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  • From: "Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] The Future's Coming Fast
  • Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 22:40:58 -0600


The Future's Coming Fast
U.N. report forecasts continued high food prices for the next decade
Posted at 1:12 PM on 29 May 2008
http://www.grist.org/news/2008/05/29/hngry/index.html

Food prices worldwide are likely to remain relatively high for at least the
next decade, according to an analysis by the United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization. Biofuel demand, high energy costs, and commodity
speculation will continue to keep food prices high in the long term, despite
periodic dips in price. Climate change is also expected to increase food
prices by driving down future crop yields. The FAO forecast that wheat prices
could be up to 60 percent higher in 2017 and vegetable oil prices could rise
up to 80 percent. "Biofuels are the largest new source of demand for
agriculture and are causing higher prices," said Merritt Cluff, one of the
report authors. "We are very worried particularly about biofuel policy. U.S.
government incentives for ethanol producers are distorting the market." As
always, the world's poor will be the hardest hit. "In the short term,
humanitarian aid for the populations in countries most severely affected is
urgently required," the report said.




  • [Livingontheland] The Future's Coming Fast, Tradingpost, 06/01/2008

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