Economist

Source: “We are the canary in the mine,” says Josette Sheeran, the head of the UN's World Food Programme, the largest distributor of food aid. Usually, a food crisis is clear and localised. The harvest fails, often because of war or strife, and the burden in the affected region falls heavily on the poorest. This crisis is different. It is occurring in many countries simultaneously, the first time that has happened since the early 1970s. And it is affecting people not usually hit by famines. “For the middle classes,” says Ms Sheeran, “it means cutting out medical care. For those on $2 a day, it means cutting out meat and taking the children out of school. For those on $1 a day, it means cutting out meat and vegetables and eating only cereals. And for those on 50 cents a day, it means total disaster.” The poorest are selling their animals, tools, the tin roof over their heads—making recovery, when it comes, much harder.

Economist also here. The only niggling thing is focus on forcing nations to supply internationally. I would much rather see a continued price hike here than see the consequences of local populations competing for food at international prices.

If anything, perhaps an intelligent method of global rationing might work???

Looking for a breakdown of the impact of individual factors:

• Biofuels
• Poor crops/harvest
• Increasing costs of oil (production as well as distribution costs)
• Increasing consumptions
• Government interventions (e.g. quotas and controls)

Anyway, this is the wrong forum. Not had time to think about silly things like that - will move to something more dedicated/appropriate eventually. Watch this space.