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                                July 2007

GM Food

20.07.2007: BASF GM potato Amflora was not approved by EU agrarian ministers [1]

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) had judged that Amflora is, for humans, animals and the environment, unlikely to pose a threat o human health. However, Austria, Italy and Ireland voted on 16.07.07 against giving Amflora the green light yesterday, whereas France and Bulgaria abstained.

The EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson in a speech, had warned from not approving the GM potato saying that in this case Europe would suffer economic consequences.

EuropaBio had backed Amflora, saying that the GM potato would strengthen the competitiveness of the potato starch industry.

Although Amflora is intended for the production of starch for industrial applications. However, the remaining potato pulp is to be used as an animal feed. The food chain is therefore directly affected. Therefore the negative vote of Austria, Italy and Ireland was welcomed by environmental groups.

BASF joined Monsanto to invest 1.2 billion euros to develop GM corn, cotton and soya in the next 10 years.

[1] See OurFood-News 29.06.2007: EU Council of Ministers postpones its decision on approval of GM Amflora potato from BASF

Five-a-day rule
20.07.2007: Very high intake of fruits and vegetable does not reduce the risk of breast cancer [1] [2]

Marcia Stefanick and colleagues found that women who were previously treated for early stage breath cancer, and found that adopting a diet very high in vegetables, fruit and fibre and low in fat (doubling the five-a-day recommendations) did not have a lower risk of breast cancer recurrence, compared to women who followed a diet of five or more servings a day (400g) of fruit and vegetables.

The authors, however affirm that that fruit and vegetables do conferred benefits, but getting more than the recommended amounts doesn't change the recurrence rate for women who have already completed treatment for early-stage breast cancer.

The authors concluded that available data do not support best practice dietary recommendations to improve long-term prognosis for early stage breast cancer survivors.

Thomas L. Schwenk commenting the current trial argues that the relatively small differences in the diets between the groups and the fairly short follow-up time (7,5 y) may have caused the disappointing results. In any case, this study shows that relatively small changes in vegetable, fruit, and fat intake alone did not make a difference in reducing the risk for breast cancer recurrence. [3]


[1] Pierce JP, Stefanick, M.L. et al.: Influence of a diet very high in vegetables, fruit, and fiber and low in fat on prognosis following treatment for breast cancer: The Women’s Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) randomized trial. JAMA 2007 Jul 18; 298:289-98.

[2] Gapstur, Susan M.; KhanFat, Seema: Fruits, Vegetables, and Breast Cancer Survivorship. Editorial: Journal of the American Medical Association 2007;298:335-336.
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/extract/298/3/335

[3] Schwenk, Thomas L.: Diet and Breath Ca<ncer. Comment publisched in Journal Watch General Medicine July 17, 2007
http://general-medicine.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2007/717/1

Obesity
20.07.2007: High protein diet may allow ingestion of high-glycemic index carbohydrates without high blood glucose response [1]
Mandy Claessens and colleagues 2007 say that high-protein diets are beneficial in weight maintenance because of their satiating and thermogenic effects. These effects may be partly mediated by the hormonal effects of proteins. The researchers tested the effect of soy protein hydrolysates on diet-induced thermogenesis and insulin response with and without a carbohydrate pre- and afterload.

They found that the dietary induced thermogenic effect was larger after protein than after a carbohydrate load. This may be related to the glucagon response that is induced by protein but not by charbohydrates. The protein-induced dietary induced termogenesis and glucagon response are not influenced by a carbohydrate pre- or afterload; and that protein ingestion can fully prevent the plasma glucose increase associated with carbohydrates when they are ingested after proteins. This condition may allow ingestion of high-glycemic index carbohydrates without the associated high blood glucose response.

[1] Claessens, Mandy; Calame, Wim; Siemensma, André D.;. Saris, Wim H.M.; van Baak, Marleen A.: The thermogenic and metabolic effects of protein hydrolysate with or without a carbohydrate load in healthy male subjects. Metabolism (Elsevier) August 2007, Volume 56, Issue 8, Pages 1051-1059. Metabolism (Elsevier)

Food Ingredients
19.07.2007: Ethyl lauroyl arginate as a food preservative [1]
The active ingredient of ethyl lauroyl arginate, ethyl-Nα-lauroyl–L-arginate HCl, is the hydrochloride salt of an N-fatty acylsubstituted amino acid ethyl ester.

