UN Report: Food Prices To Be Even More Volatile

Food Prices to Be Even More Volatile, U.N. Says -- Voice of America

ROME (Reuters) - Food prices are likely to become more volatile in coming years, increasing the risk that more poor people in import-dependent countries will go hungry, the United Nations said in an annual report on food insecurity published Monday.

Global food price indices hit record highs in February and were a factor in the Arab Spring of unrest in north Africa and the Middle East.

Prices have since eased but the U.N. report said economic uncertainty, low cereal reserves, closer links between energy and agriculture markets and rising risks of weather shocks were likely to cause more dramatic price swings in the future.

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My Comment: A perfect recipe for more unrest in places like Egypt, Yemen, Pakistan, and elsewhere.

The Price Of Food, The Cost Of Despair

From Global Voices Online:

The crisis of skyrocketing food prices is affecting all economic groups in every corner of the world. Every day, it seems, high-priced food sends another country lurching through some crisis: demonstrations, riots, rumors of hoarding, falling governments, even deaths.

Global Voices is well positioned to follow the nuances of this complex issue with authors tracking citizen media in nearly every country of the planet. This article is an attempt to place an overall narrative on the global food crisis with observations from our authors from around the world. Clicking on the links will take you to all the posts that have been referenced.

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Update: Africa Does Not Have to Starve -- An Essay From Norman Borlaug

My Comment: The above article is an excellent summary on the world wide escalation of food prices, and their consequences. Norman Borlaug's article in the Wall Street Journal is also recommended reading.