From: MobLogic.tv

When it comes to a massive global crisis, it’s hard to place the blame on just one source. The global food shortage crisis is no different, though some are pointing their fingers at developed nations like the US.

Most people agree that the following are the major causes for the crisis:

Drought – Australia, home of the largest rice mill in the Southern Hemisphere and formerly the 2nd largest wheat exporter in the world, is currently in their 6th year of drought. This has reduced the country’s rice crop by 98%.

Biofuels – only developed nations would think that using corn for fuel is a good idea. According to the IMF, corn ethanol production in the US accounted for at least half the rise in world corn demand in each of the past three years.

Pricey oil – farmers need oil to produce fertilizer, run tractors, and transport goods to the consumer.

India and China – the rising middle class in those two countries are increasing demand for food.

Because of the drought in Australia, many Australian farmers have sold their water supply or switched to planting wine grapes, which use less water. Others have sold their fields.

Supply is low, demand is high, that means prices soar through the roof. The price of corn doubled over the last two years, rice doubled in price over the last three months, and wheat prices are higher than they have been in 28 years. Global food prices have risen 40% since mid-2007.

To deal with impending doom, countries that produce rice, corn, and wheat, have started restricting their exports. Farmers have started hoarding their own crops.

This response has meant horrible things for those countries that import a large portion of their food. Haiti, which imports nearly all of their food (including 4/5 of their rice) has been the site of many violent protests. Protests have also cropped up in Ethiopia, Egypt, the Philippines, Ivory Coast, and Thailand.

In America, we’re feeling the shortage in the price of milk and fruit, but we’re not starving. We should probably think long and hard about how to make this better. If we don’t, soon, we may be the ones rioting for our stomachs.