Food price increases are a consequence of a vicious spiral of high oil prices; poor harvests in different parts of the world; diversion of food and land to biofuels; export bans reducing global supply; hoarding of food stocks; and speculation on global food markets.

So Oxfam has launched a global food campaign designed to create a functional food system. In order to fix the global food system, Oxfam’s GROW campaign is calling for:

• a new global system that regulates trade and financial markets and that increases funding for food aid and climate change adaptation;
• investment in a new food future, where small-scale farmers are supported and women’s critical role in food production is recognized;
• serious commitments to cutting greenhouse gas emissions and channelling adaptation funding to women farmers hit hardest by rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns.

The program has wide support. An Oxfam Canada poll recently found that two-thirds of Canadians are extremely concerned about rising food prices and human rights abuses. And nearly all Canadians (97 per cent) expressed concern about a potential increase in the frequency and severity of hunger and food shortages.

The global food crisis and suggested solutions are outlined in a new Oxfam report called Growing a Better Future. The program was launched in early June with live events starring volunteers dressed as vegetables!

Puma’s supplier reporting guidelines align with the Global Reporting Initiative.  According to Puma this means that twenty strategic suppliers in its supply chain from China to Cambodia will be trained to report on sustainability concepts such as social and working conditions.  The project teaches participants how to measure sustainability by using key performance indicators, while becoming more transparent and learning how to report on energy consumption, waste production and other issues.

Puma, in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has also announced three major conservation projects in Africa as part of its ‘Play For Life’ Campaign, a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of species and habitat conservation.  ‘Play for Life’ has been inspired by the 2010 Soccer World Cup, explains Afrique Avenir.  The campaign promoted the international year of biodiversity through events, fundraising initiatives and public service announcements which culminated in the public choosing three beneficiaries for campaign donations through online voting.  Proceeds will be donated to help save endangered African lions in Zambia, elephant populations in the Ivory Coast and Liberia, and gorillas in Nigeria.

However, Puma is not flawless in its conservation efforts, as evidenced by its 20% share holdings in Wilderness Safaris, a tourism company that has built a lodge on land belonging to the Bushmen of Botswana.  Afrique Avenir reports that Survival International recently urged Puma to separate from the company, which supports luxury tourism in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve while ignoring the inhumane treatment of the Bushmen who are not even allowed to access their own water.

Becoming a sustainable and conservation friendly sports lifestyle company is clearly a process of trial and error for Puma.  If at first they don’t succeed, let’s hope they learn from mistakes and try again!