving improperly and imperiling innocent lives. As it stands now, there is little hope of prosecuting them, let alone punishing them. It is time for that situation to change.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: France
Delegate Name: Imari Swanson
School: Flint Central Academy

War can present devasting effects on the enviornment. From the many hazardous weapons and chemical sprayings that are involved when it comes to war, many environmental effects are brought about. One of war's biggest impacts is its effect on drinking water. All of the bombings and chemicals being release into the enviroment during war, causes chemicals to leak, thus polluting the air, soil, and water.Many times, its not only the actual phyiscal damage done during war that has an impact on agriculture. Financing war does too. Extensive timber looging to finance war efforts, sometimes lead to deforestation. Deforestation may lead to severe flooding, damaging crops and causing a shortage in food. Animals die during war from toxicants, crops are destroyed by the acid rain, and soil erosion occurs, due to movement of heavy machinery. All of this corruption on agriculture, leads to broken economies.

France is currently the second leading nation in agriculture. Since France's last involvement in war events, one of our main focuses has been engaging in agriculture related events. With nearly 730 thousand farms, approximately 7 percent of our workforce is employed in agriculture. France's las involvement in war, was during World War II, and we have made significant efforts to modernize French agricultural production since then.

France is aware of the impact that War World II had on the European Union's agriculture and its food supply. Knowing this, France strives to stray away from war involvement, and encourages the same to all nations. We also would like to see a resolution that expresses the benefits of using more scientific methods and modern equipment, when overcoming war effects on agriculture.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Greece
Delegate Name: Libby Milanowski
School: Forest Hills Northern High School

War has been around for as long as humans have been around and what people never realized is the long term effects that it can have on this planet concerning agriculture. During a war chemical weapons may be used and affecting the soil and what kind of plants can grow there. In Darfur and Sudan farmers were forced to join the army and left their land or they were driven off of their land. These events cause the amount of foods available to decrease and starvation will soon follow. This type of pattern has been going on for generations and generations and even though the weapons have become more advanced the effects on the world are exactly the same. There is always a country that is left in ruins and needs to pick itself back up again. Help needs to be available and people need to be ready to help.

Greece has a perfectly good idea on how war can have a major effect on the country concerning agriculture. The Greeks fought a war of independence from the Turks for years. Greece also fought in World War One where there was trench warfare and chemical gases used. The trenches cause erosion which makes it hard for crops to take root. The chemicals used in WWI may have also been absorbed into the soil, contaminating it and making it impossible to grow crops. Greece was poor and underdeveloped during these times but when agriculture picked up and there was more industrialization Greece was able to recover from countless wars.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has always been a big help during war times in terms of getting food and supplies to countries who are suffering. For example in Ethiopia and Somalia there were swarms of locusts flying around and eating the people’s crops. Ethiopia has been already faced with a large famine because of a fungus that was already plaguing the crop before the locusts. The FAO tried to get the two countries to work together to fight this bug but it was difficult because the two countries were still at odds with each other. The FAO worked with other countries to help Ethiopia and Somalia and provided aid to the starving countries but unfortunately it is not enough if you cannot get two countries to work together before they starve to death.

Greece feels that there should be more help to countries in need and that as soon disputes are known they should be taken care of before a war breaks out and people’s land gets blown away by bombs and is not farmable therefore causing the whole country to starve.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Haiti
Delegate Name: Sarah Olson
School: Ann Arbor Community High School

As the poorest country in the Caribbean and western hemisphere, Haiti is in dire need of assistance. We need financial help from the United Nations. We need food from other countries. Our country as a whole is starving and dying from malnourishment. The progress we had made to restore farmland was combated and destroyed by tropical storms and hurricanes. We have here a Humanitarian Crisis.

In just three weeks, Haiti has been hit by four major storms. We endured tropical storm Fay, and eight days latter hurricane Gustav did an incredible amount of additional damage. A few days latter, tropical storm Hanna ravaged what was left for six days straight. Followed by that, hurricane Ike took out whatever stood in his path. In these weeks, we have lost over 600 of our citizens. The death tolls from the storms will grow with the deaths of the malnourished due to the destruction of their cities and towns.

"What has happened here is unimaginable," member of parliament Pierre-Gerome Valcine told the AFP from Cabaret, 22 miles north of the capital. Hundreds of bodies have also been found in Gonaives, a town of 350,000 people in northwestern Haiti, after a 16-foot wall of water and mud engulfed most of the town.

Recovering from this storm has not been easy. Floods have contributed to the destruction of our farmlands and destroyed our crops. The declining soil fertility has made improvements even harder. We need UN support to replenish the goods we lost. Farms need new seeds and equipment to begin production of food to help combat the spreading starvation. With people out of jobs, we need cheaper imports of food. If we have the resources and people aren’t making money, then they will not be able to afford food and this will not help our problem.

3.8 million Haitians have had their homes destroyed by the storms and are now homeless. The do not have anything, and any food or money they might have saved has been washed away with the rest of their possessions. Aid in the form of material possessions is needed as well; from other countries that can cloth our families and help them begin a new life.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: India
Delegate Name: Olivia Najor
School: Royal Oak High School

Sustainable agriculture is seen in terms of adaptability and flexibility over a specific amount of time in response to the demand of food. With rising prices of food in India, sustainable agriculture has become a prominent issue to the Indian people and government. Certain agricultural methods, that may require a more conscious approach, will ultimately create conditions for sustainable development.

