Global food crisis forecast as prices reach record highs

The Guardian
Cost of meat, sugar, rice, wheat and maize soars as World Bank predicts five years of price volatility

An Indian farming family An Indian farming family carry bundles of paddy from a rice field in the northeastern state of Tripura. India has had food price inflation of 17% in the last year. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Rising food prices and shortages could cause instability in many countries as the cost of staple foods and vegetables reached their highest levels in two years, with scientists predicting further widespread droughts and floods.

Although food stocks are generally good despite much of this year’s harvests being wiped out in Pakistan and Russia, sugar and rice remain at a record price. Continue reading Global food crisis forecast as prices reach record highs

Passionist order supports priest charged in Peru land battle

ROME (CNS) — A Passionist missionary on trial in Peru for allegedly inciting a riot has ministered constantly among the poor and has worked tirelessly to defend their rights, including the right to care for the land they have been farming to support their families, said the superior general and top officers of the Passionist order. Continue reading Passionist order supports priest charged in Peru land battle

Severe drought afflicts Brazilian Amazon

BBC

Boy plays with paddle on the dried up bed of the Negro river Some rivers are at their lowest level in decades

The Brazilian government has announced $13.5m (£8.6m) in emergency aid for Amazon regions hit by the worst drought in decades.

The money will fund water pumping and purification, as well as food deliveries to towns cut off by the drop in river levels.

The Brazilian air force has already flown 500 tonnes of supplies to areas that usually depend on water transport. Continue reading Severe drought afflicts Brazilian Amazon