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stbalbach (2)

Rising food prices and a shortage of critical crops is fueling political instability in numerous regions worldwide. Food prices hit a record high in January, for the seventh consecutive month, the food price index was up 3.4% from December to the highest level since the UN started measuring food prices in 1990. In response some countries are stockpiling ("hoarding") making the problem worse. "If people don't have enough to eat they only have three options: they can revolt, they can migrate or they can die."
posted by stbalbach on Feb 7, 2011 - 49 comments

Exposed: The great GM crops myth. A new study shows some genetically engineered crops (soy, cotton) produce less than equvilent conventional crops. Meanwhile the IAASTD - sort of the IPCC of agriculture composed of 400 experts from around the world - has concluded in a major report that GM crops are not the answer to world hunger and there must be a "paradigm shift" (IAASTD report summary). They predict global demand for food will double in the next 25-50 years, but with the current food crises, some GM crops are already less taboo, but PETA is banking on vat grown meat.
posted by stbalbach on Apr 22, 2008 - 112 comments