Ethyl lauroyl arginate is intended to be used as a preservative. The anti-microbial activity of ethyl lauroyl arginate is due to the cationic surfactant properties of its active ingredient ethyl-Nα-lauroyl-L-arginate.
It is concluded that, on ingestion by humans, ethyl lauroyl arginate will be broken down to products of normal metabolism.

Based on the NOAEL of lower than 106 mg/kg bw/day. and a safety factor of 100, the Panel established an ADI of 0.5 mg ethyl lauroyl arginate of the proposed specifications /kg bw.
The safety factor of 100 is considered sufficient in spite of the fact that the ADI is based on a 90-day study because the effects on white blood cells do not become more severe upon prolonged exposure.

Potential dietary exposure to ethyl lauroyl arginate was estimated based on UK food consumption data and on the assumption that it would be present in all food categories for which use levels are proposed. Potential dietary exposure was found to be at or above the ADI in high consumers for both children aged 1.5 to 4.5 (580% of the ADI), children aged 4 to 18 (370% of the ADI) and adults (100% of the ADI). Potential mean dietary exposure to ethyl lauroyl arginate in consumers only was also at or above the ADI for both children aged 1.5 to 4.5 (170% of the ADI) and children aged 4 to 18 (106% of the ADI).

[1] EFSA: Opinion of the Scientific Panel AFC related to an application on the use of ethyl lauroyl arginate as a food additive. Publication Date: 16 July 2007
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/afc/afc_opinions/ej511_lauric_arginate.html

Future of Global Nutrition
19.07.2007: EU Commission: Bay of Biscay anchovy fishery to remain closed[1]
The Bay of Biscay anchovy fishery which is currently closed until the end of the year will not be reopened. The advice, recently delivered by the Commission's Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries (STECF), was that "management measures other than complete closure of the fishery in 2007 should not be considered".

STECF estimated the quantity of adults in the stock at 30,000 tonnes. This is higher than last spring's 18,640 tonnes, but still well below the level at which commercial fishing can safely resume. Given the depleted state of this stock, and the short life span of anchovy, it is paramount that each adult be given the chance to contribute to the rebuilding of the stock.

[1] Commission: Bay of Biscay anchovy fishery to remain closed. Reference: IP/07/1139 Date: 19/07/2007
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1139&format=HTML&aged=0
&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Nanotechnology
19.07.2007: European Code of Conduct for responsible nanosciences and nanotechnologies research[1]
The European Commission has today announced a public consultation on responsible nanosciences and nanotechnologies research. The consultation will provide input for a Recommendation to the Member States on a possible Code of Conduct for this emerging area of science, which the Commission will put forward later this year.

At the same time, some, though not all, areas of nanoscience come with very specific issues, related to properties such as their minuscule size, their ability to cross natural bio-boundaries or potential to connect living creatures and man-made materials and systems. Therefore the responsible management and control of nano-sciences has become a very specific region of the science and technology landscape in the last decade, particularly as regards ethics, safety and environment and the fundamental rights of individuals, such as the protection of personal data.

[1] Commission launches consultation on responsible research in Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies. Reference: IP/07/1140 Date: 19/07/2007
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1140&format=HTML&aged=0
&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Regulation
19.07.2007: Call for a single unified US Food Safety Agency [1]
According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) all imported meat and poultry products are visually inspected at the border and subject to microbial and chemical testing, 99 percent of imported seafood, produce, animal feeds, and grains pass through U.S. borders uninspected.

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, that’s because meat and poultry products are regulated by the well funded U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and most other foods are regulated by the woefully underfunded Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

CSPI food safety director Caroline Smith DeWaal said that even when USDA and FDA are operating at the same port, they don’t share inspectors. DeWaal said that Congress should dramatically increase funding for the FDA and modernize food safety laws that are more than a century old. Ultimately, Congress should create a single unified Food Safety Agency—a proposal championed by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Rosa Delauro (D-CT) and recommended by the National Academy of Sciences.

