Learning more about the Global Food Crisis & Rising Food Prices

Click here for full-size image. 

37 countries requiring external assistance according to FAO.

██ Exceptional shortfall in aggregate food production/supplies

██ Widespread lack of access

██ Severe localized food insecurity

 

Image credit: Food Crisis 2007-2008 Listed by FAO. You can read FAO documents about Crop Prospects and Food Situation here. 

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I'd rather be reading and writing about happier, lighter topics but again this morning I received an email newsletter, this time from DocuTicker*, with more resources about this crisis that cannot be ignored just because it isn't in my/our own backyard...yet. I'll be completely honest with you: I'm at the awareness stage, with minimal understanding. I am concerned and perhaps a little bit worried. And I'm starting now to look for ways to take action.

Here are the DocuTicker links. They are concise, factual, and not filled with overwhelming statistics. They provided me with an overview, a starting point for understanding the causes, impacts and implications of the crisis.

+ Rising food prices: Policy options and World Bank response (World Bank) <http://digbig.com/4wtnn>

+ Implications of higher global food prices for poverty in low-income countries (World Bank) <http://digbig.com/4wtnk>

+ Food Riots in Haiti Threaten Progress (Center for Strategic & International Studies) <http://digbig.com/4wtnp>

+ Food Price Inflation: Causes and Impacts (Congressional Research Service) <http://digbig.com/4wtnh>

+ USDA Rice Projections, 2008-17  (U.S. Department of Agriculture) <http://digbig.com/4wtnj>

*DocuTicker offers a hand-picked selection of resources, reports and publications from government agencies, NGOs, think tanks and other public interest organizations. It is maintained by librarians.