Because of the high level of war surrounding the republic of India, water, soil and air are being polluted at a tremendous level. Conserving the environment will allow the sustainability of resources. Fields are standing useless because of unexploded bombs. They cannot be touched until they are removed, causing a shortage of land to farm on. Fields in which farmers use to produce the crops necessary to live cannot be disturbed by human activities. Some fields will be affected for years after a conflict has ended, because farmers will be driven away from the land if there are landmines scattered throughout them. If a war is taking place during the peak time of a crop, farmers will lose a high percentage of their profit, ultimately affecting the entire country of India. The international community needs to fight against the act of destroying of farmland as a war technique.

Although India is concerned with the stability of our country’s agriculture, we put forth the effort to make sure other countries are secure in their post-war activities. For example, India has recently signed pacts with Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua for the abolition of Visa requirements to people who hold official and diplomatic passports. Because India has such high agricultural security, other countries have started to rely on India to help them guide them through their agricultural instabilities.

Not only do crops need to be produced in an efficient and organic manner, but the soil and natural resources need to be protected throughout this process. War is prevalent amongst surrounding countries of the republic of India and has been seen throughout India itself, but that fact remains that growth and stability of agriculture needs to be sustained and the only way to do that is to have a local workforce available to take care of traditional sowing and harvesting, and to operate modern equipment to accomplish the tasks at hand. War is destructive to the fields and needs to be aimed somewhere other than farming land in order for India to sustain its security in agriculture.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Indonesia
Delegate Name: Dylan Lancaster
School: Traverse City West High School

Indonesia understands the importance of agriculture and how war can affect the industry and production of food, making it extremely difficult for the country to provide for its people. Our nation once was a major importer of rice and recently became self sufficient in that sector. The World has witnessed foreign tanks tread and tear up fields and crops, seen farms burned to nothing and farmers to afraid to tend to their cultivations for fear of their lives. Most nations afflicted by these terrible tactics do not have the infrastructure or strength to maintain or provide excess food for their citizens. The United Nations and all other bodies have the duty and overwhelming responsibility to help these nations to regain agricultural independence and to condemn those nations attempting infringe on their sovereignty though agricultural devastation.

The state of Indonesia feels that agricultural cooperative should be established between diplomatic allies. Countries with surpluses would then provide for countries in need of food to feed their populace. This would encourage nations conduct themselves in a more diplomatic manner and improve relations with countries ensure their accountably in times of food insecurity. The cooperative would be overseen by a body of the United Nations to ensure that all aspects are being carried out and are effective in eliminating food insecurity.

In addition to this cooperative, a stock pile of commodities will be set up though the United Nations from all willing and able donor nations. These commodities will be used only in cases of extreme agriculture inefficiency and would be handled on a case by case basis by a committee formed within the United Nations.

This dilemma that is unraveled on the world stage is one that does not end over night. As citizens of the world and members of the United Nations it’s time to help our sister nations to combat this unfortunate reality in the world of war and agriculture today.

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Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Iraq
Delegate Name: Reeve Foreman
School: Flint Central Academy

Trying to defeat an opponent by suppressing their access to food and water has been a timeworn tradition that has been used since the time of the Romans. However, while it is an effective strategy to defeat your enemy, it is a process that often continues to affect the area even after the conflict has ended. This means that it severely impedes on the ability of the nations to go ahead with their development and own self sustaining ways. This prevents people living in affected areas from being able to earn an honest living. A war can also cause a rapid and damaging consumption of natural materials that leaves the land in dire condition afterwards. There are many problems that must first be resolved to take care of the problem at hand.

Agriculture is important in many developing countries as a way to support and feed their people. However, when due to famine or disease, a country is no longer able to provide its people with food, aid is shipped in for the country to distribute to its people. The only problem is that most people will take advantage of this situation and take the food to hold people hostage. Another scenario is when the fields of farmers are destroyed, it might take years for the farmer to grow a profitable crop. The solution to these problems is to ban this form of warfare. While that still leaves the question of how to deal with rebel groups that are not under the control of sovereign government, the country of Iraq believes that this is a solution that can be reached when the body convenes.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Japan
Delegate Name: Andrew Sauvie
School: Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy

War is an inevitable problem throughout the world; it is unfortunately an unavoidable and crippling problem to every nation, notwithstanding the nation of Japan. The great country of Japan has unfortunately seen many devastating wars and we have also been forced to engage in wars. War can have many negative effects on the economy. A large portion of our economy comes from our agricultural exploits. War has the potential to destroy crops and cause hunger problems throughout the war-torn country. War can disrupt the order of any country, and, often times, war affects all of the countries that transact trade with and border the countries involved in war. Wars eventually end, but the scars and damage that war leaves behind remain forever.

