The practice of deforestation is threatening an area of primary grain productivity in the populous, southeast Asian country of Myanmar. Forests are essential for natural water storage, recycling and soil health, yet many impoverished countries are forced to cut down their forest in order to satisfy increase fuel demands and agricultural expansion. In central… [Read more…]
At the end of a recent conference in Beijing on global climate change and agriculture, the deputy dean of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tang Huajun, stated that lower yields of the country’s three main crops: rice wheat and corn, is likely if the country does not take effective measures to, “offset the… [Read more…]
According to the FT of London, the official inflation rate in Iran is currently running at 19.1 percent. However, the unofficial rate, as experienced by the average citizen, buying an average basket of food, seems to be running closer to 50%. Sine June of this year (five months ago…) the price of milk has… [Read more…]
There were five stories this week of food pantries across the nation running out of food. In Collier County Florida, officials say that this is the worse they have seen it on over 30-years. Donations are down and the need is up. Of course, it is likely that we may see more of these… [Read more…]
In this story, the Financial Times reports on the efforts of the new South Sudanese government to diversify its oil economy with agriculture. However, problems are arising as large land deals are being struck with foreign agricultural corporations. In addition to the uncertainty as to where the crops will finally be consumed (either within… [Read more…]
This story is an excellent interview with Harvard professor emeritus, Peter Timmer. Timmer, who is now a fellow at the Center for Global Development, discusses the role of rice in the global food system and how conditions that set up global food shortages of the 2008 are still influencing prices today. Click here… [Read more…]
According the FAO, the Food Price Index is down for the fourth straight month. The FFPI (FAO food Price Index) averaged 216 points for the month of October, down 9 points from September and 22 points from its all time high of 238 points back in February. This is now the lowest it has been… [Read more…]
SlowFood.Org attributes the Ecologist as the source for this story. In it, the article states that Kenya will become the fourth African nation, after Egypt, South Africa and Burkina Faso, to allow the importation and production of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Though environmental organizations strongly oppose the move, the Kenyan government questions how they… [Read more…]
This is the first of four stories this week of food pantries across the nation running out of food. Links to two other stories are embedded in this post. In Collier County Florida, officials say that this is the worse they have seen it on over 30-years. Donations are down and the need is up. … [Read more…]
According to Bloomberg’s news service, wheat is now heading for a three year low in pricing due to abundance on the market. This year’s global harvest was the second highest on record. Wheat has already dropped 20% on the Chicago markets (to $6.35/b) and is expected to fall even lower by the end of the… [Read more…]
November 14, 2011
1