Global Rice Issues

Rice eaters, anyone?

If rice eating countries fail to produce enough rice to feed its people, next step? PLAN B. Import from other countries that have rice surplus. Easy? no.

When these countries refused to export their produce, the world is affected.

have a read.

http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/apr2008/gb20080428_894449.htm

what you think?

I eat more rice than anything else. . .but this article is somewhat old, and I don't know how things have changed in the past 9 months.

So far, I haven't seen all heck break loose with the rice prices here. . .

Might boil down to business after all.

Has the increase in corn cultivation for producing ethanol in the U.S. and Europe affected the price of rice?

Yes, indirectly. As farmers in the U.S. and Europe plant more corn in place of wheat to produce ethanol, the price of wheat has risen as supplies have tightened. Faced with higher wheat prices, people are substituting rice in their diets, particularly so in Africa. And, of course, the demand for ethanol as an alternative fuel is linked directly to the soaring price of oil. Moreover, the cost of rice production has increased significantly because fertilizer, transportation, and processing costs have shot up along with skyrocketing oil prices

One leads to another.

In between the chain, we are also facing problems.

http://beta.irri.org/news/images/stories/ricetoday/8-1/FACTS_rice_and_the_global_financial_crisis.pdf

Hi there! Would just like to contribute this article by IRRI.

Will make my speech later. Lunch time!