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La `dominancia´ alimentaria de la política monetaria, biotecnología y política de tierras

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  • Carlos Gustavo Cano

Abstract

Durante los últimos dos años los bancos centrales que siguen el esquema de `inflación objetivo´ incumplieron sus metas. La causa no fue la insuficiencia o posibles yerros de la política monetaria, cuyos instrumentos están diseñados para responder a movimientos de la inflación originados en cambios de la demanda interna de cada economía. En vez de ello, la desviación frente a las metas se explica primordialmente por el disparo de los precios internacionales de los alimentos, en particular granos y oleaginosas. Este choque de oferta, ante el cual la política monetaria resulta ineficaz, se debió, a su turno, a dos factores fundamentales: (a) El notable crecimiento de algunos de los mercados emergentes de mayor tamaño - en especial China e India -, y su consiguiente tránsito masivo hacia un régimen alimenticio mucho más rico en proteína animal. (b) La fuerte reacción de Estados Unidos y Europa ante el cambio climático, materializada en la producción y utilización de biocombustibles, tratando de mitigar sus nocivos efectos. Ambos elementos emplean las mismas materias primas: granos y oleaginosas. A pesar de que la recesión ha desinflado el impacto sobre sus precios, es muy probable que, una vez se consolide la recuperación de la economía global, en el futuro cercano aquellos vuelvan a generar severas presiones sobre la inflación. A fin de satisfacer la demanda, la oferta agrícola deberá aumentar 40 por ciento para el 2030 y 70 por ciento para el 2050. La siembra de nuevas áreas - en su mayoría en América Latina y África -, estará condicionada a la disponibilidad de agua; a la adopción de biotecnologías apropiadas; y al uso de tierras que, siendo aptas, se hallan ociosas o subutilizadas en ineficientes sistemas de ganadería extensiva. En conclusión: (a) Las metas del banco central se deben formular en términos de la inflación básica o `core inflation´. Esto es, excluyendo los precios de los alimentos y los combustibles, a fin de evitar el riesgo de que la política monetaria se desvíe hacia el tratamiento de choques externos no controlables por la misma, y lesione de paso la estabilidad del sector real y el empleo. (b) A la larga sólo el cambio técnico estará en capacidad de vencer las presiones sobre los precios de los alimentos. (c) Se requiere inducir, mediante mecanismos impositivos, la creación de mercados de tierras a fin de ampliar la frontera cultivable a costos razonables, en contraposición a la acumulación de su tenencia para propósitos únicamente especulativos o rentísticos.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlos Gustavo Cano, 2009. "La `dominancia´ alimentaria de la política monetaria, biotecnología y política de tierras," Borradores de Economia 5727, Banco de la Republica.
  • Handle: RePEc:col:000094:005727
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. von Braun, Joachim & Torero, Maximo, 2009. "Exploring the Price Spike," Choices: The Magazine of Food, Farm, and Resource Issues, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 24(1), pages 1-6.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Inflación; alimentos; biotecnología; tierra;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • L65 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Chemicals; Rubber; Drugs; Biotechnology; Plastics

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