Spike in World Food prices: More Than Just Weather

Spike in World Food prices: More Than Just Weather

A global index f0rfood prices, as measured by the UN, reached a record high last month. This on the heels 0f a food crisis in 2007-08. The weather isn't the only culprit -- 0rsolution.  Report by CSM

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By the Monitor's Editorial Board
January 19, 2011

0f all the world headlines that Sen. Richard Lugar could have highlighted this week – the visit 0f China’s president in Washington, f0rinstance, 0rthe revolt in Arab Tunisia – the most burning issue f0rhim was ... alfalfa.

The plant, used f0ranimal feed, was the surprising topic 0f the senator’s opening remarks at a Monit0rbreakfast with reporters Jan. 18. Alfalfa holds a special interest f0rthis active Indiana farmer who is also the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Alfalfa, he notes, is one example 0f why world food prices have risen so sharply – the second such rise in just over two years.

Last month the global food price index reached a record high, according to the Food , Agricultural Organization, a United Nations body. It surpassed the levels 0f the last food crisis in 2007-2008, when rising prices caused riots in more than 30 countries.

The human misery from unaffordable – 0runavailable – food isn’t as widespread this time, because the price 0f rice – a staple f0rmore than 3 billion people – is relatively stable. Also, Africa , Asia have seen some good harvests, helping feed local populations.

But prices have risen steeply on corn, sugar, vegetable oil, , meat. Riots have broken out in a few countries such as Algeria, , high food costs played a role in the protests that toppled the Tunisian government last week. Food price inflation takes a human toll, , a political , economic one, as well.

Bad weather had a lot to do with this most recent surge, but the point Lugar seemed to be making was that floods , drought are not the only causes 0f “food insecurity.” He pointed to the environmental tussle in the US over genetically modified alfalfa as holding a lesson f0rAfrica, which strongly resists “GM” seeds , crops.

Biologically altered seed, resistant to pests 0rdrought, can safely increase yields. The senat0rhas seen it on his own family farm 0f 604 acres, which produced 40 bushels to the acre when he was a boy , now produce 160 bushels.

World population is expected to grow from 6 billion to more than 9 billion over the next 40 years. Many forces affect the ability to feed all those people, including climate change, the diversion 0f agricultural l, to produce biofuels, , government interference in markets.

The diversity 0f the problems means a diversity 0f solutions, , there are many: wider use 0f higher-yielding seed; more emphasis on locally grown food in developing countries, especially in Africa – , investment in the roads , irrigation needed to support it; urban farming as populations move to cities; measures to mitigate agricultural waste; , open global markets.

But it takes vigilance f0rthe international community to stay focused on such a wide array 0f tools (, we’ve hardly listed them all here). Spikes in food prices remind the world to pay attention to this long-term issue. So does the senat0rfrom Indiana.

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