WORLD BANK SAYS FOOD PRICES AT DANGEROUS HIGH LEVELS

Dear Global Perspective Family of Readers;

We have written repeatedly on the relationship of the rising price of oil and it's multiplier impact on food prices around the world. We have said that this can destabilize societies, and it is doing so in many nations, including the Middle East. Now we see that the World Bank reports prices at record highs, in some nations people are struggling to buy food for their families.

This should make us realize that companies such as Cornucopia (http://www.cornucopia-enterprise.com) that are encouraging green houses and higher production on small tracts with electricity for lighting, water pumping and fans generated by wind and solar, are right on target. Saneh says: "It is time to grow our own." for nutritional purposes, but supply purposes may also now be relevant. Our credit goes to Christopher Leonard of AP for the following. Food crops can multiply profits, and high tunnels and greenhouses can increase productivity 200%.

"RECORD DANGEROUSLY HIGH FOOD PRICES", SAYS WORLD BANK

By CHRISTOPHER LEONARD, AP Agribusiness Writer – Tue Feb 15, 4:39 pm ETST. LOUIS – Global food prices have hit "dangerous levels" that could contribute to political instability, push millions of people into poverty and raise the cost of groceries, according to a new report from the World Bank.

The bank released a report Tuesday that said global food prices have jumped 29 percent in the past year, and are just 3 percent below the all-time peak hit in 2008. Bank President Robert Zoellick said the rising prices have hit people hardest in the developing world because they spend as much as half their income on food.

"Food prices are the key and major challenge facing many developing countries today," Zoellick said. The World Bank estimates higher prices for corn, wheat and oil have pushed 44 million people into extreme poverty since last June.

The report comes a day before Finance ministers and central bank chiefs from the Group of 20 leading economies meet in Paris. Zoellick said he's worried some countries might react to food inflation by banning exports or implementing price controls, which would just aggravate the problem.

The World Bank's food price index rose by 15 percent between October and January alone. The increase has been driven by volatile global trading in wheat, corn and soybeans. Global corn futures more than doubled since this summer, from $3.50 to $7 a bushel, in part because of higher demand from developing countries and a growing bio-fuels industry.

Prices are rising in part because global grain traders have gotten jittery about historically low reserve levels of corn, wheat and soybeans, said Chris Nagel, an analyst with Northstar Commodity in Minneapolis. Growing demand from customers in China and elsewhere is putting pressure on the supply of most commodities, he said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture predicted last week U.S. corn farmers will have just 675 million bushels of corn at the end of August, before next year's harvest begins. That's just an 18-day supply, Nagel said.

The slim reserves mean traders will likely bid up crop prices further at any weather event that reduces next year's planting.

"We need to get good crops, all around the world, in all of these commodities," Nagel said. "You just don't have much foot room for error.

The global price of fats and oils rose 22 percent and wheat rose 20 percent between October and January, according to the World Bank. The prices of sugar rose by 20 percent in that time.Industrialized nations like the United States are insulated from the price increases because raw ingredients account for just a fraction of the total food costs. But in many developing counties, prices get transmitted more drastically.

Between June and December, wheat prices climbed 54 percent in Kyrgyzstan, 45 percent in Bangladesh and 16 percent in Pakistan, for example.Zoellick warned that higher prices could stoke political instability in countries like Egypt and Tunisia. Both countries are big wheat importers and higher grain costs could aggravate social unrest as the countries form new regimes, he said.

"That's where the international system needs to try to be aware of these issues, and try to do things at a minimum not to exacerbate food prices," he said.

This unit can provide an additional $10,000 to $20,000 per year in high profit berry crops, flowers, or even grapes. Protection from wind, hail, and dry spells is ideal for drip irrigation and humidity control. 

Saneh T. Boothe,expert in food production and founderof CORNUCOPIA ENTERPRISES (http://www.cornucopia-enterprise.com) said: "It is time we again learn to GROW OUR OWN, and teach our children the value of healthy and fresh foods. Cornucopia strongly advises the expansion and use of Green House food production, to deal with the high cost of foods." Recently Cornucopia was contacted by the Government leaders of Nepal to come to Nepal and show their family farmers how to use greenhouses to increase food production. "Even a small greenhouse can help poor families of developing nations, and in the USA a small greenhouse in the backyard can be a teaching tool. We often add solar panels and small wind turbines to generate electricity." said Saneh T. Boothe.

This is especially relevent in light of water issues and the increased salinity of water systems.

"With Green House production we can reduce water consumption, and with wind turbines can generate enough electricity to run remote desalination equipment that will provide usable water for agriculture" said Ben Boothe. Water and food will be 2 critical issues for our future.