UN Food and Agriculture Org. warns of food prices rise over next decade

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The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation has warned food prices across the globe are set to rise by as much as 40 per cent over the next decade. Rising costs in farm production, and less available land are mostly to blame. But as Ray Kuka reports, new technologies and stronger relationships in global trade should solve any potential food shortage.
Farms like this are becoming more and more precious.
As developing countries become more wealthy, demand for food is growing.
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation says the world is facing a situation where demand outgrows production.
Kenneth Ash, OECD Director of Trade and Agriculture, said, "It’s not about being optimistic or pessimistic, the key message is the markets have fundamentally changed."
Rising production costs, less available farmland, and environmental factors are mostly to blame.

But it’s not all bad news – higher prices mean higher profits – and MORE workers attracted to farming.
Merritt Cluff, Senior Economist of UN Food and Agriculture Org., said, “The cure for high prices, is high prices and the world is investing in agriculture like it hasn’t done before.”
In places like China –a special focus of this year’s report, that investment has seen 100 million people lifted out of poverty in 30 years.
The shift, is also putting pressure on productions to research and use better technology, to achieve more efficiency, sustainability and a better product.
Jose Graziano Da Silva, Director-General of UN Food and Agriculture Org., said, “Side by side, eradicate hunger, improve food production, we need to do it in a sustainable way. If not we will damage the soil and our foods.”
Not only at the dinner table, but also food spoilt at markets, and during transportation.
“The estimate at the moment is that some 30 – 40 per cent of what is produced in the world is wasted. This is a remarkable number. You could dramatically affect markets by bringing that number down to something much more reasonable.” Said Kenneth Ash.
Better use of resources, and better trade ties – for better lives around the world.
http://english.cntv.cn/program/newsupdate/20130606/105065.shtml
6/6/13
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