Agriculture is necessary to feed the population of a country and to support business and their international trade. Agriculture is often the largest sector of a nation’s economy; over-reliance on agriculture can cause problems throughout a nation due to the likelihood of fames and death caused by crop failure. The disruption of a nation’s economy through war causes families to struggle without the income of many males that must leave to fight the war and with the overall devastation of the nation’s economy; without a steady income, many families cannot pay their bills or buy basic necessities. Without food and agriculture, a country can become economically-crippled and can disintegrate politically. Countries rely on agriculture for both nourishment, income, and to support the nation’s over-all economy. Japan believes that the United Nations should, first and foremost, work to prevent wars. If this proves impossible, the United Nations must deliver food relief to the war-devastated nations while encouraging a peaceful and enduring resolution to the conflict.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Kazakhstan
Delegate Name: Jermayne Hairston
School: Royal Oak High School

We all recognize that war devastates all who are surrounded by it and its effects can be long lasting. The violence that erupts with war brings many causalities but the after-effects a war has on the environment and specifically agriculture can be as equally devastating as warfare itself. Many times the causalities are the innocent as can be seen in the Darfur region of Sudan. During warfare, farmland and valuable equipment can be destroyed along with a significant drop the number of the workforce willing and able to till and the farm the land. Today, an estimated 30 major conflicts and 80 to 100 minor conflicts occur each year. Many of these conflicts occur in rural areas where farmers are victims or are forced into warfare. If they do not succumb to either of these fates than a large proportion are simply forced off of their lands. Many times these wars occur in an environment where the land is traditionally difficult to farm. During war experienced framers who understand the land and how it must be maintained to turn a crop are lost. We have seen a profound example of this occur in Zimbabwe when Robert Mugabe recaptured lands that had belonged to Caucasian settlers for generations and redistributed these lands to inexperienced African citizens. In most developing countries, where many violent conflicts occur, most people survive financially by merely what they can raise and sell. Those who cannot create a successful harvest will not only themselves go hungry but will also not have the opportunity to sell food to others.

The Republic of Kazakhstan recognizes how damaging war can be on agriculture and with the sharp rise in the cost of food, one slight tip of the scale and millions upon millions will be left hungry. Solving this problem may be as complex as resolving the current food crisis. We must develop solutions that will survive conflicts big and small. We need to be sure that valuable land is under the direction of experienced farmers, staple crops are a priority, and attempts are made to grow seeds that can be easily managed and maintained.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Madagascar
Delegate Name: Amy Jozwiak
School: Ann Arbor Community High School

Madagascar has trouble producing enough food for our own people a war would just make it much worse. Madagascar is a peaceful nation so we currently do not have to worry about the effects of war on our agriculture. We do feel bad for the other countries that are suffering from food deficiency due to war such as in Ethiopia and Somalia who are getting very close to a famine. Hunger is a terrible thing and for that to be caused by war in your country is even worse.

We do not currently have any policies affecting this issue but if it did become a problem we would surely find a way to keep our peoples needs met in the face of war. We do have problems producing food as it is but we would try even harder if there was a crisis to our state of well being. Although we do not posses many resources to aid other countries in need we are willing to do what we can in order to make their need known to those countries that do have to power to help. We have a lot of concern for those countries that are in need even though we have not assisted earlier. As a member of the UN we believe that we need to do everything we can to help the people suffering from war.

Madagascar would like to see all the people affected by war helped. Donations of seeds could be a great way to assist these countries in need. It is not their fault that these conflicts are occurring and giving them food and other resources would be a great way of making their lives that much better. Madagascar would agree with our ally, France, on whatever stand they decide to take on the Impact of War on Agriculture.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Malawi
Delegate Name: Kyla Taylor
School: Royal Oak High School

Agricultural advancements are very important and beneficial to the global community. Agriculture plays a valuable role in our everyday lives by not only providing us with food, but also by maintaining a strong economy. On a worldwide basis, more people are in some way involved in agriculture than in all other occupations combined. Some nations are not being given the proper opportunity to advance as come others do, directly caused by the wars they are experiencing in their nations.

Ethiopia and Somalia are in constant fisticuffs, for example, and the impacts of the issue are hurting the community of people, because the agricultural burdens that the war has. Many of the farmers are being recruited to fight in wars and the soldiers are constantly trotting over farmland, attempting to hurt the country’s profits and health. Instead of only hurting the government, however, many innocent people are being killed and the agricultural market is suffering.

Malawi has vowed to, through the African Union Peacekeeping Mission, assist Somalia in ending the wars and gaining peace amongst the African Nations, In theory, the mission will help to end or slow down the wars, which will end its affects on the agriculture of both countries. Until the wars cease, it is up to the international society to help the countries to sustain their markets, and ways of feeding their people, and save the agricultural markets in order to survive, and help provide for the entire International community.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Malaysia
Delegate Name: Evalyn Carter
School: Ann Arbor Community High School

Malaysia is not a very violent country. We do not have many wars and mostly keep to ourselves when ever possible. Because of this the Impact of War on Agriculture does not affect Malaysia greatly. But that does not mean that we do not have a say on what happens in the rest of the world.

Malaysia has had farming problems lately but none of that is because of wars. Malaysia has mostly been affected by the tsunami that hit many major fishing boats and docks. This is a problem that Malaysia is currently trying to clean up as fast as possible. The Agriculture in Malaysia has not been altered greatly by wars in and around country.

