OK, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that I think that this year’s climate extremes are linked to human-caused climate change. We might not really have the definitive answer on whether that is true for 20 years, but I would like nothing better than to be proven wrong about the linkage I’m making today. From a global food supply perspective, the effects of weather on 2012 food production is problematic no matter what its cause. As bad as it seems, it might just be a “shot over the bow” relative to what me might expect in the future.
Limited Encouragement In The Latest Update Of The FAO Food Price Index
Yesterday, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations released it’s monthly update on global food trade pricing. The overall “Food Price Index” that combines all categories did decline slightly, but less than the previous month. The index is still substantially higher than it was at a comparable period during the last cycle.
Mixed Messages in the Latest Data in the FAO Food Price Index
On Thursday (6/7/12), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) released it’s indices for food prices in international trade. Most of the news coverage was upbeat because May showed the largest drop in some time. For instance, the allAfrica website had a headline, “FAO Food Price Index Drops Sharply.” It was a 4% drop; however that comes after several months where the index stayed flat and failed to show the sort of major correction that occurred after the last spike (2007-9). Even with the drop in May, the index is still nearly as high as it’s highest level in that previous spike.
Aflatoxin: A Toxic Potential of Climate Change
One of the most toxic and carcinogenic threats in the human food supply is a natural chemical called “aflatoxin”; the chance that it will contaminate a crop is enhanced by drought and/or insect damage – both conditions expected to be more common with the onset of climate change.
What's Happening With The US Fruit And Vegetable Supply?
Most public health and nutrition experts would say that it would be better if Americans ate even more fruit and vegetables than they do because of their value in addressing obesity, cancer and other health concerns. How does that goal reconcile with these recent supply statistics?
Food Price Spike Persisting
The UN’s Food & Agriculture Organization has released its monthly index of global food prices for November, and it shows persistently high prices across major food categories.
Who Owns America's Farmland?
Nationwide, farmers only own 60% of the land they farm. In many of the most productive row cropping areas of the Midwest, the percent of farmer-owned land is significantly lower (see Map above from the USDA, 2007 Census of Agriculture). Much of our farmland resource is owned by non-farmers and rented to those who actually […]
Anatomy Of A Food Price Spike
The current food price spike is looking an awful lot like the similar rise in prices that occurred in 2008-09.
Why Does Organic Seem Larger Than It Is?
For a long time we have been hearing that “Organic is the fastest growing segment of the food industry.” Organic advocates make the claim that Organic could “feed the world” [ … ]
In Defense of Orange Juice
(8/11 edits in italics below based on feedback from citrus industry scientists). A recent blog post on a site called “Food Renegade” is apparently getting quite a bit of attention on [ … ]
Genetic Contamination May Not Mean What You Think It Means
In the debate about GMO crops, the “threat of genetic contamination” is often raised as a reason to reject the technology. Is this threat real? Does it justify acts of [ … ]
Toxics: The Long Term, Low Dose Question
Each year, the USDA generates an extensive set of data which demonstrates that modern American consumers face no real threat from toxic pesticide residues on their food. This is particularly [ … ]
The Greenpeace Australia GMO Wheat Action: A Sad Day For Bread. A Sad Day For Science
On July, 14, three Greenpeace activists dressed in hazmat suits scaled a fence, and used weed whips to destroy a GMO wheat experiment in Canberra, Australia. The experiment was being conducted [ … ]