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Cost of Rice Latest Indicator of Food Risk

Posted on March 4, 2008 by Amy VanderZanden
Topics: Energy and Oil
Photo: Thatcher Cook for Mercy Corps
Photo: Thatcher Cook for Mercy Corps

Rising rice prices have created new problems for those countries, mostly in Asia, which depend on a large, inexpensive supply of the food, according to the Financial Times. This week, prices hit a 20-year high, "prompting importing countries to seek assurances on supplies."

Analysts have attributed the surge in rice prices to bad weather that has hit supply; urbanisation that has cut the acreage given over to cultivating the grain; and strong demand on the back of rapid income growth in China, India and other Asian countries...Asia has not known famines since the 1970s, and recent price rises for rice and other basic foodstuffs have sparked unrest.

Keywords: rice, global food crisis, Asia

From the Archives

GM Crops - Asian Farmers Have Their Say

Posted on November 1, 2007
Topics: Food, Agriculture
Previously filed under: Asia, Agriculture
Despite pest and pricing worries, many Asian farmers welcome GM crops.
Keywords: genetically modified crops, Asia

From the Archives

Russia Puts Energy Importers Over a Barrel

Posted on October 26, 2007
Previously filed under: Global Economy
Current negotiations may redirect large quantities of Russian energy supplies into Asia rather than being sent west to Europe.
Keywords: Russia, Asia, oil, natural gas, import/export

From the Archives

Remember Bird Flu?

Posted on January 22, 2007
Previously filed under: Asia, Health
While it may appear that bird flu is on the wane, there have been more cases reported in 2006 than in any previous year.
Keywords: Bird Flu, avarian virus, global health, WHO, Asia, H5N1 virus,

From the Archives

International Perspectives on Globalization

Posted on January 11, 2007
Previously filed under: North America, General Globalization
The Voice of the People 2006 poll found on average that Africans and Asians tend to view globalization favorably, while Europeans and Americans are more skeptical.
Keywords: globalization, Europe, America, Africa, Asia, global economy, poverty, trade

From the Archives

Vietnam Plays Wary Host to APEC

Posted on December 14, 2006
Previously filed under: Asia, Health
As host of the APEC Summit, Vietnam grows nervous about bird flu.
Keywords: APEC, Bird Flu, avian influenza, Vietnam, Asia, health

From the Archives

The Sovereignty of Disease

Posted on July 26, 2006
Previously filed under: Asia, Health
Learning from experiences with such diseases as SARS, countries are now working together to determine the locus of disease and the best measures of containment.
Keywords: SARS, Asia, outbreaks, disease, avian flu

From the Archives

India and China’s Resource Consumption on the Rise

Posted on February 17, 2006
Topics: Economic Development
Countries: India, China
Previously filed under: Asia, Opinions and Editorials
The 2006 ‘State of the World’ report indicts India and China for being extremely large consumers of the world’s resources and explores renewable energy solutions.
Keywords: Asia

From the Archives

What Works Case Studies - Asia

Posted on February 10, 2006
Topics: Economic Development
Previously filed under: Asia, Field Diaries
Read these in-depth case studies about the social and economic benefits of using information and communications technologies in the developing world.
Keywords: case studies, Asia

From the Archives

Why the US Malaise Over China?

Posted on February 1, 2006
Topics: Globalization, Economic Development
Countries: United States, China
Previously filed under: Asia, Global Economy
Managing US-China relations to maximize the opportunities for win-win outcomes will require leaders on both sides to have wisdom and political skill.
Keywords: Asia

From the Archives

Asia Holds the Key to the Future of Genetically Modified Food

Posted on December 7, 2004
Previously filed under: Asia, Agriculture
Wary Asian consumers may decide how much genetically modified food will reach the world's dinner tables.
Keywords: Asia, GMO, developing

Breaking News
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Zimbabwe: Irony of Rich Farmers Without Cash

All Africa - Fri, 05/16/2008 - 13:16
ZIMBABWE'S tobacco farmers are having cash problems. They have so much money in their pockets, but cannot buy what they need because it is in the form of cheques.

Ghana: Fisheries Act Forbids Foreign Vessels From Fishing

All Africa - Fri, 05/16/2008 - 12:22
The Ministry of Fisheries has denied allegations by a group, called the Joint Action Against Pair Trawling (JAAPT) that foreign vessels have invaded Ghana's fishing industry and all vessels plying the coastal areas of the country are engaged in pair trawling activities. It says the allegations are simply untrue.

Surplus Rice in Japan 'Could End Rice Crisis'

OneWorld Daily Headlines - Sat, 05/17/2008 - 01:44
Selling excess rice held in Japan and imported from the United States would incite a rapid drop in the global price of rice but requires immediate action from Tokyo and Washington, write former editor of The Rice Trader, Tom Slayton, and policy analyst, Peter Timmer.

Half in Ten

OneWorld Daily Headlines - Sat, 05/17/2008 - 01:44
Four prominent American social justice groups are launching a campaign to halve poverty in the United States in 10 years.

Myanmar Farmers May Miss Harvest

New York Times - Thu, 05/15/2008 - 21:34
The timing of Cyclone Nargis, which disrupted farmers as they were preparing to plant, could not have been worse.

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