Malaysia believes that all people should be helped and is willing to do so. Although Malaysia does not have an s food of an agriculture growth that it once had, we will try and help everywhere that we can. But we want to make sure that it is known that we are not interested in getting pulled in to any wars that any other country is having. If it seems like in any way that we might be also pulled into a war either between countries or civil wars, then Malaysia will have to first consider there people.

The Impact of war on Malaysia’s Agriculture is not a problem. We have further problems with our crops and tsunami recovery but none that have to do with any problems that are caused by war. Malaysia is willing to help any country that needs help as long as Malaysia does not have to get caught in other countries wars. Impact of war on agriculture is a large problem in the world and Malaysia is here to help.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Mozambique
Delegate Name: Madeline Martin
School: Forest Hills Central High School

Wars of the Common Era can be devastating on many levels. Wars wipe out mass amounts of people, damage civilizations, and put countries into debt. Wars can also take a toll on something most people wouldn’t consider-agriculture. Once farmland is disturbed and uprooted it is no longer fertile and therefore cannot harvest produce. This is a terrible penalty for any country to face, and when a war occurs, it only increases the chances of farmland to be ruined. Farmland can be burned, filled to the brim with land mines, poisoned, and polluted during wars and there is not one country to blame because many countries use the idea of destroying farmland a war tactic. It is hard enough to feed the world; there is no need for another excuse for famine and hunger. If there are no fertile farmlands, and not enough food for all, the world will cease to exist as we know it.

Mozambique has suffered greatly because of Konzo, a food poisoning from the cassava plant. Cassava plants are simple food sources for millions of citizens of Mozambique and people need them to survive. Because of recent food shortages caused from insufficient agriculture, people are forcing themselves to eat unripe cassava. This lack of farmland is a side effect from wars. There are not enough fields to grow produce because of landmines and other damaging factors. People who just want to eat and have a meal are being harmed by what they rely on for food. In order for this to be stopped, Mozambique has launched a Landmine Monitor Report that will foresee and survey land in order to protect and prevent people from future landmine explosions.

Many countries inflicted with landmines will agree and support this simple policy. It is completely covered by tax dollars and will save millions from the destruction of landmines. Countries can help also by providing scientists and education to rid the land of mines.

The Mine Ban Policy adopted by the government of Mozambique is a policy that all can follow. It is fair game for alterations and changes and can be formed to fit any country.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: New Zealand
Delegate Name: Shirin Chaphalkar
School: Forest Hills Northern High School

War has always had many terrible consequences on citizens that are caught between it. Not only do they have to deal with constant violence and a weaker economy, they have do deal with the many consequences war has on agriculture. Agriculture is the center of humans’ survival; it provides us with our basic needs. However, war has many devastating effects on our essential way of sustaining ourselves. Land mines are placed on farmland, land is turned into a dry wasteland, and farmers are driven off of their land; many do not return.

New Zealand is a relatively peaceful country with very little war in its history. The various border disputes are some of the only conflicts it has had. Therefore, New Zealand has not experienced many of the agricultural impacts of war. Even during World War II, it remained largely outside of the conflict and avoided the consequences. However, regardless of New Zealand’s lack of firsthand experience, it is still sympathetic to countries that have suffered.

Usually, New Zealand supports countries from the European Union and their opinions. To calm the unrest caused by this topic, the Statement of principles for the Sustainable Management of Forests (Agenda 21) was passed. This European Union has also adopted the Common Agriculture Policy that tries to provide farmers with the standards of living that they need to provide their countries with quality agricultural products. They also place an importance on preserving the environment.

New Zealand has accepted both of these ideas. Although it does not experience war and its devastating impacts on agriculture, it is still active in preventing the collapse of agriculture in war-stricken countries. By supporting the European Union and through actions of its own, New Zealand can help this topic greatly.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Niger
Delegate Name: Hee jeong (Allison) Kim
School: Cranbrook Kingswood

The terms agriculture includes several meanings, not only farming and cultivating crops to feed themselves, but also keeping animals to produce meat and dairy products, and cutting off trees as resources of various industries. Likewise, it connects further affects the behavior of internationally trades, importing and exporting each others’ products and goods. Since agriculture is such a large term, it can be influenced easily and enormously by wars. As a country located in the mid-west of Africa, Niger encounters numerous major and minor conflicts regularly, and without a doubt its main source of living, agriculture, is damaged gravely.

As explained above, agriculture is a term encompassing both international and local impacts. Therefore, when war occurs, regionally, the nations loss most of their croplands due to harms done by small and big attacks such as bombings, ashes of weapons, dead bodies, intentional burnings and extremely polluted trashes due to halt on every single business and many more. At the same time, the war pollutes the environment and decreases the national capacity to develop further by devastating its economy and other resources. It requires at least decades to recover fully. Moreover, during a war, innumerous people die resulting lack of enough population to engage in agriculture.

