Food Prices at Highest Point Since at Least 1990

Why? Planting crops for fuel instead of food is one reason. High oil prices is another. Extreme weather yet another.

January 7, 2011 at 2:09PM by Marion Nestle | comment

The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N. has just released its 2010 food price index. Compared to 2002-2004, commodity food prices sharply increased, especially those of sugars and fats.

The new index is higher than in 2008 when people throughout the world rioted in protest. It is also at the highest level recorded since the index began in 1990.

What’s going on? In 2008, FAO explained the crisis as the result of the combined effects of:

Competition for cropland from the growth in biofuels
Low cereal stocks
High oil prices
Speculation in food markets
Extreme weather events

I’ve discussed other possible explanations I’ve collected in previous posts. (Other explanations: corporate control of food and global warming.)

This time, supply problems in grains, sugars, and meat are making the problemworse. FAO experts are predicting that prices will go even higher this year.

High food prices are a disaster for the poor and are also a ticket to social disorder. World leaders: get to work!

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tags: food industry, global warming, biofuels, world food prices, un food prices report, extreme weather, fao food prices report

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Marion Nestle

Noted author Marion Nestle is a Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University. She is the author of What to Eat.
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