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• Since 2007, the Price of Food has become a major issue around the world. In the United States the price of wheat doubled between 2007 and 2008, reaching an all time high of $10 a bushel. In many countries milk, meat, coffee, soy, and corn have all either doubled in price, reached all time highs, or increased significantly in price in the last year. The United Nations has predicted that prices will continue to rise with cereals in Europe increasing in price by as much as 58% by July of 2008. The high prices and shortages have already led to riots, protests, and violence most notably in Haiti, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and Egypt. The causes of the dramatic price increases is still under debate, but poor harvests, changing global demands, increasing populations, and increased production of biofuels are commonly cited. Fast Facts:

  1. Price of wheat in the United States doubled between 2007 and 2008
  2. Wheat reached an all time high of $10 a bushel in the United States in 2008
  3. Rice and coffee reached a 10 year high in the United States in 2008
  4. Milk and meat have more than doubled in many countries
  5. Soy has reached a global 34 year high
  6. Riots and protests have broken out in several places around the world

  Causes:

  1. Successive poor harvests
  2. Increased demand for wheat in China
  3. Increasing global populations
  4. Increased production of biofuel
  5. Global production has decreased since 2006
  6. High tariffs and export bans

• Related Mahalo Pages

  2008 Recession | Food Inflation | How to Save Money on Food | How to Save Money on Groceries | Haiti Food Riots | Rice Shortage 2008

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