Niger powerfully requires that the problem concerning impact of war on agriculture should be dealt with international cooperation, but respecting each country’s own national sovereignty. Because the incident, war itself is not constrained within one nation, but spread out through the borders. Hence, the cooperation and treaty among countries are the main solution we can take. However, on the other hand, they should be careful not to erupt another conflict that would worsen the situation.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Palestine
Delegate Name: Katie Macaulay
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School

Agriculture is a main component of the Palestinian economy and represents a major factor of the GDP. It is a major earner of foreign exchange and supplies the basic needs of the majority of the local population. Although agriculture is important to

Palestine, it is constrained by lack of access to water, land, and even easy access to markets. Also, many people put an excess amount of energy into fighting, while instead they could stop fighting, and put that energy into farming. If people were to focus less on fighting, and instead focus on reclaiming land, and making the land they already own suitable for farming, the agriculture would increase.

Most of the land in Palestine is very dry and sandy, therefore causing it to be very hard to farm and grow crops. If people would stop fighting because of religious disputes, and instead start reclaiming some of their land, they would be able to grow more crops. Since some of the land they would reclaim would be lush, and more easily to farm on, they could grow more diverse crops, and be able to feed the numerous amounts of people in Palestine who go hungry. It would be in the best interest of Palestine to stop the ongoing conflict with Israel, so they could focus all of their energy on different things that would benefit the country in greater ways. If the outside world would give Palestine more help and understanding, we could give up our conflict with Israel. If this were to happen, we could start increasing our agriculture and help with the global food crisis that is currently affecting many people of the world today.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Panama
Delegate Name: Andrea Davila
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School

The agriculture industry demands good conditions in order to survive: fertile land, stable circumstances, a workforce, markets, etc. Suitable conditions allow for cultivation and production of crops. Agriculture provides a means for countries to become developed and obtain a position in today’s challenging world. Agriculture is pivotal to the world’s economy. The industry provides food and a substantial source of income to countries. Furthermore, agriculture connects countries with markets overseas for imports and exports. Because agriculture is so widespread, reaching nearly every country in the world, the effects war tends to have on the industry are devastating. Therefore, Panama is showing concern in this issue and wishes that precautions be taken to avoid the downfall of the agriculture industry.

Agriculture was the predominate industry for most of the population in Panama for centuries. In 1985, exports of agricultural products accounted for over 54 percent of the total export profits. After the construction of the Panama Canal, however, agriculture declined. Its share of GDP fell from 29 percent to just over 9 percent in thirty-five years. Although agriculture is not predominating in Panama’s economy today, Panama can still identify with countries that rely on agriculture as a dominant source of income. We are currently in a global food crisis, an issue that places increasing pressure on developed and developing countries. If the agriculture industry crashes due to the impact of war, the effects will place an unprecedented strain on economies globally because of the situation we find ourselves in currently. Therefore, Panama urges that preventative actions be taken so that the agriculture industry does not suffer because of war.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Paraguay
Delegate Name: Allie Surman
School: Forest Hills Central High School

The industry of agriculture relies on numerous things to survive. Farmland must be fertile and relatively undisturbed by human activities, for example war. A local workforce must be available for either traditional growing and harvesting, or be able to operate modern equipment that accomplishes those same tasks as manual. There must also be a market for the goods produced through farming.

War can have a devastating effect on all of those items listed above. It can have direct impacts where farmers are kicked off of their land, such as in the Darfur region of Sudan. Another example is farmers being enlisted into war as soldiers. Farmland may also become of no use if they are full of land mines. Land may not restore to its original productivity immediately because of instance where the farmland is left alone, polluted, and burned. Conflicts are also arising between Ethiopia and Somalia where conflict is preventing the transportation of food between borders. When countries go into war, what people do not realize is how not only are the people affected but also the land that the war is fought on. Land may take a while to be able to plant crops on, or even worse, totally devastated and unable to produce crops. This all leads back into the conflict of the food crisis. Land is also neglected because of the death of soldiers who fail to come back to their farmlands.

It is believed that the community across the globe has a responsibility to pressure nations to be responsible through the conducts of war and prevent this hunger. One fourth of the economy of Paraguay is based off of farming and also all of its exports. Obviously, agriculture is strongly affected by the climate and in the mid 1980s Paraguay was hurt by flooding and droughts, severing the country’s economy. Paraguay has never been affected by war; therefore their land has not been destroyed in that way. Even though Paraguay is not directly affected by this issue, we think that cooperation between the international world is in order. Some developing countries may be in dire need of assistance for fertilizers to provide for better farmland.

Paraguay believes that this problem needs to be resolved as soon as possible, considering the problems that are persisting. It is important that we put a plan in place so that this problem can be stopped from spreading worldwide.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Philippines
Delegate Name: Anne Marie Dornoff
School: Forest Hills Northern High School

There are quite a few issues evident in today’s society dealing with food. The first issue is the Global Food Crisis, but equally as important in the impact of war on agriculture. Through many revolutions of industry and technology agriculture has improved, although in many developing countries there aren’t enough funds allocated to agriculture to feed the entire country, thus creating poverty.

The Philippines is one of the countries considered developing. While the Philippines is developing and has had recent government adjustments by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, it is still impoverished. It is true that there is a sufficient amount of food on Earth to feed all its inhabitants, so those countries that are able to produce more than needed, should give their “leftovers” to the countries who aren’t has self sufficient. This could be similar to the donation of drugs in the pharmaceutical area, when they have expired in the United States, the drugs are often times sent to 3rd world countries in need of the drugs. The same could be applied with food. Though, countries must be cautious and honest during this process, because countries may donate food that isn’t healthy to eat.

