Unpredictable weather patterns, diversion of grain for biofuels, contribute to growing food shortages
Increased consumption by rich and newly rich nations combined with effects of climate change set the stage for a global food crisis. Decreased supplies of world dietary staples like wheat, corn and rice have already increased prices significantly this year, and a few nervous governments brace for possible social unrest by hungry citizens. In this second article of a two-part series that explores how climate change will affect the world’s poor, Mira Kamdar of the World Policy Institute predicts climbing prices as population growth and excessive consumption exacerbate a decline in food production throughout this century. For countries near the equator, global warming will further erode agricultural capacity already hurt by Western subsidies on agriculture products. The era of inexpensive food has already ended for both rich and poor. Kamdar concludes that only strong, forward-looking leadership on global warming, agriculture-policy reform and food habits can prevent catastrophe in the near future.
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