– The news is beginning to show ominous patterns on the subject of food. Prices are rising, many countries and their populations are near the limit of what they can pay for food before serious food shortages and starvation ensue. And, inevitably following such events will come political instability, mass migrations and increased violence and fundamentalism. It is not a pretty picture. And, it’s been on the approach for some time now.
Reflect on the collection of stories below. – Dennis
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from history.com:
Sinaloa, the “Breadbasket of Mexico,” devotes over three quarters of its landmass to agricultural production. It is the country’s leading producer of rice and vegetables, and the second largest producer of wheat and beans. Fishing and livestock provide additional revenue, as does Mazatlán’s canning facility, the largest in Latin America… Agriculture accounts for about 21 percent of the state’s economy.
from Investor Daily 2/11/11:
According to Sysco’s notice sent out this week:
“The early reports [from Sinaloa] are still coming in but most are showing losses of crops in the range of 80 to 100%. Even shade house product was hit by the extremely cold temps. It will take 7-10 days to have a clearer picture from growers and field supervisors, but these growing regions haven’t had cold like this in over half a century.”
China and Drought
China has announced $1 billion in funding to help farmers fight the country’s devastating droughts, according to The Guardian.
The country is facing its worst drought in 60 years right where it hurts the most, the wheat producing province of Shangdong.
China and Russia
The dramatic rise in the price of food commodities for some of the world’s most populous countries is hitting Russia and China hard, according to
Ambrose Evans-Pritchard.He points out in
The Telegraph that the situation is getting worse for Russia and China, and that wheat is not the only worry.
The problem is not just the dramatic 70% rise in wheat prices due to the drought and fires around the Black Sea, but also massive Chinese imports of corn. Corn has increased in price by 40% since June due to that Chinese demand.
– (Dennis) In addition to the above, which are just the items floating by in the news now, consider the following which I’ve commented/reported on previously:
Americans in Poverty
25 Countries on the brink
The coming Dangerous Year
One Harvest away from Chaos
Wheat Rust never sleeps
Britain and coming Food Shortages
Wheat Crop Time Bomb
Food Shortages and Civilization
– (Dennis) There are many more similar articles out there.
– Take a look and see if you can find serious upbeat articles saying we have plenty of food capacity and that it’ll all be right in a few months or years as the world reorganizes and copes effeciently with this looming problem.
– Can’t find many? I’m not surprised.
– Research thanks to Johnathan S. and Kael L. and others.