Also, there are such issues like those of Ethiopia and Somalia in which the two are preventing food transportation to each other. The use of famine against a country is completely illegitimate. To elaborate, if a country is developing and focused primarily on improving their infrastructure, then having to divert the government’s focus from improving society to a food crisis. Thus, by the end of solving the issue with a famine and ironing out any disputes between countries, then the country may or may not still have the developments of infrastructure earlier implied.

The following can also be inferred. If a certain agricultural area is having difficulty with land mines which are being placed by either that country’s government or “terrorists” of that country, then it is that country’s duty to take care of their internal issues. The situation presents itself much differently when one country is putting land mines in another’s farmland to get “revenge” or antagonize an enemy. Then, action must be taken by allies and even the UN to settle the dispute accordingly.

Solutions may include becoming aware of what each country needs and who is capable of becoming a “developed” country in the near future. Even if the development doesn’t happen in the near future, it is imperative to know because then it is known which countries may have food and/or fertilizer donated to or not.

The Philippines being a developing country, it may need assistance with food, or agriculture. Thus, it is important that a plan of action is put into place, to prevent a famine from spreading worldwide.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Portugal
Delegate Name: Ellen Patenaude
School: Traverse City West High School

The impacts on countries from war is huge. Especially if the country is big on agriculture. During war the workforce can be destroyed. It ruins their land if it is burned, neglected, poisoned, or there are land mines in the fields. Also, farmers were sometimes drafted to be soldiers for war, so they were taken away from producing foods. Oil fields and structures are destroyed. The water and air gets polluted. Man and animals are killed. Warfare absolutely corrupts a country's agriculture when it's bad enough. Portugal has had some rough times during war, and their environment has paid for it.

During World War I, gases were spread throughout the trenches to kill the soldiers. All these gases poisoned the battlefield and evaporated into the atmosphere. Most countries somewhere deal with this problem. Another major problem, especially for Portugal being so surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, was that after the war people were careless and were dumping chemicals or detonating unused weapons at sea. Which has greatly hurt the water. It is still a costly operation cleaning it all. In 1925, Belgium and France made chemical disarmament plants. A treaty was signed that forever banned gaseous chemical weapons.

Portugal is the most polluted country in Europe. The Portuguese government is going to control the pollution by doing two things. Supplying good water to their people and removing waste from the ocean is one. The second is getting control and correcting the effects from past toxic pollutions. Currently, Portugal's regions are coming up with ideas of how to calm and control this issue. We are persuading industry to achieve pollution control measures.

Portugal having had a large stockpile of land mines destroyed is really wanting the agriculture to improve. In February 2003, 231,781 anti-personnel mines were destroyed . Portugal is moving towards a better environment and getting past the impacts from war in their country. “Warfare is inherently destructive of sustainable development. States shall therefore respect international law providing protection for the environment in times of armed conflict and cooperate in its further development, as necessary.” – 1992 Rio Declaration.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Romania
Delegate Name: Matt Paradiso
School: Royal Oak High School

One of the most severe crises stemming from war is its impact on agriculture. Along with the Global Food Crisis, the impact of war on agriculture is affecting countries across the globe more and more every day. Romania knows this and is ready to make a change.

In the developing world, countries may have to forfeit farmers to fight for their country, thus losing farmers to produce crops. Even if farmers can manage to stay, warfare may be destroying their land, making it impossible to manage their crops and survive. Warfare creates unneeded distractions from agriculture, a basic need for human survival. Romania wants to make it a necessity that developing countries are not set back because of warfare in addition to all the other struggles associated with armed conflict.

Ethiopia is one of the hungriest nations on the planet and currently a new famine has started. This famine was created by: a drought that in some places killed the entire spring crop; global inflation that has doubled the price of food; armed rebellion in the Somali region that has disrupted food delivery; and assorted plagues, from insects to hailstones. Most of these effects are due to natural causes which are impossible to eliminate. Armed rebellion in the Somali region is something that can and needs to be terminated. Romania wants to rationalize a plan that will eliminate warfare in regions with much needed agriculture, before it is annihilated for ever.

The European Union (EU) has created a policy that if followed, will promote quality and safety as well as keeping a farm sector in tune with the environment and animal welfare. This policy is called the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and there are several priorities of a country of the EU. The CAP should provide healthy and safe food, ensure a fair standard of living for farmers, promote respect of the environment, help farmers adapt to consumer's expectations, ensure reasonable prices for consumers, and boost growth and jobs in the rural areas. As a part of the EU, Romania wants to be a component of the policy but cannot with warfare in the midst of it all.

Romania has recognized that all aspects of warfare on crop production is harming our globe. We are ready to see that the CAP is followed to prevent this continuation. Romania is also aware that cooperation is needed along with fellow countries to end the very negative impact of war on agriculture.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Russia
Delegate Name: Logan Verner
School: Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy

Of the many crises faced by the world today, one of the most fundamental is the food crisis. The Russian Federation believes that war has had a significant effect on the food crisis in the conflict-ridden areas. We feel that war should only be implemented after careful consideration of all other options. As members of the United Nations, we promote peace between the nations above all because war has such a great negative impact on a nation.

