U.N. Chief declares Food Crisis

following up on the Tsunami story... World Leaders continue to play 'politics' with FOOD...

“Now we know that biofuels, intended to promote energy independence and combat climate change, are frequently energy inefficient.

“We need to look closely at the impact on food prices and the environment of different production methods and to ensure we are more selective in our support.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain

Bad agricultural policies and changing eating habits in developing nations are primarily to blame for rising food prices, not biofuel production as some critics claim

German Chancellor Angela Merkel

The International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington suggests that biofuel production accounts for a quarter to a third of the recent increase in global commodity prices. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations predicted late last year that biofuel production, assuming that current mandates continue, would increase food costs by 10 to 15 percent.

“There are two solutions: end subsidies everywhere, or give them to everyone,” Jacques Diouf told Agence France-Presse. “I prefer the latter.”

read Tug-of-War Between Global Crises By MIKE NIZZA for more...