[1] CSPI: Chinese Import Scandal Demonstrates FDA Failings, Congress Told
CSPI Urges New Money for FDA, Ultimately Single Food Safety Agency . Press release Chinese Import Scandal Demonstrates FDA Failings, Congress Told
CSPI Urges New Money for FDA, Ultimately Single Food Safety Agency .
http://www.cspinet.org/new/200707171.html


Physiology
19.07.2007: Comprehensive Assessment of the Long-term Effects of Restricting Intake of Energy (CALERIE) trial
Food cravings are bound to calories, not carbohydrates [1]
Craved foods are related to high energy density and fat content, and low protein and fiber contents. Lifestyle modification programs for long-term weight loss Portion should be focussed on size of craved foods and frequency of giving in to food cravings.Understanding food and taste preferences and cravings may become important to tackle obesity epidemic.

According to the authors cravings resulted from dieting will be for calorie-dense foods. It is helpful to substitute foods that taste similar but have fewer calories, since the craving can be satisfied by related tastes. The authors recommend that allowing yourself to have the foods you crave, but doing so less frequently may be one of the most important keys to successful weight control.

[1] Gilhooly, C H; Das, SK; Golden, JK; McCrory, MA; Dallal, GE; Saltzman, EF; Kramer, M; Roberts, SB: Food cravings and energy regulation: the characteristics of craved foods and their relationship with eating behaviors and weight change during 6 months of dietary energy restriction. International Journal of Obesity doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0803672. 26 June 2007
http://www.nature.com/ijo/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/0803672a.html;jsessionid=
DA96D87BB0A95964B60A349AE5C0479B

Markerting

16.07.2007: Psychology of labelling: Low fat, high sugar

It was a good idea to  bring a product with low fat (0,4%) and to hail it with giant letters on the front of the package. However, it was not a good idea to add 6% of sugar, which stands for an amount of fat of  3% . Marketing wisely  concealed this fact in small letters amidst the Ingredients List where quick shoppers never look. Its legal, but the hidden psychological trick drives up obesity.

Physiology
14.07.2007 Flavonoids derived from the Chinese herb Epimedium, the Horny Goatweed may have benefits against osteoporosis [1]

According to Ge Zhang and colleagues phytoestrogen flavonoids from Horny Goatweed (Epimedium brevicornum maxim) may prevent bone loss in late postmenopausal women without resulting in a detectable hyperplasia effect on the endometrium.

The marker of bone resorption deoxypyrdinoline was decreased by by 39 per cent after two years in the supplemented group compared with no supplementation.

These results add to similar results from the soy phytoestrogen isoflavones study, reporting that a 90 mg/d dose of soy isoflavones may improve bone density. [2]
Another study related to isoflavones reports that high soy consumption was linked with a 48 per cent decrease in fractures for women who had been menopausal for less than 10 years. [3]

[1] Zhang, Ge; Qin, Ling; Shi, Yinyu: Epimedium-Derived Phytoestrogen Flavonoids Exert Beneficial Effect on Preventing Bone Loss in Late Postmenopausal Women: A 24-Month Randomized, Double-Blind and Placebo-Controlled Trial. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. July 2007, Volume 22, Pages 1072-1079, doi: 10.1359/jbmr.070405
http://www.jbmronline.org/doi/abs/10.1359/jbmr.070405

[2] Ma, D-H.; Qin, L-Q.; Wang, P-Y.; Katoh, R.: Soy isoflavone intake inhibits bone resorption and stimulates bone formation in menopausal women: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 28. March 2007, doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602748
http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/1602748a.html

[3] Zhang, Xianglan; Shu, Xiao-Ou; Li, Honglan; Yang, Gong; Li; Qi; Gao, Yu-Tang; Zheng, Wei: Prospective Cohort Study of Soy Food Consumption and Risk of Bone Fracture Among Postmenopausal Women. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:1890-1895.
http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/165/16/1890