There is a famous saying that states, “An army marches on its stomach.” When a nation is at war, agriculture takes an even more important role in that nation’s economy. Because agriculture is so important, it is targeted by the rival nation to weaken their opponent. However, a nation also may take the men who would be farming and put them into the army. Land that was once farmland could be turned in to training camps, arms factories, and other military related facilities. Also, if the nations at war are near each other, a food shortage spreads throughout the warring region.

A good example of this is the conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia. Both nations are suffering from a plague of locusts that is destroying crops. However, neither nation will move to solve this problem because it would benefit the enemy as well as themselves.

The Russian Federation would like to praise Ethiopia for their lending of troops to the conflict between Darfur and Sudan. Ethiopia is promoting the unity of all African nations. We of the Russian Federation recommend that leaders of Somalia and Ethiopia be brought together to participate in peace talks and resolve this conflict and make progress toward resolving the food shortages in this area.

It is imperative that the United Nations address both the food shortages in a region and the underlying causes of the food shortages. The Russian Federation confidently awaits dialogue that considers all aspects of a conflict in the region.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Saudi Arabia
Delegate Name: Carter Ellwood
School: Forest Hills Central High School

The impact of war on agriculture is a dire problem. While countries fight wars over land that they both want, they are both destroying and mangling that very land. This destruction is caused by fires, bombs and tearing up of land by different vehicles. This in turn causes the destruction of not only agricultural land but also agricultural products. This meaningless destruction has been seen all across the globe and must be stopped if countries do not want to further suffer. The hardest hit areas in the world are the developing countries in which the agricultural system is crippled by war. This happens because farmers are forced to stop their work and flee from skirmishes and thus they lose not only the crop for the year, but also the seeds for the next years crop. This vicious cycle can lead to famine in countries where this loss of crop due to war is all too common. Another unnecessary evil of warfare on agriculture is that when people are driven from their homes and into new areas they compete for farmland and overuse it. This causes not only more conflicts but also the ruin and desertification of once rich healthy soil.

Saudi Arabia has experienced this unnecessary obliteration of land due to war through the US bombing campaigns against the Iraqi air force and anti air targets. They have also experienced the effects of the burning of oil wells in Kuwait by fleeing Iraqi soldiers. This led to acid rain in the area and covered large areas of workable agricultural land in soot, thus making it impossible for the plants to breath. This led to the destruction of farmland because of the fact the plants could no longer survive. This all happened due to war, which according to UN delegate Fawzi Shobokshi is “proof of the failure of diplomacy and the failure of the United Nations and the Security Council, in particular, to undertake the tasks entrusted to them for the preservation of international peace and security.” This viewpoint is due to all of these pointless and unneeded repercussions of war that have occurred to a country who is not involved in an armed conflict yet suffers consequences of one.

Any country who has seen the strife and damages caused by war knows that the effects of war on agriculture and culture in general is too much to let continue. Saudi Arabia is fully aware of all futile and senseless effects of war and wants to see that those who are fighting or plan on conflict use the art of negotiation, not the art of war.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Somalia
Delegate Name: Sofie Utne
School: Traverse City West High School

War always has a destroying impact on the environment and, more specifically, the agriculture. Many conflicts today takes place in rural areas, where farmers are victims. Here, local seed systems may come under stress or even collapse, either directly or indirectly. This leads to big problems; it jeopardizes immediate food needs and threatens the very sustainability of local agriculture. That means serious consequences for the variety of genetic resources which is critical for the long-term survival. For the formal varieties, the supply of seed may dry up in times of war. Transport routes could be disrupted, or pesticides and fertilizers needed to grow may be unavailable.

In Somalia, agriculture is the backbone of the country. 80 percent of the population depends on agriculture, and it contributed to more than 80 percent of the total export of the country before civil war mainly consisting on livestock, bananas, vegetables and other fruits. During the civil war, agriculture declined more than 80 percent due to lack of security, lack of agricultural inputs and lack of relevant agricultural technology coupled with pests and diseases .

Unfortunately, this year's harvest has been very poor, and fighting among the country's clans has affected the situation even worse. The government of Somalia is committed in helping the rural poor. Its policy towards agriculture is to eliminate all forms of governmental intervention in the agricultural sector and the sector will be governed by market forces. The role of the state will be confirmed to conducting agriculture research and extension services as well as developing and implementing agricultural policies and legislation. Somalia has a great challenge regarding reconstruction and rehabilitation of the country, which was devastated by the civil war. The government of Somalia can only achieve its goal if it gets optimum support from the international community.

The United Nations reports that 65 million dollars is hoped to be raised in donations. For the future, Musa Abdi (Agency France Press) is still pessimistic: “Although numerous peace initiatives for Somalia since 1991 have failed, faction leaders never tire of seeking mediators, realizing perhaps that international peace efforts can be lucrative. Peace-broking states do not always see eye to eye, and their efforts are tied up in their own foreign policies, a point not lost on opportunistic warlords.”

