Is there a food crisis? Why is food so expensive?
What is going on?
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$4 Answers
"Global Food Crisis 2008
Food prices have been rising for a while. In some countries this has resulted in food riots and in the case of Haiti where food prices increased by 50-100%, the Prime Minister was forced out of office. Elsewhere people have been killed, and many more injured. While media reports have been concentrating on the immediate causes, the deeper issues and causes have not been discussed as much.The World Bank reports that global food prices rose 83% over the last three years and the FAO cites a 45% increase in their world food price index during just the past nine months. The Economist’s comparable index stands at its highest point since it was originally formulated in 1845. As of March 2008, average world wheat prices were 130% above their level a year earlier, soy prices were 87% higher, rice had climbed 74%, and maize was up 31%." (information obtain from http://www.globalissues.org/article/758/global-food-crisis-2008)
"Immediate factors for the food crisis
A number of immediate factors include the following:
* Droughts in major wheat-producing countries in 2005-06
* Low grain reserves (according to Holt-Giménez and Peabody, we have less than 54 days worth, globally)
* High oil prices
* A doubling of per-capita meat consumption in some developing countries
* Diversion of 5% of the world’s cereals to agrofuels." {obtained from information obtain from http://www.globalissues.org/article/758/global-food-crisis-2008)
biofuels are mostly to blame for the high food prices,a lot of countries are using the land to plant crops to generate these fuels instead of food. thus you will have less land for agriculture which means less food for the world. another factor and one i think is the main reason is supply and demand.China and India consumes a lot of resources and food . they do not have the natural resources to supply the needs of their country or land to produce food, so they have to look outside. due to their large consumption and willingness to pay this cause a sharp increase in food and oil prices supply and demand. the demand is high and the supply is fairly low obviously you will try to get the most out of you product and if a customer is willing to pay more than the other you will deal with him first the rest will come after. only certain countries have the monetary clout to pay higher than others and they must satisfy their people needs. there will be no solution to this problem because of other factors to consider global warming pollution etc. so the crisis is a reality and the world leaders should address it urgently for the sake of the world
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Right now grain stockpiles are low, and if all food production were to suddenly stop, the food on hand would feed the world for less than two months before famine sets in. Some people, like Jim Rogers, are investing in agricultural commodities, in anticipation of soaring commodity prices.
One problem is the food vs fuel dilemma, since many countries are diverting farm land production to produce biofuels, thus reducing the food supply.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007–2008_world_food_price_crisis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_vs_fuel
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
