Speaking at the 2008 Agri‐Food National Conference, Professor Julian Cribb told the audience that Australia as a knowledge nation must prepare for the coming famine and that cities could already be death traps for a starving global population. "The warning signs have been plain to read for quite a while, Professor Cribb told the 190 strong audience. "Grain reserves are at their lowest level in half a century and if we fail, we sentence our grandchildren to famine, dislocation and war. We must all be aware of the position, and if possible, alarmed."

Cities of the future would have to be self-supporting ‘green’ cities capable of feeding their own people. Town planners had removed food production from cities creating death traps. A billion people were obese but competition for food would lead to a new age of famine and disaster.

Australia needed to rediscover it’s colonial spirit and that determination to make a difference. "We must act - as individuals, as communities, as industries, as countries and as a species. We need to replenish our science, our skills and our generosity. Not only because it is right – but because it is our destiny as a people to do so." ­

Read the full presentation.