Food Crisis - Why the Price Surges? Biofuels ? Droughts, Floods and Climate Change ?

[C. Flower]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...reaking31.html

It's a few years since the last year of high wheat prices.

Six people, including 2 children were killed in bread riots in Mozambique.

A bumper harvest in the Ukraine 2 years ago lead to depressed prices and farmers going out of business elsewhere.

This year there has been an unprecedented weather system in Europe with flood and drought. The same system has hit Pakistan's food production and food stores very seriously.

[C. Flower]

The Midwestern US drought seems to be very serious - the worst for 50 years. The US is the world's biggest exporter of corn and soya.

http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?...4&jumival=8645

A higher number of extreme weather events, speculation and the commodification of food, use of foodstuffs for biofuel, reduced food stocks with shorter supply chains, and the anarchy of the market are all reasons for fluctuations in supply and price.

Food price rises drove the Arab Spring events. Food price increases in states in financial crisis in the EU and elsewhere will see more political upheavals.

.... this drought is going to have a severe impact on the amount of U.S. corn and soybeans in particular that we produce. The latest estimates dropped projections by 2 billion bushels, which is about 15 percent. So you're talking about a very significant projected drop in U.S. corn production. That will also be true of soy. And that will have an impact on global corn and soy prices because we are one of the world's largest producers and largest exporters of both. So it has a severe and direct impact on global markets. There's also a spillover effect onto other markets, like wheat and rice, which are not in as severe a situation in terms of stock levels.

[Ephilant]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...reaking31.html

It's a few years since the last year of high wheat prices.

Six people, including 2 children were killed in bread riots in Mozambique.

A bumper harvest in the Ukraine 2 years ago lead to depressed prices and farmers going out of business elsewhere.

This year there has been an unprecedented weather system in Europe with flood and drought. The same system has hit Pakistan's food production and food stores very seriously.

This is well worth a read (as are this guys other blogs and books!)

Michael Klare: The Hunger Wars in Our Future; Heat, Drought, Rising Food Costs, and Global Unrest

You do need to scroll down a little to get to the main article...

[C. Flower]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...321995780.html

Cappoquin Chicken has gone bust again - apparently because of the rising cost of chicken feed. Maize prices have gone up 60% and wheat prices doubled since June.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation’s monthly food price index rose 6 per cent in July, reaching levels higher than those pertaining during the food crisis of 20007/08.


Back then, the rise sparked violent protests in countries including Egypt, Cameroon and Haiti. Now, prices are expected to climb as the storm continues to gather. While commodity market speculators and nationalistic export bans helped to drive the 2007 crisis, nature has become a major contributor to the 2012 price rises.


The US midwest is struggling with its worst drought in more than 50 years, causing the department of agriculture to slash its maize crop estimates by 12 per cent in June and by an estimated 15 per cent further yesterday.


The predictable result is record prices for maize, with a 60 per cent price rise since June pushing costs to about €6.80 per bushel.
Wheat prices have doubled over the past two months and drought-driven yield reductions in the soybean harvest are also driving costs for this commodity.


Nature looks set to intervene elsewhere, based on reports from both the US and Japanese meteorological offices.


They indicate that the El Niño weather phenomenon has taken hold in the Pacific Ocean and will persist for at least six months. This affects climate on a global scale, kicking off monsoon rains in some regions while feeding drought in others.


Staple food producers in Australia and along the western Pacific Rim are expected to face crop yield reductions as a consequence, which is also likely to ratchet up international food prices.

Ireland has just experienced its coldest summer for 40 years, with a fall in agricultural production as a result.

[fluffybiscuits]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...321995780.html

Cappoquin Chicken has gone bust again - apparently because of the rising cost of chicken feed. Maize prices have gone up 60% and wheat prices doubled since June.



Ireland has just experienced its coldest summer for 40 years, with a fall in agricultural production as a result.

Judging by the last few weeks weather I would have thought otherwise. Storms on the way though apparently...

[C. Flower]

The very protracted cold weather is a worry. Farmers are now starting to worry about next year's feed. I guess another year like this would be very damaging.

I'm unclear as to whether there is an sound scientific explanation for it, or is it just within normal parameters ?