14.07.2007: Cancer-risk from soft drinks – Lawsuit against PepsiCo and others [1]
A lawsuit in the US demand that beverage makers like PepsiCo remove their drinks from store shelves and reformulate their products. The drinks contain chemical preservatives sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate (or benzoic acid) together with ascorbic acid or vitamin C. These ingredients can stimulate the formation of cancerigenous benzene. The reaction increases with elevated temperatures

FDA had tolerated this for 15 years, asking the companies to reformulate their products, however, the producers did not change their products. Now they are forced by law to reformulate the soft drinks, fruit nectars and flavoured waters. [2]

More than 1,500 new soft drinks containing sodium benzoate (or benzoic acid) and ascorbic acid or citric were marketed in Europe, North America and Latin America in the last four years. The lawsuit is bound to USA borders, The problem will therefore continue in other countries.[2]

Check here products with high content of cancer-risk Benzene [3]
Outstanding high benzene levels were found by FDA in:
Giant Diet Sun Pop Orange, Safeway Select Diet Orange, Shasta Caffeine Free Orange Soda, Sunny D Citrus Punch, AquaCal Strawberry Flavored Water, AquaCal Peach Mango Flavored Water Beverage, AquaCal Concord Grape Flavored Water Beverage, BellyWashers Black Cherry Blast Vitamin C Juice Drink, BellyWashers Battle Berry Vitamin C Juice Drink, BellyWashers Eerie Berry Vitamin C Juice Drink, Faygo Moon Mist, Crystal Light Sunrise Classic Orange, Rush! Energy Lite Drink, Kool-Aid Jammers 10 Juice Drink Tropical Punch, Kool-Aid Jammers Juice Drink Kiwi-Strawberry, Giant Light Cranberry Juice Cocktail, Ocean Spray Light Cranberry Juice Cocktail, NEW Crystal Light Sunrise Classic Orange, Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi, Baja Orange, Baja Berry, Diet Rockstar, Polar Diet Orange Dry, Shasta Caffeine Free Regular Orange.

The brands are: PepsiCo, Sunny Delight Beverages Co., Rockstar Inc., Polar Beverages Inc. Shasta Beverages Inc. [1]

FDA believes Benzene in soft drinks of no safety concern [4]
FDA believes that the results of CFSAN's recent survey indicate that the levels of benzene found in soft drinks do not pose a safety concern.

Do not believe what FDA does. Safety on cancer risk is zero tolerance. Most of the soft drinks are being heavily consumed by children a cancer- risk of exposure in childhood will follow them the whole life.

Benzene in soft drinks should be seen in the context of wider environmental exposure. Taking the worst example found to date, of a soft drink containing 87.9ppb benzene, someone drinking a 500ml can would ingest 44μg (micrograms) of benzene. Whilst there is no justification for a soft drink to contain high levels of benzene ("There is a difference here between a small and unavoidable risk, and a small but avoidable risk.”). The European Union also criticized the FDA for not acting on the Total Diet Study results showing the nearly 80% of the diet soft drinks exceeded the federal drinking water standards. [5]

The use of preservatives in soft drinks
Chemical preservatives such as benzoates (or benzoic acid) are the source of benzene. There is no need of chemical preservation when cleaning and disinfection systems of the packaging material and the production line are made periodically according to a HACCP system. The need of preservatives indicate a loophole of cleaning and food safety of the production line.

FDA testing does not represent the reality [2]
The independent scientist James Neal-Kababick woke up FDA from their lethargy and presented a better test for benzene. He claims that products on shelves, exposed to heat may develop more benzene as found in so-called off-the-shelf testing of FDA.

Protection for your kinds and yourself
Read the INGREDIENT LIST. Look for preservative: BENZOATE or BENZOIC ACID do not buy these drinks. They pose cancer risk.


