Global food crisis looms as grain prices soar

RICE and maize hit record prices yesterday on speculation that global demand for cereals would not be met as governments in producer countries curb exports to prevent protests.

Rice, the staple food for about 3-billion people — nearly half the world’s population — rose 2,4% in Chicago yesterday after doubling in the past year. Soya beans advanced for the third day and wheat also rose.

Harvests have been reduced by drought in countries including Canada and Australia, and by a US freeze followed by excessive rain last year.

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NVDL: Nature is biting back with a vengeance. A yet people aren't getting the message. There are too many of us, too many consumers, with too many demands. They say we need 1.4 Earth's in order to meet the capacity requirements for Earth's human population. Unfortunately we only have one Earth, so we're going to have to lose some of our numbers.