Barbier argues that to “protect and promote freedom,” democracies (which he says are in a decline) need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and become more sustainable through low-carbon alternatives. 

He argues that democratic and green-energy transitions are linked. “G20 countries with greater political rights and civil liberties tend also to have greener policies and economies. In comparison, countries that are less free are ‘browner.’” 

Barbier goes on to suggest that higher gas prices would help the US and Europe accomplish his proposal. "Leading democracies should agree to end the underpricing of fossil fuels, which is the principal factor preventing a clean energy transition.” 

The WEF wants sovereign nations to stop burning coal, oil, and gas, and they want farmers to stop using fertilizers and pesticides—and instead switch to renewable energy sources. And they want it now. 

In good faith, many countries are already moving toward greener initiatives. However, as we saw most recently in Sri Lanka, moving TOO quickly to green energy can make the transition messy and cause political upheaval…and starvation. 

If gas prices go up significantly to help the environment and save democracy as Barbier proposes—and if governments get on board with the WEF’s line of thinking— how will farmers continue to use modern equipment? 

What impact does it have on the cost of food (or the ability to get certain foods) when manufacturers and farmers pass on higher gas prices to consumers? 

How will farmers survive and keep their land if these green initiatives are forced on them with little to no transition time? 

It’s a terrifying scenario, but it’s already starting to play out.

This forced the country to rely on imports for food. And when Sri Lanka could no longer pay for imports, they quickly experienced food, fuel, and medicine shortages. 

While the government lifted the fertilizer ban just months later in November 2021, the damage was already done. 

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimated that crop production for the 2021-2022 season decreased by 40% to 50%. “It is estimated that only 24 per cent of the usually worked land – or 128,652 out of 524,778 hectares – has been cultivated for the upcoming season. Thus, the current yield is not sufficient to cover domestic requirements,” the UN stated in a June 2022 report. 

“The decision to overnight shift away from synthetic fertilizers was an absolute disaster,” says Peter Earle, a former financial markets trader and economist at the American Institute for Economic Research. “To the extent that any part of this organic agriculture decision was made based upon some version of green or from [these] ideologies, this is just the first of many unintended consequences we’ve seen from these kinds of policies.” (emphasis added) 

In a matter of months, Sri Lanka sank into chaos with mass protests due to long lines for gas, medicine, and food. The Prime Minister fled the country and then resigned. 38 politicians' homes burned to the ground, and protestors stormed government offices. The country went bankrupt. 

And people are hungry. The UN World Food Program says nearly 9 of 10 families are skipping meals or otherwise skimping to stretch out their food. 

Dutch Agricultural Protest 

In the Netherlands, we’ve seen Dutch farmers protest regulations to reduce emissions that will force them to comply or face cutting down their livestock herds…or shutting down their farms.  

The government wants to cut emissions of pollutants, specifically nitrogen oxide and ammonia, by 50% nationwide by 2030. Leaders argue that this is a necessary step to protect the environment. 

The issue is being framed negatively in the media, showing that Dutch farmers are using toxic fertilizers and don’t want to change. 

But that’s not the whole story. These farmers see the writing on the wall. They see their livelihoods and freedoms taken away. 

If Dutch farmers are forced to call it quits, it may have a serious impact on the rest of the world’s food supply. 

According to a national farming lobby group, LTO, there are nearly 54,000 agricultural businesses in the Netherlands with exports totaling 94.5 billion euros in 2019. They are the second-largest agricultural exporter in the world and the largest exporter of meat in Europe.

In a recent interview with Brietbart, Dutch political commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek argued that this is the World Economic Forum’s Great Reset agenda in action. 

“For some reason, they aren’t coming after the airlines or other industries that actually are contributors to these emissions apart from the Dutch farmers. They are saying that the farmers need to give up 30 percent of their land by 2030 and for a lot of these farmers that means they will go completely out of business depending on where they are in the country and that land goes to the state, surprise, surprise,” she said. 

“Our farmers are being expropriated and the state is stealing their land… and oftentimes these are businesses that they have had in their families for centuries on end because the farming industry in the Netherlands is very strong.”

Consolidation of US Farmland

One might argue we are entering into a new form of colonialism—with billionaires and governments telling farmers to forget the land and take the money. 