[1] The Journal News: Pepsi agrees to settlement in benzene lawsuit. 12.07.2007
http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=
/20070712/BUSINESS01/707120428

[2] Food Navigator: Pepsi and others settle benzene lawsuit. 13.07.2007
http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp?n=78173-pepsico-coca-cola-benzene

[3] FDA: Data on Benzene in Soft Drinks and Other Beverages: Data through May 16, 2007
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/benzdata.html

[4] FDA Statement April 13 2006: Benzene in Soft Drinks.
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01355.htm

[5] Wikipedia, the free enzyclopedia: Benzene in soft drinks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzene_in_soft_drinks

12.07.2007: Marketing strategies

Labeling of energy, fat,carbohydrates and protein in front of package is good action, however it does not match the intended goal of UK Food Standards Agency.  It does not use the  colors  proposed by the FSA.  The members of the European Union  should  hold on such  standard decisions.
UK Traffic  light labeling initiated by the UK  FSA uses the colors RED for bad (high) , YELLOW for middle (acceptable) and GREEN for good amount.	X
Some marketing strategies try to  bring their labeling as near as possible  to  high values. Such as  the  Fruit Yoghurt  YOGANIC  which may be interpreted wrongly as ORGANIC. This product  is not of organic origin.

The Panel noted that threonate is a normal metabolite in the body and concluded that the use of calcium ascorbate containing up to 2% threonate as a source of vitamin C in food supplements is not of safety concern.


22 Ring-substituted phenolic substances from chemical groups 21 and 25 (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1565/2000 of 18 July 2000) [2]

when the Scientific Panel examined the information provided by the European flavouring industry on The informations provided by the European flavouring industry were found to be grossly underestimating the intake by regular consumers of products flavoured at the reported use level

In consequence, the Scientific Panel had reservations about the data on use and use levels provided and the intake estimates obtained by the MSDI approach.
According to the default MSDI approach, the 23 flavouring substances in this group have intakes in Europe from 0.001 to 2.2 microgram/capita/day, which are below the thresholds of concern for both structural class I (1800 microgram/person/day) and structural class II (540 microgram/person/day) substances.
One of the flavouring substances, 3,4-methylenedioxyphenol [FL-no: 04.080] was reported to have a genotoxic potential in vitro while in vivo studies were not available for this candidate substance. Therefore, the Panel decided that the Procedure could not be applied to this flavouring substance until adequate genotoxicity data become available. The genotoxicity data available for the other flavouring substances in the present Flavouring Group Evaluation do not preclude their evaluation through the Procedure.

The flavouring substances in this group are conjugated with glucuronic acid or sulphate very efficiently, pathways which are not easily saturated. At high dose levels reactive metabolites (quinones, catechols, quinone methides) may be formed, but it is not expected that at intake levels estimated from the use as flavouring substances the formation of these metabolites would overwhelm the detoxication capacity through conjugation with sulphate, glucuronic acid or in particular glutathione. Thus, it is concluded that all 22 substances in this group which have been evaluated using the Procedure may be expected to be metabolised to innocuous substances at the estimated levels of intake, based on the MSDI approach.

Adequate specifications including complete purity criteria and identity tests for the materials of commerce have been provided for all 22 flavouring substances evaluated through the Procedure and these would present no safety concern at the levels of intake estimated on the basis of the Maximised Survey-derived Daily Intakes (MSDI) approach.


[1] EFSA: Opinion of the Scientific Panel AFC related to Calcium ascorbate with a content of threonate for use as a source of vitamin C in food supplements. Publication Date: 29 May 2007.
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/afc/afc_opinions/ej491_calcium_ascorbate.html

[2] EFSA: Opinion of the Scientific Panel AFC related to Flavouring Group Evaluation22: Ring-substituted phenolic substances from chemical groups 21 and 25 (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1565/2000 of 18 July 2000). Publication Date: 4 May 2007.
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/afc/afc_opinions/ej393_fge22.html

Food Colours
12.07.2007: Food colour Red 2G used in certain sausages and burger meat raises potential safety concerns[1]
The AFC Panel of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has adopted on the 5th of July 2007an opinion on the food colour Red 2G (E 128). The use of this colour which is only permitted in certain breakfast sausages and burger meat raised potential health concerns. This is the first opinion in a series of re-evaluations EFSA is currently undertaking on the safety of food additives, including colours, authorised in the European Union (EU).

