The plethora of news lately about the global food crisis has left me both concerned and curious about what’s going on in the world. This crisis comes at the heels of dropping significantly more at the grocery store for the same products, and reevaluating our need for organics or Whole Foods when we look at our budgets. Those organic strawberries aren’t looking so super anymore when they’re $6 a pint.

Of course, finances are one thing–what about those starving children in Myanmar who have no access to food, who can’t be so picky?

Pardon a harried mother’s confusion at all the different stories I’m reading. The point of this entry was specifically to direct you all to this report, posted by MarketWatch.

Compared to averages for 1998 through 2007, the report forecast that prices, adjusted for inflation, are projected to be:

• 20% higher for beef and pork;

• 30% higher for raw and white sugar;

• 40-60% higher for wheat, maize and skim milk powder;

• 60% higher for butter and oilseeds;

• 80% higher for vegetable oils (driven by food and bio-fuels demands)

Reading that, I’m feeling a little less inclined towards collecting leftovers these days (I have to pay for two boys’ college education, you know). And ordering take-out is, well, out — since obesity contributes to global warming. Sigh.

On a happier note, MarketWatch also gave me 8 reasons to celebrate $8-a-gallon gas, since it’ll be a catalyst for change. While it’s a tad over-optimistic, it’s true that we’re all going to have to adjust in some significant ways, and sooner than we think.

1. Jake Says:
   June 10th, 2008 at 9:39am

   This is definetely a problem. It was, unfortunately, at least partly avoidable. While the search for alternative fuel sources is entirely justified and in the right, the use of corn (ethanol fuel) will drive up prices and demand for food even more. It’s surprising how many foods in the current day and time are based off of corn. Most meats on the market are fed some sort of mixture containing corn. Corn syrup is a main ingredient of all too many foods. Many dietary staples throughout the world (i.e. tacos) are corn-based. It is time to keep corn as a food rather than a fuel.



2. Biofuels are giving me a headache. | Down to Earth - Safety in Food Production Says:
   June 11th, 2008 at 12:04pm

   […] fuel seems to be one of the central issues involved in how the world is handling the crippling food shortages lately.  The U.N. held its food crisis summit in Rome and couldn’t make heads or tails of how to […]