It sounds like a good-old conspiracy theory, but it’s playing out right in our own nation. 

Should this trend continue, it will bring US farmland into the hands of a few who can then control the food, and thus, control you and me! 

Foreign investment continues to pour into the US because there is NO federal law that restricts foreign persons from securing subsidies offered by crop and livestock insurance programs. 

Back in 2021, the House Appropriations Committee voted to add language to a bill that would prevent China from buying more US farmland and claiming subsidies on what they own now. But nothing was ever passed. 

And, just a few months ago, Chinese food manufacturer Fufeng Group bought 300 acres of land near Grand Forks, North Dakota where they plan on building a milling plant. The location makes this purchase even scarier from a national security standpoint: It’s 20 minutes from the Grand Forks Air Force Base. 

And this isn’t the only Chinese land purchase near one of our bases. In 2021, a former member of the Chinese army bought land near the Laughlin Air Force Base. 

There is a new bill that’s been proposed to prohibit the purchase of public or private US farmland by foreign nationals associated with the Government of the People’s Republic of China. The bill, currently in The House, is called: Prohibition of Agricultural Land for the People’s Republic of China Act. 

Note: This bill only focuses on China—not other foreign entities buying up land. 

Bill Gates & Friends

The ultra-wealthy are buying up vast amounts of farmland. Putting our food supply in the hands of a few places citizens like you and me at their mercy. 

Gates owns approximately 268,000 acres of farmland in over 19 states with assets totaling more than $690 million.

Jeff Bezos has amassed 420,000 acres of agricultural land in recent years. 

Ted Turner owns about 2.2 million acres of land in the US with over 500,000 acres in Nebraska alone. 

In an article for the Guardian, author Nick Estes put it best, “The principal danger of private farmland owners like Bill Gates is not their professed support of sustainable agriculture often found in philanthropic work – it’s the monopolistic role they play in determining our food systems and land-use patterns.” 

A quick look back in the history books shows us exactly what happens when agricultural land lies in the hands of a few. It’s called serfdom – and it ain’t pretty.

Looming Global Fertilizer Crisis

US farmers still get much of their fertilizer from overseas, specifically from Russia, the top exporter of fertilizer in the world. 

If you think we can combat this problem by producing our own fertilizer, think again. Critical elements needed to do so, such as natural gas, urea, potash, and ammonia, are also sourced from Russia and neighboring countries.

Because we import our fertilizer, US farmers do not have access to the crucial agricultural supplies they need. Many purchased fertilizer in advance of the Ukraine war, so we won’t see the real impact until 2023 when yields per acre will be hurt by the global fertilizer shortage.

The result of this will be fewer crops planted, smaller harvests, and ultimately, food shortages.

[Related Read: The Looming Fertilizer Meltdown and Decline of Abundance in America]

The US Relies Too Heavily on Food Imports

The sheer volume of US imports presents a serious problem; it’s an ongoing, contributing factor to the food crisis in America.  

We are dangerously reliant on imports: consumables produced in other countries that we could make right here at home, but don’t. In fact, we import double the amount China does, even though they have far more people. 

Our import reliance is a result of globalism. And, as a nation, we’ve become far too dependent on foods coming from halfway across the globe. 

According to The American Conservative, "Since 1980, America has lost 50 percent of its cattle farms, 80 percent of its dairies, and 90 percent of its hog farms."

How to Prepare for the Global Food Crisis

The best way to deal with likely shortages is to prepare.

1. Grow your own food. Don't depend on fruits and vegetables to come from other countries. Instead, grow your own, and learn how to preserve them. Even if you live in a small apartment or have a small yard, you can grow veggies in pots.
2. Stock up on emergency food. Not only is long-term emergency food beneficial for emergencies and shortages, but buying it now is a good way to avoid paying the high cost of inflation in the future.
3. Start a hobby farm. Another means of self-sufficiency is hobby farming. With more and more local farms folding, now's the time to start preparing to care for your own livestock.
4. Get to know your local farmers. Go to your local farmers' market and meet the people who grow food for you. Establishing these relationships now could very well help you and your family stay fed when things get tough.
5. Get to know your neighbors. If push comes to shove, you may need to barter your way to survival. Invest in getting to know your neighbors. Find people you can trust and potentially barter with.