Red 2G has been shown to convert largely in the body into a substance, called aniline. Based on animal studies the Panel concluded that aniline should be considered as a carcinogen

On the basis of the EFSA evaluation, the UK Food Standards Agengy recommends that food producers stop using Red 2G.

Under current European Union legislation, Red 2G is only permitted for use in specific meat products, namely, breakfast sausages with a minimum cereal content of 6% and burger meat with a minimum vegetable and/or cereal content of 4%. Red 2G is not permitted to be used as an additive in any other foods. Red 2G is likely to only be present in the specified products at very low levels and does not pose an immediate health risk to consumers. [2]

[1] EFSA re-evaluates safety of food colours and adopts first opinion
Food colour Red 2G raises potential safety concerns. Publication Date: 9 July 2007 .
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press_room/press_release/pr_red2g.html

[2] Advice on food colouring. Tuesday 10 July 2007
http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2007/jul/red

GM Food
10.07.2007 First African GM plant ready to be commercialised [1]
Scientists at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and the South African seed company, Pannar Pty, developed a genetically modified (GM) maize is resistant to maize streak viruses (MSV) which are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and adjacent Indian Ocean islands.

The scientists say that he maize will only be sold in Africa. A mutated protein from maize streak viruses was introduced in the chromosome of the GM maize prevents the virus from replicating and killing the plant. It is planed also to modify barley, wheat, oats, sugarcane, and millet, which suffer from similar diseases.

Growing global GM cultivation [2]
The African CM maize will cause a further increase of the world total acreage cultivated with GM crops. The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) showed that in 2006 the number of hectares globally cultivated with GM crops increased by 12 million hectares. Most of this growth came from countries such as China and India.

The report is co-sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation, a U.S.-based philanthropic organization associated with the Green Revolution that saved up to a billion lives in the 1960s, and Ibercaja, one of the largest Spanish banks headquartered in the maize growing region of Spain.

Key GM planting countries
According tp a report ISAAA.org key GM planting countries are:
The Americas: The United States continues to drive growth in North America and globally, accounting for the greatest absolute acreage increase in 2006 with the addition of 4.8 million hectares. Brazil leads growth in South America with an increase of 22 percent to total 11.5 million hectares of soybeans and biotech cotton, the latter commercialized for the first time in 2006.

Asia: India is emerging as a key leader in Asia. The country tallied the most substantial percentage increase at 192 percent or 2.5 million hectares to total 3.8 million hectares, jumping two spots in the world ranking to become the fifth largest producer of biotech crops in the world, surpassing China for the first time.

Africa: South Africa made significant strides in the past year to lead the African continent forward by almost tripling its biotech crop area. Notably, the gain came from Bt white maize, primarily used for food, and Bt yellow maize used for livestock feed.

Europe: Growth also continues in the countries of the EU where Slovakia became the sixth EU country out of 25 to plant biotech crops. Spain continues to lead the continent, planting 60,000 hectares in 2006; however, the other five EU countries reported a five-fold increase in plantings from 1,500 hectares in 2005 to about 8,500 hectares in 2006

[1] University of Cape Town: Scientists gear up to take GM maize into the field
26 January 2007
http://www.news.uct.ac.za/dailynews/archives/?id=6091

[2] International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications: Global Biotech Area Surges Past 100 Million Hectares on 13 Percent Growth. Study predicts 200 million hectares, 20 million farmers by 2015
http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/35/pressrelease/default.html

Environment
10.07.2007: German hydrogen technology may avoid global energy shortage and green arid regions
War for land and oil [1]
Climate change, and the resulting shortage of ecological resources, could be to blame for armed conflicts in the future, according to David Zhang from the University of Hong Kong and colleagues. The authors found that temperature fluctuations and reduced agricultural production explain warfare frequency in eastern China in the past in societies with limited technology such as pre-industrial China. Zhang and colleagues suggest that shortages of essential resources, such as fresh water, agricultural land, energy sources and minerals may trigger more armed conflicts among human societies.