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: South Korea
Delegate Name: Colin Pineau
School: Saline High School

War that disrupts agriculture obviously has had an effect on our food shortages world wide. And many of the third world countries it affects are in conflict. Much land is left unused because it is unsafe. Crops are often burned and food is sometimes exploited or even used as a weapon. It is unclear what must be done regarding these other nations in conflict but something must be done.

While U.N. and especially U.S. involvement saved South Korea from Northern conquest, the R.O.K. wishes to move away from the protectionism of the United States and be completely independent. This is especially true of economic independence which has been previously somewhat controlled by the United States. Despite being militarily assisted in the past, the R.O.K. does not fully support militarily becoming involved with foreign nations. The R.O.K. feels there is often a better approach.

The R.O.K. feels intervention is sometimes necessary in foreign conflicts, but would advise against this. It is drastic and globally dividing. South Korea feels a peaceful approach to war involved with agriculture would be the most appropriate way to deal with the matter. This can be done in a variety of ways to avoid intervening in conflicts.

To sustain development and stability world wide a peaceful business like approach should be taken. If anything the huge demand for food should be met by underdeveloped nations who have the ability to gain that business and possess the required land for farming. But whatever is to be done the R.O.K. promotes peaceful solutions that involve war.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Sri Lanka
Delegate Name: Nick McLain
School: Traverse City West High School

War is a formidable and tragic topic for people in the eastern hemisphere, as well as the western hemisphere. We can not forget about the affect of war on agriculture. Through out history, war was taken toll on many countries in various forms, no matter if it is from burning crops to bombing countries to sending our farmers into war and leaving families to do the work.

It is no lie to say Sri Lanka has its problems with local rebel fighters and groups of terrorism that affect our agriculture as well as other things. It would a great thing to be able to do something about this issue and it could help benefit not only the countries but the countries that get imported goods from those countries. It is hard to say what should be down with an issue like this but we need to use our resources to pull together and stand up to these fighters.

A numerous amount of items are imported into Sri Lanka from other countries and we see the affect of the war with the prices we pay for these goods as do other countries are in the same predicament. Rebel fighters take our goods that we import as well as the item we intend to export. If we could rid our countries of these problems then our countries could prosper and grow. With this in mind we wish to bring this issue up and find a resolution to this problem that is based on respect for all peoples living in war-torn areas of the world.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: Sweden
Delegate Name: Christopher Foe
School: Forest Hills Northern High School

It goes without saying, of course, that war takes a devastating toll both on human life, and on societal well-being. But what might not be so obvious, however, is the fact that war often devastates agricultural stability, subsequently inflicting massive amounts of damage on civilian lifestyle; particularly in under-developed areas. This devastation can manifest itself in several different ways. Farms can be damaged directly by war-related violence, farmers can be forcefully driven off their land, land mines may render precious farmland too dangerous for use, and warring factions may even stoop to using famine as a weapon. These atrocities are unacceptable and must not be tolerated. It is the firm belief of Sweden that action, in the form of both relief and prevention, must be taken as swiftly as possible in order to combat this problem.

Although Sweden, a historically neutral country, has never had to deal with this issue personally, it certainly does not find it difficult to sympathize with those affected nations. The health of a nation/region’s agriculture is vital to its own stability, and must therefore be protected from potential threats brought by war, conflict, and violence.

The UN is (obviously) aware of this issue and is doing everything it can to help. It has provided affected areas with relief, attempted to prevent conflict by negotiating with relevant nations, and sent peace-keepers into willing nations in order to provide stability and order. Sweden supports all of these measures with the knowledge that they are necessary solutions to this serious problem.

However, as necessary as humanitarian relief is, it does not completely solve the problem. Sweden believes that because it precludes any possible agricultural devastation from occurring, conflict prevention is the most effective way to approach this problem, and therefore endorses a number of recent preventative proposals. Sweden supports any campaign that spreads awareness of the negative impact of war on agriculture, urges hostile nations to refrain from acting on their violent impulses, or warns warring nations/factions about the consequences of using famine as a weapon.

Topic: Impact of War on Agriculture
Country: United States
Delegate Name: Talya Slaw
School: Forest Hills Central High School

Without a doubt, the impact of war on agriculture is a problem facing the world today. With an ever increasing amount of violence and fighting occurring, the destruction of agriculture is becoming a more common and dire problem. Famine is becoming commonplace among poor countries, who need a strong agriculture the most. The addition of war or genocide inside these countries only worsens this problem, and affects the peace and stability of the surrounding area. While in recent years, the United States has not seen domestic examples of these impacts, past history allows us to empathize with the problem, as we saw what our civil war did to the South’s agriculture. Agriculture is a key factor in sustainability, and the United States believes that any factor harming agriculture must be dealt with.

To combat this problem, the United States seeks the help of other developed nations to provide monetary aid to countries greatly affected by this problem, in addition to fighting the wars themselves by supporting democracy in the international forum. The United States also believes proper education is a key factor, as well as developing more sustainable agriculture methods so that crops may withstand natural occurrences such as flooding and hold up better in times of fighting. Finally, we are prepared to donate food aid to countries greatly affected, and hope that other nations join in and make an international effort to combat this growing problem.